This 2 days Akagera safari combines a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema with a full day of Big Five game drives, just 2.5 hours from Kigali.
Overview
This 2 days Akagera safari is the easiest way to see the wild savannah side of Rwanda. Akagera National Park lies about 2.5 hours east of Kigali and is now home to the Big Five, after lions and rhinos were brought back by African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board.
Day one ends with a sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema. Day two is a full day of game drives across plains, woodland and lakeshore, in a private 4×4 with your own driver guide.
Why choose a 2 days Akagera safari?
Akagera is very different from the rainforests and volcanoes most visitors know Rwanda for. Here you find open grassland, acacia woodland, papyrus swamps and a chain of lakes, all in one compact park.
Two days is long enough to enjoy the lakes and the plains without rushing. It works well on its own, or as the wildlife part of a longer gorilla trip.
- Big Five: lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos.
- Water wildlife: hippos and crocodiles on the boat cruise.
- Birding: more than 480 bird species recorded in the park.
What to expect on your 2 days Akagera safari
After pick-up in Kigali, you drive east through rolling countryside and check in at your lodge for lunch. In the late afternoon you board a boat on Lake Ihema. Hippos grunt in the shallows, crocodiles bask on the banks and fish eagles call overhead as the sun goes down.
Day two starts early, when animals are most active. You head north through the park looking for elephants, giraffes, zebras, topi and buffaloes, with a good chance of lions. A picnic lunch is served at a scenic spot before the drive back to Kigali.
Where you stay
You spend one night at a comfortable lodge in or near the park, on full board. Ask us about upgrades if you would like a tented camp or lakeside room.
Best time for an Akagera safari
The dry seasons, from June to September and December to February, are best for game viewing because animals gather near the lakes. The green season brings lush scenery, baby animals and excellent birding.
Only have one day? Try our Akagera day trip safari from Kigali. Want forest too? See the Akagera and Nyungwe safari. For official park facts, visit Visit Rwanda’s Akagera National Park page.
How much does the 2 days Akagera safari cost?
Price on request. The cost depends on your travel dates, group size, the season and the lodges you choose, so we prepare every quote personally rather than showing one fixed price.
WhatsApp us on +254 706 223888, email [email protected] or send the enquiry form on this page, and we will share a detailed quote for your dates.
Safari Highlights
- Sunset boat cruise on Lake Ihema among hippos and crocodiles
- Full-day Big Five game drive across Akagera's plains
- Over 480 bird species, including the shoebill in rare sightings
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- One night on full board in or near the park
