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3 Day Akagera Big Five Safari in Rwanda

Search Akagera's savannah for the Big Five, cruise Lake Ihema for hippos and waterbirds, and spend 2 nights at Ruzizi Tented Lodge on a private safari from Kigali.

Plan This Safari

3 Days / 2 Nights / Lake Ihema / Private Safari

Safari vehicle watching giraffes in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park / Savannah Game Drives
3 Days 2 Nights at Ruzizi
Big Five Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino
1 Boat Trip Lake Ihema
Private 4x4 Kigali Pickup and Drop-Off
Your Journey at a Glance

3 days among Akagera's plains, lakes and woodland

Stay at one lodge for both nights. Take the boat trip on arrival day, then keep a full day for the game tracks.

01 / DAY 1

Kigali and Lake Ihema

Travel to Akagera, settle into Ruzizi and take an afternoon boat safari.

02 / DAY 2

Akagera Game Drives

Spend the day on the tracks, with a picnic lunch between sightings.

03 / DAY 3

Morning Drive and Kigali

Enjoy a final game drive before returning to your agreed Kigali drop-off.

Rwanda Beyond the Forests

Big Five country within reach of Kigali

This 3 day Akagera Big Five safari takes you east from Kigali to Akagera National Park . Spend 2 nights at Ruzizi Tented Lodge and see the park from both the game tracks and the water.

Akagera holds lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and both black and white rhinos. Your driver will search suitable areas while leaving time to watch giraffes, zebras and antelopes along the way. Seeing every member of the Big Five takes luck as well as patient searching.

The Lake Ihema boat trip brings a change of pace on Day 1. Watch hippos in the water, crocodiles along the banks and birds moving between the reeds. Day 2 is reserved for a full game drive, with a picnic lunch so you can stay out in the park.

A final morning drive rounds off the stay before the return to Kigali. This trip works as a short break or as part of a longer Rwanda safari . For gorillas and golden monkeys, add time around Volcanoes National Park .

What Your Safari Includes

Safari Highlights

01

Search for the Big Five in Rwanda's savannah national park.

02

Cruise Lake Ihema for hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds.

03

Spend a full day on game drives, with a picnic lunch in the park.

04

Watch giraffes, zebras and antelopes across woodland and open grassland.

05

Stay 2 nights at Ruzizi Tented Lodge beside Lake Ihema.

06

Travel with a private driver from and back to Kigali.

Giraffe viewing on a game drive in Akagera National Park
Akagera Game Drives
Boat safari on Lake Ihema in Akagera National Park
Lake Ihema Boat Safari
Lakeside deck at Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Ruzizi Tented Lodge
Your 3 Day Journey

Akagera safari day by day

An afternoon on Lake Ihema, a full day of game drives and a final morning in the park, with 2 nights at Ruzizi Tented Lodge.

01

Kigali to Akagera and Lake Ihema boat safari

Meet your BLS Safaris driver at your Kigali hotel or agreed city pickup point after breakfast. Travel east through Rwanda's countryside towards Akagera National Park . Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the southern entrance, followed by park formalities and the drive to the lodge.

Watch for giraffes, zebras, impalas and buffaloes along the tracks as you enter. Continue to Ruzizi Tented Lodge, check in and have lunch before your afternoon on Lake Ihema.

Meet the boat crew and set off along the lake's shoreline. Watch hippos surfacing in the water and crocodiles resting near the banks. Scan the trees and reeds for African fish eagles, kingfishers, herons and cormorants.

Allow about 1 hour for a standard scheduled boat trip. The confirmed departure determines the afternoon's timing. Return to the lodge for dinner and your first night beside Lake Ihema.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge Lunch and Dinner Lake Ihema Boat Trip Included Approximately 2.5 to 3 Hours to the Park
Start from Kigali in the morning to allow time for lunch and the boat departure. If arriving by air that day, share your flight schedule before confirming the programme.
02

Full day Akagera Big Five game drive

Have an early breakfast and leave with a packed lunch for a full day in the park. Follow tracks through woodland, valleys and grassland, stopping wherever animals are feeding or moving.

Look for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, topis and waterbucks. Your driver will also search for lions, leopards and spotted hyenas, using fresh tracks and recent sightings to shape the route.

Both black and white rhinos live in Akagera. Give the search time, while enjoying the animals you encounter along the way. A distant herd, a feeding elephant or giraffes crossing the road can all become long stops.

Take a picnic break at a designated area, then continue the afternoon game drive. Where road conditions and the day's timing allow, travel towards the northern plains for broader views across the grazing areas.

Your route includes the time needed to return to Ruzizi in the south. Arrive at the lodge before evening access closes, then have dinner and spend your second night beside the lake.

Ruzizi Tented Lodge Breakfast, Picnic Lunch and Dinner Full Day Game Drive
Akagera is a large park. The route depends on animal movements, track conditions and the return distance to the lodge. Big Five sightings cannot be guaranteed.
03

Morning game drive and return to Kigali

After an early breakfast, check out and set off for your final game drive. Spend the cooler morning hours watching the park wake up, with time for grazing herds, birds and any fresh sightings along the route.

Your driver will plan the morning around your Kigali drop-off time. Continue towards the agreed exit, then leave the park for the road journey back to the city. Lunch is arranged around the day's timing.

Return to your Kigali hotel or continue to Kigali International Airport when your flight schedule allows. A Kigali city visit or Kigali Genocide Memorial stop can be arranged separately if there is enough time.

Travellers continuing their holiday can add our Rwanda gorilla, golden monkey and Lake Kivu safari , with transfers and permit dates coordinated as part of the longer journey.

Breakfast and Lunch Final Morning Game Drive Kigali Hotel or Airport Drop-Off No Overnight Included
Allow time for the game drive, park exit, road transfer and airport check-in. A morning flight requires different final-night arrangements.
Your Safari Arrangements

Safari Inclusions and Exclusions

What's Included

  • Kigali pickup and drop-off at the agreed hotel or airport.
  • Private 4x4 safari vehicle with a pop-up roof.
  • English-speaking driver and scheduled park guiding services.
  • Fuel for the scheduled transfers and game drives.
  • 2 nights at Ruzizi Tented Lodge, subject to availability.
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary and confirmed quotation.
  • Akagera entrance, vehicle access and applicable conservation fees for the scheduled programme.
  • Scheduled Lake Ihema boat trip.
  • Full day game drive on Day 2.
  • Morning game drive on Day 3.
  • Bottled drinking water during the safari.
  • BLS Safaris support during the journey.

What's Not Included

  • International and domestic flights.
  • Rwanda visa or entry costs where applicable.
  • Travel and medical insurance.
  • Kigali accommodation before or after the safari.
  • Alcoholic drinks and beverages outside the lodge's included meal plan.
  • Tips for drivers, park staff and lodge staff.
  • Laundry, telephone calls, souvenirs and personal shopping.
  • Additional meals outside the confirmed programme.
  • Optional night drives, conservation visits and cultural outings.
  • Kigali city or Memorial visits, unless added to the quotation.
  • Any service outside the confirmed inclusions.
Before You Travel

Akagera Safari FAQs

Answers to the main questions about the drive from Kigali, animal sightings, Lake Ihema and your lodge stay.

1. Can I see all of the Big Five in Akagera?
Akagera holds lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino, including both black and white rhinos. Seeing all of them during 3 days is not guaranteed. Your driver will search suitable areas while giving you time with the animals encountered along the way.
2. How long is the drive from Kigali?
Allow about 2.5 to 3 hours from Kigali to Akagera's southern entrance. Traffic, stops and your pickup point affect the timing. Park formalities and the drive to Ruzizi add time after reaching the gate.
3. Is the Lake Ihema boat trip included?
Yes. A scheduled boat trip is included on Day 1. Allow about 1 hour for a standard departure, with time before and after for transfers and boarding. Your confirmed itinerary states the departure time. The boat can be shared with other visitors.
4. Where do we stay during the safari?
Both nights are at Ruzizi Tented Lodge beside Lake Ihema in southern Akagera. The lodge has en-suite tents and lakeside seating areas. Accommodation is subject to availability. Any alternative is agreed before the safari is confirmed.
5. When is the best time for this trip?
The dry periods from June to September and December to February bring easier track conditions and clearer views through shorter grass. The wetter months bring green scenery and active birdlife, with some tracks becoming slower after rain. Carry rain protection in every season.
6. What should I pack for Akagera?
Pack light neutral clothing, a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent and comfortable closed shoes. Bring binoculars, a camera, spare batteries and a light jacket for early drives and the boat trip. A small waterproof bag protects electronics from rain and spray.
7. Is a night game drive included?
No. The package includes the scheduled daytime drives and Lake Ihema boat trip. An Akagera night drive can be requested as an additional activity for overnight guests, subject to park availability and an extra charge. Arrange it before arrival.
8. Can I combine Akagera with gorilla trekking?
Yes. Add a Rwanda gorilla safari in Volcanoes National Park before or after Akagera. Allow a transfer day between the parks and confirm gorilla permits before fixing the final travel dates.
Your Akagera Safari Starts Here

Take to the tracks. Spend an afternoon on Lake Ihema.

Share your travel dates, number of travellers and Kigali pickup point. BLS Safaris will arrange your private transport, game drives, Lake Ihema boat trip and 2 nights at Ruzizi.

Plan My Akagera Safari Chat on WhatsApp
BLS Safaris Ltd