2-Day Akagera National Park Safari
Overview
This 2-day Akagera National Park Safari is a perfect short wildlife adventure for travelers who want to experience Rwanda beyond its famous mountain gorillas. Located in eastern Rwanda near the border with Tanzania, Akagera National Park offers open savannah, rolling hills, wetlands, woodland, and beautiful lakes. These different habitats support an impressive variety of animals and birds, making the park one of Rwanda’s leading wildlife destinations.
Your journey begins in Kigali with a scenic drive through Rwanda’s countryside to Akagera. After entering the park, your first game drive introduces you to its beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Keep watch for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, warthogs, impalas, waterbucks, and other animals. Akagera is also home to the Big Five—lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and rhino—although sightings always depend on wildlife movements and a little safari luck.
As evening approaches, your Akagera National Park Safari becomes even more exciting with a guided night game drive. Exploring after sunset offers a different view of the park and a chance to search for nocturnal animals that are less active during the daytime.
The following morning brings a peaceful boat safari on Lake Ihema. Look for hippos, crocodiles, water birds, and animals visiting the shoreline. Afterwards, continue with an extended game drive across Akagera’s plains, lakes, wetlands, and bushland before returning to Kigali.
With game drives, a night safari, a boat cruise, comfortable accommodation, and professional guiding packed into two days, this Akagera National Park Safari is suitable for couples, families, photographers, solo travelers, and visitors with limited time who still want a rewarding Rwanda wildlife experience.
Tour Plan
Your Akagera National Park Safari begins with pick-up from Kigali International Airport or your hotel in Kigali. Meet your professional English- or French-speaking driver-guide and receive a short introduction to the journey ahead.
Leave Kigali and travel east through Rwanda's rolling countryside. Along the way, enjoy views of farms, villages, small towns, local markets, and green hills before reaching Akagera National Park.
After completing the park entry procedures, begin your first game drive through the savannah. Your guide will explore suitable wildlife areas while looking for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, warthogs, waterbucks, and other species.
Akagera's combination of grasslands, woodland, wetlands, and lakes makes every section of the park different. You may also see many bird species during the drive.
Later in the afternoon, take some time to rest and enjoy the surroundings. As daylight begins to fade, prepare for a guided night game drive operated with authorized park guides or rangers.
The night drive provides an opportunity to experience the African wilderness after dark. Search for nocturnal wildlife such as hyenas and other animals while enjoying the sounds and atmosphere of the park at night. Lions and leopards may also be encountered, although sightings are never guaranteed.
After the night adventure, return to your lodge for dinner and a comfortable overnight stay.
Accommodation: Akagera Game Lodge
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at approximately 7:00 AM before heading toward Lake Ihema for another highlight of your Akagera National Park Safari.
Board your boat at around 7:30 AM for a peaceful cruise across the lake. The morning hours provide a beautiful setting as the park comes to life.
Look for hippos resting in the water and crocodiles near the shoreline. Buffaloes, antelopes, and other wildlife may also approach the lake to drink. Bird lovers can watch for African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons, and many other water-associated species.
After completing the boat safari at approximately 9:00 AM, meet your driver-guide and continue with an extended game drive through Akagera National Park.
Explore different landscapes as you search for elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras, rhinos, lions, antelopes, and other wildlife. Keep watch for impalas and the large Cape eland as you travel through the park. Leopards are also present but can be difficult to spot because of their secretive nature.
The game drive provides plenty of opportunities for photography and learning about Akagera's wildlife, plants, wetlands, and conservation story.
Enjoy lunch during the day's journey before making your way out of the park. Your guide will then drive you back to Kigali, with arrival expected in the evening depending on road conditions and time spent viewing wildlife.
You will be dropped off at your Kigali hotel or Kigali International Airport, bringing your 2-day Akagera National Park Safari to an end.
