Game Drives and Savannah Wildlife Viewing in Rwanda
Rwanda is famous for its mountains. Most visitors come here to hike steep slopes and sit in the mud with gorillas. That is the popular image of this country. But there is another side to Rwanda that fewer people talk about. If you drive east, away from the volcanoes, the land flattens out. The mist clears. The air gets warmer. You enter a landscape of golden grasses, acacia trees, and papyrus swamps. This is Akagera National Park. It is the only place in Rwanda where you can do a classic African game drive. A game drive here is different from what you might find in the vast plains of the Serengeti or the Masai Mara. It is more intimate. The park is smaller, but the variety of habitats is immense. You can drive from a high ridge overlooking a chain of lakes down to a savannah plain in less than an hour. You can see a lion stalking through the grass and a hippo splashing in the water on the same morning. This article details exactly what it is like to go on a safari drive in Rwanda, what animals you will see, and how to plan your trip to the savannah.
The Revival of Akagera National Park
To understand the safari experience here, you need to know a little history. Twenty years ago, this park was in trouble. Wildlife numbers were low. Lions were gone. Rhinos were gone. It was not a place many people visited. That has changed completely. African Parks assumed management of Akagera in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board. They secured the borders. They stopped poaching. Then they brought the animals back. They flew lions in from South Africa. They brought rhinos back to the plains. Today, Akagera is a Big 5 park again. It is one of the greatest conservation success stories in Africa. When you drive through the gates now, you are seeing an ecosystem that has been brought back to life. The wildlife population has grown from less than 5,000 to over 13,000 animals in just a decade.
What to Expect on a Game Drive
A game drive in Rwanda typically starts early. The gates of Akagera open at 6:00 AM. This is the best time to be out. The sun is low and not too hot. The predators are often still active at night. You will be in a 4×4 safari vehicle. These are modified Land Cruisers or Land Rovers. They have pop-up roofs that allow you to stand up and look out. This gives you a 360-degree view of the landscape. It also makes it easier to take photos without glass in the way. The roads in Akagera are dirt tracks. Some are smooth and easy. Others are rocky and steep. You need a strong vehicle.
The park is long and narrow. It runs along the border with Tanzania. Most drives start in the south, at the main gate near the park headquarters. From there, you head north. The southern part of the park is bushier. There are many thickets and trees. As you drive north, the landscape opens up. You reach the Mutumba Hills. These high ridges offer views that stretch for miles. You can see the chain of lakes that defines the eastern boundary of the park. Eventually, you reach the Kilala Plains in the north. This is the classic savannah. It looks like the Africa you see in movies. Wide open grass. Herds of antelope. This is where you will see most of the large grazers and the predators that hunt them.
The Animals You Will See
The term Big 5 refers to the lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and buffalo. You can see all of them in Rwanda, but some are harder to find than others.
Lions: The lions in Akagera are doing well. There are several prides now. They tend to hang out in the northern plains where the food is plentiful. Seeing a lion is never guaranteed, but your chances here are good. They like to rest under the shade of acacia trees during the heat of the day. Early morning is your best bet to see them moving.
Rhinoceros Rwanda has both black rhinos and white rhinos. The black rhinos live in the bushy areas in the south. They are shy and hard to spot. They like to hide in the thick vegetation. The white rhinos were introduced later. They are grazers and prefer the open grass in the north. They are generally easier to see than their black cousins. Seeing a rhino in the wild is a privilege. They are prehistoric-looking creatures.
Leopards. Leopards are the masters of stealth. They are solitary and secretive. They are found throughout the park, but they are very good at hiding. You might drive right past one without knowing it. They like to rest in large trees or on rocky outcrops. You need sharp eyes to spot a leopard. A pair of binoculars is essential.
Elephants. Elephants are abundant in Akagera. You will likely see families of them moving through the bush. They can be found anywhere from the lake shores in the south to the plains in the north. They are often seen feeding on trees or taking dust baths. The elephants here are generally calm, but you must always give them space.
Buffalo The Cape Buffalo, is one of the most common large animals in the park. You will see herds of them, sometimes numbering in the hundreds. They can look grumpy and imposing. They are often seen near the lakes or wallowing in mud holes.
Giraffes and Antelopes Apart from the Big 5, there is plenty else to see. Masai Giraffes tower over the acacia trees. They are elegant and silent. You will see zebras with their striking black and white stripes. There are many types of antelopes. Impalas are everywhere. They are the fast food of the bush. You might see the large Eland, the biggest antelope in Africa. Topi, with their dark purple patches, stand on termite mounds to keep watch. Defassa Waterbuck are common near the lakes. The rare Roan Antelope also lives here.
Primates. Because this is Rwanda, there are primates too. Olive Baboons are common on the roadside. Vervet Monkeys play in the trees. You might even see a Blue Monkey if you are near a gallery forest.
The Boat Safari Experience
A game drive is not the only way to see wildlife in Akagera. A boat trip on Lake Ihema offers a completely different perspective. Lake Ihema is the second-largest lake in Rwanda. When you are on the water, you can get much closer to certain animals. Hippos are the main attraction here. Akagera has one of the highest densities of hippos in East Africa. You will see them in pods, submerging and resurfacing, snorting water into the air. Crocodiles are also common. You will see large Nile Crocodiles sunning themselves on the river banks. They look like statues until they suddenly slide into the water. Birdlife on the lake is incredible. You might see the African Fish Eagle swooping down to catch a fish. There are kingfishers, herons, and storks. If you are very lucky, you might spot the Shoebill Stork in the papyrus swamps. This prehistoric bird is a bucket-list sighting for birdwatchers. A boat trip usually lasts about an hour. It is a relaxing break from the bumpy roads of a game drive.
Logistics of a Safari Drive
Planning a safari in Rwanda is straightforward if you know the layout. The park entrance is in the south. The exit is in the north. It takes about two and a half hours to drive from Kigali to the southern gate. The roads from the capital are paved and in good condition until you reach the park entrance. Inside the park, the speed limit is 40 kilometers per hour. This is strictly enforced for the safety of the animals and visitors. You cannot go off-road. You must stay on the marked tracks. This rule protects the habitat. Many visitors choose to do a day trip from Kigali. They leave the city early in the morning, do a game drive for five or six hours, and return in the evening. This is possible because the park is relatively close. However, to really appreciate the park, staying overnight is better. This allows you to do a night drive. Night drives are the only way to see nocturnal animals. You might see a leopard hunting, a hyena scavenging, or smaller creatures like genets and bushbabies. You can hire a freelance community guide at the park reception. These guides are local. They know the park better than anyone. They know where the lions were seen yesterday. They can spot animals that you would miss. Hiring a guide increases your chances of seeing the Big 5 significantly.
Best Time for Game Drives
The Dry Seasons. The long dry season runs from June to September. The short dry season is from mid-December to mid-February. These are generally considered the best times for game viewing. The grass is shorter, making it easier to spot animals. The animals congregate around the water sources because the temporary waterholes dry up. The roads are dry and easy to navigate.
The Wet Seasons. The long rains are from March to May. The short rains are in October and November. The park is beautiful during the rain. It is lush and green. The dust is gone. However, the grass grows tall, which can hide the animals. The roads can get muddy and slippery. You absolutely need a 4×4 vehicle in the rainy season. Birdwatching is excellent during this time as migratory birds arrive.
Combining Savannah and Primates
One of the biggest advantages of a Rwanda safari is the size of the country. You can combine different experiences easily. You can trek gorillas in the volcanoes in the northwest and then drive to Akagera in the east. You can go from a freezing, misty mountain to a hot, dry savannah in one day. This contrast is what makes Rwanda unique. You don’t have to choose between primates and savannah. You can do both. A typical itinerary might involve two days in the mountains for gorillas and golden monkeys, followed by two days in Akagera for the Big 5 and a boat cruise
Safety and Rules
Your safety is a priority. The animals in Akagera are wild. They are not tame. You must stay in your vehicle at all times unless you are in a designated area like a campsite or a picnic site. Do not feed the animals. Human food is bad for them, and it makes them aggressive. Keep your noise levels down. Loud noises scare the animals away. Do not litter. Keep the park clean. If you encounter an elephant or a buffalo on the road, stop. Turn off your engine. Let them pass. Do not try to push through them. Give them space and respect.
Why Choose Rwanda for a Safari?
You might wonder why you should choose Rwanda for a game drive when Tanzania and Kenya are neighbors. The Serengeti and the Masai Mara are famous for a reason. They are massive and have millions of animals. Rwanda offers a different value. It is exclusive. You will not find fifty vehicles surrounding one lion here. You can often drive for an hour without seeing another car. It feels like your own private park. The landscape is stunning. Akagera is one of the most scenic parks in Africa. The combination of lakes, swamps, hills, and plains is visually spectacular. It is also a way to support conservation. By visiting Akagera, you are directly funding the protection of this ecosystem. You are supporting the local communities that live around the park. You are part of the success story. A game drive in Rwanda is a journey of discovery. It is about seeing a land that has healed. It is about watching a rhino graze where none existed ten years ago. It is about the quiet thrill of spotting a leopard in a tree. It is an essential part of the Rwandan experience.
