Akagera Safari Activities: Game Drives, Boat Trips and Night Drives in Rwanda

Akagera National Park lies on Rwanda's border with Tanzania and is the country's only savannah park. After decades of pressure from displacement and poaching, the park was restored through a partnership with a conservation organisation, and lions were reintroduced in 2015 and black rhinos in 2017. The result is a park that now offers the Big Five again.

Activities include morning and afternoon game drives, boat trips on Lake Ihema, guided night drives and bird-watching in papyrus swamps. It pairs well with a gorilla itinerary because the contrast between the volcano forests and the open plains is striking. For general facts, see the main Akagera National Park guide.

This guide is part of our East Africa travel guides. When you are ready to plan, see our Uganda safari packages or the Ameera Africa Safaris Uganda tours homepage.

Game Drives

Drives run in the cool early morning and again in the late afternoon. Typical sightings include zebras, giraffes, buffalo, elephants, hippos and a variety of antelope, with lions and leopards harder to find. Hiring a guide improves your chances of spotting predators.

Boat Trips on Lake Ihema

Boat trips give close views of hippos, crocodiles and birds, including the African fish eagle and, if you are lucky, the papyrus gonolek. The calm water also suits photography in the late afternoon light.

Night Drives and Camping

Guided night drives can reveal genets, civets, bushbabies and other nocturnal animals. Accommodation ranges from camps to lodges. For the full trip, see our 3-day Akagera tour.

Planning Rwanda with Uganda? Tell us your dates and we will combine both countries in one smooth itinerary, with transfers and permits arranged.

Related Tours, Guides and Resources

• Ameera Africa Safaris homepage: Uganda safaris, tours and holidays
• Uganda safari packages
• Uganda travel guide
• How to book a Uganda safari
• Plan your safari with our team