2 days Akagera safari takes to the only Savannah national park in Rwanda for an amazing encounter with Africa’s big five mammals. Akagera National Park covers an area of 1112 square kilometers. It was established in 1934 by the Belgium government to protect the park animals and the entire Eco-system. The park was named after River Akagera which flows through the park. The river feeds Lake Ihema, Lake Victoria and other smaller water bodies.
Akagera National park was
once larger than it is now. It had one of the largest population of wild dogs in Africa. They became a menace to communities in the area and where thought to be spreading the dreaded rabies. The Belgium colonial government got rid of most of them. Wild dogs disappeared from the park entirely by the early 90’s – a time when the number of park animals starting reducing significantly.
The final blow to many of the park animals came during the 1994 genocide. Thousands of refugees passed through or settled in the park hunting down the big cats to protect their domestic animals or antelopes for game meat. A large chunk of the vegetation in the park was destroyed to open up farms, for timber, firewood and charcoal. Lion and rhinos became extinct in the park.
The new government of Rwanda had to take decisive actions to save the park. The park management changed to African Parks. African Parks runs other wildlife conservation area in Africa under special arrangements with governments. Things changed and park encroachment was stopped using extensive fences. Encroachments into the park is illegal and those who are caught have to face the law. Lions and Rhinos have now been reintroduced and are thriving in the park. African Parks in collaboration with the government has embarked on promoting tourism in the country and attracting generous funding for projects in the park. As I write this, the park now generates over $2.5 million from tourism.
Our 2 Days Akagera wildlife safari starts from Kigali city and takes you to see a much improved national park. The safari involves game drives and a boat cruise along Lake Ihema. By the end of the 2 days, expect to have seen zebras, lions, hippos, rhinos, giraffes, leopards, elephants, spotted hyenas, warthogs, crocodiles, eland, topis, reedbuck, impalas, baboons, blue monkeys, vervet monkeys, black-tailed mongoose, bush pigs and buffaloes among other mammals. If you want a shorter trip, you should check out our 1 day Akagera safari package. For a longer tour, check out our 3 Days Rwanda safari in Akagera.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali – Transfer to Akagera – Game Drive and afternoon boat cruise
Day 2: Longer game drive – Departure to Kigali
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Pickup from Kigali and Transfer to Akagera – Morning Game drive – Afternoon boat ride
Wake up early from your hotel or residence in Kigali and have breakfast as you wait for a driver from Mission Africa Safaris. The driver will brief you about the tour and let you know what to expect. After the briefing, the driver will start the 2-hour journey to Akagera National Park. Expect to pass through beautiful countryside with amazing hills. Once you arrive at the southern gate of the park, the driver will take you for hotel check-in and registration from the park offices. You 
will then proceed for the morning game drive with a park Guide. You should expect to see Zebras, Masai Giraffe, leopards, elephants, lions, buffaloes, rhinos and antelopes. The game drive will not be so long because you need to get back to your hotel for lunch as you prepare for the afternoon boat cruise.
The boat cruise on Lake Ihema is excellent for viewing birds, crocodiles, hippos and also land animals drinking on the shores. Among the bird species to look out for are the Shoebill Stork, kingfishers, fish eagles and cormorants. The boat cruise lasts between 2 to 3 hours after which you will be taken back to your hotel for relaxation, refreshment and dinner. You might want to read more about the price of visiting Akagera National Park.
Dinner and overnight will be at Ruzizi tented camp (Luxury), Akagera game Lodge (Mid-range), Devera Hotel (Budget) or Akagezi Lodge (Budget).
Day 2: Second Game drive – Departure to Kigali
Wake up early, shower and take breakfast. The Driver will pick you up early to pick the park Guide at the offices. The park Guide will once again help with locating the best places to find the mammals. The game drive on day 2 will be much longer since there will be more time and no activity in the afternoon. It starts from the southern gate of the park all the way to the northern section of the park. This could go on for 6 hours with most of the time spent at the Kilala plains, the Mutumba hills, the “hippo beach”, the vast swamps and along the lake Ihema. This particular area has the greatest concentration of wildlife. In case you missed any of the animals on the first day, this is the time to see them. Expect to see lions, buffaloes, Kobs, hippos, Giraffes, Elephants and all kinds of antelopes with the help of the park Guide.
Akagera National Park is one of the best birding destinations in Rwanda. Over 500 species have been recorded in the park including lesser kestrel, papyrus gonoleks and shoebill stork. The scenery in the park is great and we know you will enjoy the African wilderness, the savannah grasslands, woodlands, bushes and acacia thickets. After seeing most of the park animals, you will head back to the hotel for checkout. As you head back to Kigali, the driver may make short stops at the Imigongo traditional handcraft makers and the Rusumo waterfall. Expect to reach Kigali late in the afternoon or evening depending whether you have a flight or not.
Tour Inclusions and Exclusions
The 2 Days safari in Akagera National Park includes: –
- Game drives
- A boat cruise along Lake Ihema
- Transportation in a stand 4×4 tour van
- A professional Guide/Driver
- A park Guide to help with the game drives
- Accommodation for one night
- Airport transfer
- Meals and water throughout the 2 Days
- Park Entrance fees
- All activities included in the itinerary
- Government taxes
The 2 days Rwanda wildlife safari excludes: –
- Medical and Personal insurance.
- Air tickets and Visa fees.
- Shopping expenses.
- Tips for hotel staff and park Guides.
- All expenditures that may be considered personal like those on alcoholic drinks, cigars, accommodation in Kigali, telephone calls and laundry.
Packing list and best time to visit
For the best experience while on safari in Akagera, remember to pack a binocular, safari shoes, a hat, light safari clothing, sunscreen, a good camera and sun glasses. When is the best time to visit Akagera National Park? Well, safaris are organized throughout the year regardless of day or season. Rwanda has two major rain and 2 dry seasons. The best time for a safari is during the dry months of June to September and December to February. The wet seasons are excellent for birding and those who want to experience the green in the country. These seasons falls around March to May and October to November.
Getting to the Park
Akagera National Park can be accessed by both air and road. It takes between 2 to 3 hours of driving to get to the park from Kigali. If you are stationed in Rwamagana, it takes one hour at most. Although private cars and minibuses are allowed into the park, we recommend that you hire a reliable 4X4 vehicle or use our services. 4X4 vehicles are very useful during the rainy season. They will help navigate slippery roads and other unreachable area. If your time schedule doesn’t allow for traveling by road, then you can book a flight from Kigali with Akagera Aviation.
Accommodation Options
Dereva Hotel: Dereva Hotel is a budget hotel located in Rwamagana. It only takes 30 minutes of driving to reach the park from Dereva Hotel. Although it is categorized as a budget hotel, it is a quality accommodation facility. Dereva Hotel has 78 modern rooms on offer. Each room is self-contained with a flat TV screen, air conditioning, clean toilets, a shower, a desk, a kettle and a balcony among other things. Among the services/amenities on offer are a large and well-manicured garden, free parking space, a garden, a swimming pool, a restaurant and free Wi-Fi in every corner of the property. Room and front desk service is available 24 hours a day. The hotel has an indoor pool and a visitor’s desk. Dereva hotel is popular for hosting conferences, wedding receptions and workshops because of its cool surroundings.
Akagera Game Lodge: This mid-range lodge is built on a hill found in the southern section of the park. The Lodge offers beautiful views of the savannah grasslands, Lake Ihema, Lake Shikani and many of the park animals. There are 60 self-contained and air-conditioned rooms in total. Rooms on the upper floor are smaller but with balconies facing the park. The rooms in the downer floor are large and designed to allow families with children or larger groups. Each room has a comfortable bed, a bathroom, shower, a workplace and free Wi-Fi. Guests have an option of choosing a twin or double bed. The Lodge also has a bar, restaurant, a swimming pool, a tennis court, boardrooms and a conference center with audiovisual equipment
Ruzizi Tented Camp: This luxury lodge was built on the shores of Lake Ihema in 2012 by African Parks. Its consists of 9 luxury tents that are built amidst beautiful palm and fig trees. Only 20 guests are allowed to book with the facility in day. Each tent is self-contained and furnished with luxurious furniture, large comfortable beds, a bathroom, chairs, tables, a bathtub, a shower, a dressing area, warm and cold water.
Each tent has a verandah and can be tailored to accommodate families with children. All decorations and furniture was hand built by some of the best local artists and everything is powered by solar energy. Specially built wooden walkways lead guests to different areas – especially to the central lounge and the amazing deck overlooking Lake Ihema. Other amenities/facilities include a central fire pit for evening relaxation and morning coffee. Though everything is of quality, it is not too much as to make guests forget that they have come to experience the African wilderness.
