An Akagera safari is the easiest way to see big African wildlife on a short trip to Rwanda. Akagera National Park sits on Rwanda's eastern border with Tanzania, and an Akagera day trip from Kigali is realistic if you start early. Kigali Safaris helps you choose between a day trip and an overnight stay, explains the Akagera National Park fees, and connects you with RDB-licensed tour operators and drivers who know the park. We are not a tour operator and we do not sell fixed packages: you get options and quotes from licensed providers, and you decide.
Akagera covers just over 1,000 square kilometres of savannah, woodland, papyrus swamp and lakes. Since 2010 it has been managed by African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB). Lions were reintroduced in 2015 and 18 eastern black rhinos in 2017, so the park is once again home to the Big Five. It also counts around 525 bird species, including the shoebill.
Akagera day trip or overnight?
Both work. The right choice depends on your time, budget and how much you want to see.
| Day trip from Kigali | One or two nights in or near the park | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving | Early start and a long return; Visit Rwanda allows about three hours back to Kigali | Drive split over two days |
| Time with wildlife | Mostly the south of the park | South and north, early morning and late afternoon |
| Activities | Game drive, scheduled boat trip | Game drives, sunset boat trip, night drive |
| Entry fee (international adult) | US$100 for the day | US$100 first night, US$150 for two nights in total |
| Best for | Conference visitors and short stays | First safari, photographers, families |
A day trip suits people with one free day between meetings in Kigali. You leave the city before sunrise, enter through the south of the park, take a game drive and, if time allows, a boat trip on Lake Ihema, then head back after lunch or in the late afternoon. An overnight stay lets you be in the park at dawn and dusk, when animals are most active, and opens up the night drive.
Akagera National Park fees (as of October 2026)
These figures come from the price list published by Akagera Management Company. Fees can change, so we confirm them when you request a quote.
| Fee | International visitor | Rwandan/EAC resident | Rwandan/EAC citizen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry, adult, 1 day or night | US$100 | US$50 | RWF 15,000 |
| Entry, adult, 2 nights | US$150 | US$75 | RWF 22,500 |
| Entry, adult, 3 nights | US$200 | US$100 | RWF 30,000 |
| Entry, child 6 to 12, 1 day | US$50 | US$30 | RWF 10,000 |
| Children 5 and under | Free | Free | Free |
African citizens from outside the EAC pay US$50 per adult for one day. Entry is free from the fourth to the seventh night. Day visitors who sleep outside the park pay entry again each day they enter.
Other fees to budget for:
- Vehicle fee: US$10 for a Rwanda or EAC registered car or minibus, US$40 for a foreign-registered one.
- Guide for a self-drive: US$25 half day, US$40 full day.
- Park game drive in an Akagera vehicle with driver and guide (up to 7 people): US$200 half day, US$350 full day per vehicle.
- Boat trip on Lake Ihema: US$35 adult, US$20 child (scheduled, one hour); sunset trip US$45 adult, US$30 child.
- Night drive: US$40 adult, US$25 child.
- Behind the scenes tour: US$25 per person; Walk the Line fence walk: US$30.
The park is cashless: MTN Mobile Money, Direct Pay Online, bank transfer or Visa and Mastercard. For a full trip budget, including transport and lodging, see our Rwanda safari cost guide.
Getting there: operator vehicle, driver or park vehicle
There are three common ways to do an Akagera safari from Kigali:
- With a licensed tour operator: a 4x4 or safari vehicle with a driver guide picks you up at your hotel in Kigali, for example in Kimihurura, Kacyiru or near the Kigali Convention Centre. The operator handles park bookings and fees.
- Hire a car with driver, then add a park guide: useful if you already have a driver for your stay. Add a park guide at reception for US$25 or US$40.
- Drive to the park, then join a park game drive: Akagera runs its own half day and full day drives with vehicle, driver and guide. Half day drives run from 6.30am to 11.30am or 12pm to 5pm.
Visit Rwanda notes that the only way to explore the park is by vehicle. Prices for transport from Kigali vary with vehicle type and season, so contact us for a current quote.
Lake Ihema boat trips and night drives
The boat trip on Lake Ihema, in the south of the park, is a highlight for many visitors. Expect large pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles and many waterbirds nesting on the island in the middle of the lake. Scheduled trips leave at 7.30am, 9am and 3pm, and the sunset trip runs from 4.30pm to 6pm. On a day trip from Kigali, the 9am or 3pm boat usually fits best.
Night drives start at 5.30pm and finish around 8pm to 8.30pm, with pick up from your accommodation. They are your chance to see animals that hide by day, such as bushbabies. You need to stay overnight in or near the park to join one.
What you might see
Akagera mixes open plains with lakes and swamps, so you can see very different wildlife in one day:
- Big cats and predators: lion, leopard, spotted hyena and side-striped jackal.
- Large mammals: elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and eastern black rhino.
- Antelope: topi, waterbuck, roan, eland, impala, oribi and bushbuck.
- Primates: olive baboons and vervet monkeys by day.
- Birds: around 525 species, including the shoebill and the papyrus gonolek.
Sightings depend on season, weather and luck. A good guide improves your chances more than anything else.
Practical tips for your Akagera safari
- Bring a hat, sunscreen and water; Akagera is usually the warmest part of Rwanda.
- Carry a card or have Mobile Money ready, because the park does not take cash.
- Plastic bags are banned in Rwanda, so pack snacks in reusable containers.
- If you plan to tip your driver guide, Visit Rwanda suggests about US$10 per day.
- Drones need a permit from the Rwanda Civil Aviation Authority, so leave yours at home unless you have one.
Combine Akagera with the rest of Rwanda
Akagera pairs well with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, with a Kigali city tour on the day between, or with chimpanzees in Nyungwe National Park. If you only have a day or two, compare Akagera with the other day trips from Kigali.
Plan your Akagera safari
Tell us your dates, number of travellers and budget in the form on this page. We will reply with day trip and overnight options from RDB-licensed operators and drivers, with park fees shown separately so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
Frequently asked questions
Can I do an Akagera day trip from Kigali?
Yes. Many visitors leave Kigali before dawn, spend the day on game drives in the south of the park and return the same evening. Visit Rwanda's own itinerary allows around three hours for the drive back to Kigali, so it is a long day. An overnight stay gives you more time with the animals.
How much are Akagera National Park fees?
As of October 2026, the park's published pricing lists entry for international adults at US$100 per day or night, US$50 for children aged 6 to 12, and free entry for children 5 and under. Rwandan and EAC residents pay US$50 and Rwandan or EAC citizens RWF 15,000.
Can I pay park fees in cash?
No. Akagera is cashless. The park accepts MTN Mobile Money, Direct Pay Online, bank transfer or deposit, and Visa or Mastercard. If you travel with a licensed operator, they usually arrange and invoice the park fees for you in advance.
Do I need a guide in Akagera?
A guide is not compulsory for self-drive visitors, but Visit Rwanda recommends one. As of October 2026 a park or community freelance guide for a self-drive costs US$25 for a half day or US$40 for a full day, and they know where animals have been seen recently.
Can I see the Big Five in Akagera?
Akagera is home to the Big Five again. African Parks reintroduced lions in 2015 and 18 eastern black rhinos in 2017, and the park also holds elephant, buffalo and leopard. Sightings are never guaranteed, especially of leopard and rhino, so treat each one as a bonus.
How long is the Lake Ihema boat trip?
Scheduled boat trips last about one hour and run at 7.30am, 9am and 3pm, with a longer sunset trip from 4.30pm to 6pm. As of October 2026 the scheduled trip costs US$35 per adult and the sunset trip US$45 per adult. Book ahead in busy months.
When is the best time for an Akagera safari?
Akagera is open all year. The dry season from June to mid-September usually makes roads and tracks easier, and animals gather near water. The rainy seasons run from mid-February to May and mid-September to mid-December, when the park is greener and quieter.