This 3-day private safari takes you into Akagera National Park, Rwanda’s only savannah park and home to the Big Five. The journey combines classic game drives, a scenic boat cruise on Lake Ihema, and exclusive wildlife encounters across rolling savannahs, wetlands, and lakeshores. You will travel in a private 4×4 safari Land Cruiser with a professional guide throughout the experience.
Day 1: Kigali to Akagera National Park and Evening Game Drive
After a relaxed breakfast at your hotel or residence in Kigali, your guide will meet you for a short briefing before you depart for Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda. The drive offers beautiful views of Rwanda’s iconic rolling hills, rural settlements, and green countryside. As you approach the park, the landscape gradually changes into open savannah and wetland ecosystems.
You may enjoy an en route game drive as you enter Akagera, with chances to spot elephants, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, and other wildlife across the plains. Upon arrival at your lodge, you will check in and enjoy lunch followed by time to relax and take in the peaceful surroundings and lodge amenities.
In the evening, you will head out for a night game drive, a unique opportunity to explore the park after dark. This experience offers a chance to see nocturnal species such as hyenas, bush babies, civets, and other rarely seen wildlife in their natural nighttime behavior.
After the drive, you will return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Lake Ihema Boat Cruise and Full-Day Game Drive
After an early breakfast, you will begin your day with a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, one of Akagera’s highlights. The calm waters are home to large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles, and a rich variety of water birds including African fish eagles, kingfishers, and herons. Following the boat experience, you will continue with a full-day game drive through different sections of the park, exploring the southern and central circuits. Akagera offers diverse wildlife including lions, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebras, and numerous antelope species.
You will stop at a scenic picnic site for your packed lunch while enjoying views of the savannah landscape. In the afternoon, the game drive continues as you explore more remote areas of the park, increasing your chances of encountering predators and larger herbivore herds.
Later in the evening, you will return to your lodge for dinner, relaxation, and overnight stay.
Day 3: Morning Game Drive and Return to Kigali
After a relaxed breakfast, you will check out and enjoy a final morning game drive through Akagera National Park. This is your last opportunity to spot any wildlife you may have missed on previous days, with early morning often being one of the best times for active animal sightings.
After the game drive, you will begin your journey back to Kigali. Along the way, you may stop for souvenir shopping or brief scenic breaks. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your outbound flight, marking the end of your unforgettable Akagera safari experience.
