2 Days Akagera Safari, Boat Cruise and Night Game Drive at Karenge Bush Camp

Overview

An Akagera night game drive shows you a side of the bush most visitors never see. After dark, leopards, hyenas, servals, genets and bushbabies come out, and a trained park guide finds them with a spotlight.

This two-day safari from Kigali also includes a morning boat cruise on Lake Ihema, day game drives across the park and a night at Karenge Bush Camp, a simple, seasonal tented camp in the heart of Akagera National Park.

Why choose an Akagera night game drive?

Akagera is one of the few parks in East Africa where night drives are allowed. That makes it special for photographers and anyone who wants more than daytime sightings.

Staying at a bush camp keeps you close to the action. You fall asleep to the sounds of the wild and wake up ready for the best time of day for lions.

• Nocturnal wildlife: leopards, hyenas, civets and owls.
• Water safari: hippos and crocodiles on Lake Ihema.
• Big Five park: lions, elephants, buffaloes and rhinos by day.

What to expect on your Akagera night game drive safari

You leave Kigali early for the 2.5-hour drive east and head straight to Lake Ihema for a morning boat cruise. Then you game drive north, looking for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes and zebras on the way to Karenge Bush Camp.

After an early dinner, you set out on the night game drive. It lasts about two hours and is led by a park guide with a spotlight, while you stay safely in the vehicle.

Day two starts with coffee and a morning game drive, when lions are often on the move. After breakfast you continue game viewing on the way out of the park, arriving in Kigali in the afternoon.

About Karenge Bush Camp

Karenge is a small, seasonal camp, usually open in the dry months. If it is closed on your dates, we book a similar lodge inside or near the park so you still enjoy the night drive.

Best time for an Akagera night game drive

Night drives run all year, but the dry seasons, June to September and December to February, make for easier driving and good sightings around the lakes. Nights can be cool, so bring a warm layer.

Prefer a shorter trip? Try the Akagera day trip safari from Kigali. Planning gorillas too? Read our guide to gorilla trekking in Rwanda. For park facts, see Visit Rwanda’s Akagera National Park page.

How much does the Akagera night game drive cost?