Akagera National Park Rwanda Safari 2026

Akagera National Park Rwanda Safari 2026,  is located in the eastern part of Rwanda, close to the border of Tanzania. It was established in 1934, and today it covers an area of 1,200 square kilometers. It derives its name from the River Kagera, which supplies water to several lakes in the area, including Ihema Lake, Mihindi Lake, Rwanyakizinga Lake, and Shakani Lake. Lakes, savannahs, woodlands, grasslands, and undulating hills offer such beautiful scenery.

Akagera Park today hosts all the big five in Africa, which comprise buffaloes, leopards, elephants, lions, and rhinos. Akagera Park, therefore, offers an amazing safari experience since it offers visitors the chance to enjoy the Big Five animals. In addition to the big five, Akagera Wildlife Park hosts plenty of other animals such as topi, hippos, crocodiles, warthogs, hyenas, waterbucks, mongooses, elands, zebras, serval cats, duikers, impalas, black-masked civets, reed

There are many primates, such as olive baboons, Vervet monkeys, blue monkeys, and bush babies. The bird population has proliferated to the extent that there are approximately 500 documented bird species due to the diversity in geography, comprising savannah, forest, and papyrus swampland. While taking a boat ride in the lakes, you can spot unusual bird sightings such as the shoebill stork and the papyrus gonolek. Other frequently seen birds are fish eagles, cormorants, crowned cranes, egrets, herons, Marabou storks, and open-billed storks. Conservation efforts in wildlife have contributed to an increase in numbers, and many tourists have visited to enjoy the beauty in Akagera.

Activities to do in Akagera National Park

Game drives

Game drives are always an attractive activity where you get to enjoy the animals in the park from a convenient pop-up safari vehicle manned by an experienced guide-driver. These usually take place in the northern sections of the park and can occur during morning or afternoon hours. Animals likely to be viewed include buffalo, elephants, giraffes, lions, leopards, roan antelopes, topi, waterbucks, impalas, elands, oribi, bushbucks, zebras, and klipspringers.

There are also night game drives where you go at night using torches spotlighted by an armed ranger. These drives go for 2-3 hours, where you can spot lions, leopards, hyenas, serval cats, civets, and hippos as they feed at night.

Sport fishing

Akagera offers sport fishing at Lake Shakani, which is Rwanda’s prime sport fishing location. You can fish tilapia and catfish here. At the same time, you can enjoy observing birds and other animals accessing water at the shore to drink. Akagera offers fishing competitions in which the winners get to prepare and enjoy the fish.

Boat cruise

One activity that can help tourists enjoy the landscape of the park is taking a boat cruise around Lake Ihema, the largest lake in the park in the southern section. The boat cruise takes place in the morning, afternoon, and at sunset. In the boat, tourists can see hippos and crocodiles in the lake. Along the shores, tourists can get glimpses of buffaloes, waterbucks, elephants, and warthogs. Also visible in the lake are waterbirds such as shoebill storks, kingfishers, herons, and papyrus gonoleks.

Birding

Akagera National Park is home to over 525 recorded bird species, including savannah birds, endemic birds, water birds and migratory birds which makes it one of the best birding destinations in Rwanda. During your bird watching tour , you’ll be lead by an experienced bird guide, you can proceed through the trails to spot birds such as Shoebill Stork, Lesser Kestrel, Papyrus Gonolek, Long-tailed Cisticola, Northern Brown-throated Weaver, African Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Red-faced Barbet, Sooty Falcon, Striped Pipit, Slate-colored Boubou, Western Reef Heron, Ross’s Turaco, Breasted Roller, Heuglin’s Robin Chat, Eleonora’s Falcon, Brown Crested Lapwing, Grasshopper Buzzard, Brown Snake Eagle, Bateleur, Marsh Owl, African Jacana, Rufous-crowned Roller, Greater Honeyguide, Hooded Vulture, Kittlitz’s Plover, Gull-billed Tern, Augur Buzzard, Green Woodhoopoe, Crowned Lapwing, Ring-necked Francolin, African Fish Eagle, Shelley’s Francolin, African Harrier Hawk, and many more

Nature walks

Guided nature walks can also be organized using a park guide. By walking along identified trails, you can get closer to the plants and animals found in the park, including those in the forests, lakes, and swamps.

Cultural visit

The cultural visits are organized in collaboration with neighboring communities and guided by local guides. You will learn about how the communities take care of their long-horned cows, brew local beer, prepare local dishes, and celebrate seasonal events. It is likely that you will participate in milking cows and eating local food, as well as dancing to local music.

When to go on a safari in Akagera National Park

The best time to go on a safari in Akagera National Park is generally from December to February.  During these months, the rains have ended, and the park remains lush and green from the previous rainy season. This timing is perfect, as many waterholes have already dried up, and animals are congregated at the few remaining water bodies and this makes it that much easier to spot them. The park is accessible all year long since there are activities every day, including on weekends and holidays. It can rain in March and April, so many do not go during these times because the roads get muddy.

How to get to Akagera National Park

Getting to Akagera National Park is simple, whether you choose to travel by air or by road. You can fly from Kigali to get an aerial perspective of the park. Akagera Aviation operates a similar service to Kigali from within the park. There are flights available to accommodate your travel schedule. It’s about a three-hour drive from Kigali. It takes an hour from Rwamagana or Kibungo. The road from the main road to the entrance of the park is approximately 27 kilometers and can get muddy but can easily be gone through in rain or in dry weather. In the park, the roads can get rather tough, especially when there has been rain, and in such cases, four-wheel driving might be necessary.

Where to stay in Akagera National Park

 Akagera Game Lodge: It has more of a hotel complex setting with buildings made of bricks (not tents like at Ruzizi Tented Lodge). It is located inside the park, close to Lake Ihema. It appears nice from the exterior and offers such facilities as swimming pools, conference rooms, and tennis courts. They have 60 rooms that can accommodate singles, families, or children, ranging from economical to luxurious rates. Are you interested in fishing, bird watching, or game tours? Maybe here you can get what you are looking for. Baboons tend to appear at the lodges’ environs.

Dereva Hotel: This is a budget-friendly hotel located outside the park, in the District, about 40 minutes away from the park. The hotel offers single and twin rooms with private bathrooms, Wi-Fi, telephones, and flat-screen TVs. They have a lounge and several meeting rooms as well.

Karenge Bush Camp: This is a fancy camp operational mostly during peak season (June to August and December to February). They have extremely professional staff and offer all meals in comfortable rooms and good food and water.

Magashi Lodge: This is a new luxury hotel located inside the park in a secluded, private zone away from the main park offices. It caters to those who prefer to keep out of the limelight.