This 2 days Akagera wildlife safari offers an adventure of a lifetime in Rwanda’s only savanna protected area. On your first day, you will explore mostly the southern sector of the park and undertake boat cruise on Lake Ihema. On day two, you will go on a game drive across the northern plains, which are open and provide excellent opportunities to see wildlife. One of the best things about Akagera is that it’s within a 2.5-hour driving distance from Kigali capital city. The park can also be reached by helicopter for those intending to do fly in safari.
Akagera national park sits in the Akagera river basin, a major headstream of the River Nile. The park covers 1,122 sq.km made up of open savannah plains, acacia woodland, rolling hills, wetlands and a dozen lakes, making for one of beautiful parks in central Africa. The park is best known for the Big Five African mammal species: the back and white rhinoceros, leopard, Cape buffalo, elephant, and lion.
Trip summary for 2 days Akagera wildlife safari
- Day 1: Kigali to Akagera; afternoon boat cruise, evening or night game drive (optional) in the southern sector.
- Day 2: Game drive in the northern plains and back to Kigali
Detailed 2 days Akagera wildlife safari itinerary
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera national park and boat cruise safari
Depart from Kigali before sunrise in order to reach the park by 10 am and visit the African Parks Network headquarters. Here you will meet the wildlife rangers introducing you to the Akagera conservation success stories through the Behind-the-scenes experience. Rhinos and lions became extinct from the park due to civil war and genocide against Tutsi in 1994. Thanks to Rwandan government commitment to restoring biodiversity, Akagera’s wildlife population has rebounded. The protected area has incredibly diverse wildlife; over 8000 large mammal species, including Masai giraffes, Burchell’s zebras, buffaloes, and monkeys, and over 400 bird species.
After the experience, proceed to the lodge and check in for lunch. Later, go for a 3-hour relaxing boat cruise on Lake Ihema. The lake and its wetland system attract hippos and Nile crocodiles and a plethora of water bird species including Lake Victoria Basin Endemics such as papyrus gonolek among others like the African fish eagle, kingfishers, and African hamerkorps. Elephants and buffaloes might be seen as they come to the shores for water. On your way to the lodge for dinner and overnight, explore the southern plains for more wildlife viewing. Optional night game drives to search for leopards, lions, hyenas, porcupines among other nocturnal wildlife species.
Day 2: Game drive and transfer back to Kigali
The early morning Akagera National Park game drive will begin before dawn. You will leave the lodge with packed lunch since if your guide aims to reach the northern plains which are the most fruitful for game viewing. Expect to spend 5 hours before leaving the park back to Kigali. In the northern plains, you may get lucky enough to spot the Big Five. Look forward to seeing more wildlife species like giraffes, common zebra, topi, impala, waterbucks, and oribi. Make your way out of the park and drive back to Kigali arriving in the afternoon. End of 2 days Akagera wildlife safari.