2 daysShared groupBudget

2-Day Akagera Big Five Safari

4.7(98 reviews)·Kigali → Akagera·Offered by Akagera Plains Safaris

Rwanda's most affordable proper safari: an overnight in Akagera National Park with an afternoon game drive on arrival and a full dawn drive the next day — the two windows when the park's lions, elephants, rhinos, buffalo and (if you're lucky) leopards are most active. You sleep under canvas at a tented camp on the shore of Lake Ihema, hippos honking in the dark.

This is a shared-group departure, which is exactly why it costs what it does: up to six travellers share the vehicle, the guide and the fun. It runs every week year-round and is the standard answer for anyone in Kigali with a free weekend.

All Big Five possible in one compact park
Dawn game drive — the golden hours when cats move
Night at a lakeside tented camp inside the park
Small shared group (max 6) keeps the price honest

Duration2 days

Tour styleShared group

ComfortBudget · Tented Camp

Park permitsNo trekking permits needed

Minimum ageNo minimum — families welcome

Solo travelersWelcome

CustomizableFixed itinerary

RouteKigali → Akagera

Day by day

1
Day 1Akagera National Park
Kigali to Akagera & afternoon game drive
Pick-ups across Kigali from 7am, then the easy 2.5-hour drive east. After lunch and check-in you head straight out on an afternoon game drive through the southern lakes region — elephant, buffalo, zebra, impala, and hippos wherever there's water. Sundowner at a viewpoint over Lake Ihema before dinner at camp.
Ruzizi Tented LodgeEn-suite safari tents on the Lake Ihema shoreLunch & dinner included
2
Day 2Akagera National Park
Dawn game drive & return
Coffee at 5:30am and out of camp by first light, driving north toward the plains where Akagera's lions den — this is your best window for cats and for black rhino. Brunch back at camp, a swim in the lake air, and the return drive to Kigali by late afternoon.
No overnight — tour ends or day tripBreakfast & lunch included

Rates per person

Group size	Price per person (USD)
Solo	$700
2 people	$520
3 people	$500
4 people	$485
5 people	$475
6+ people	$460

This is a shared-group departure — the vehicle is shared with up to six travellers, which is what keeps the price down. Private departures available on request.
Rates are per person in USD and vary with group size — everyone in the vehicle shares the guide and transport costs.
A 50% deposit confirms your booking; the balance is due 30 days before the trip starts.
Cancellation follows the operator's platform-standard policy shown at checkout.

What's included

Included

Akagera park entrance fees
Both game drives with a shared professional guide
Private 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
Professional English-speaking driver-guide
Airport pick-up and drop-off
Accommodation as listed in the itinerary
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Bottled water throughout the trip
All taxes and VAT

Excluded

Optional boat safari on Lake Ihema (US$45, bookable on arrival)
International flights
Rwanda visa (US$50 on arrival for most nationalities)
Travel insurance
Tips and gratuities (guide, trackers, porters)
Drinks and meals not listed in the itinerary
Personal items and souvenirs

Getting there

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL) — it is served by direct flights from Brussels, Amsterdam, Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, Nairobi and Addis Ababa.
This tour starts and ends in Kigali. Airport pick-up and drop-off are included — your guide meets you in arrivals.
Most nationalities receive a Rwanda visa on arrival (US$50). The East African Tourist Visa also covers Rwanda if you are combining countries.
Arriving early or leaving late? Extra nights in Kigali before or after the tour can be arranged with your quote.

Traveler reviews

4.7

Based on 98 traveler reviews

Reviews are verified — only travelers who completed this tour can leave one.

“Insane value”

Five hundred bucks for two game drives, a tented camp with hippos outside, and we saw four of the Big Five (leopard stayed hidden). Our group of strangers became a WhatsApp group by Sunday. Just go.

Josh T. · United States · Traveled May 2026

“Perfect weekend from Kigali”

I live in Kigali and had put Akagera off for a year. The dawn drive delivered lions on a kill within an hour. Ruzizi is simple but the lakeside setting is worth more than the tent. Take the boat safari add-on.

Amelie R. · Belgium · Traveled November 2025

Showing recent reviews. The full review history arrives with verified post-trip reviews (Milestone 4).