Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s largest protected area and its only savanna reserve – a scenic mix of rolling plains, forested ridges, swamps and a chain of lakes along the Kagera River on the Tanzanian border. Established in 1934 and superbly restored in recent years, Akagera is now a Big Five destination offering a very different experience from Rwanda’s misty gorilla forests.

Game drives

Game drives are the heart of an Akagera safari. Across the savanna and wetlands you can see lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhino, giraffe, zebra and many antelope species, along with hippo and crocodile in the lakes.

Boat cruise on Lake Ihema

A highlight of any visit is a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, Rwanda’s second-largest lake, where you glide past pods of hippo, basking crocodiles and superb birdlife.

Birding

Akagera is a birder’s paradise with hundreds of species, including the sought-after shoebill, herons, kingfishers, fish eagles and ospreys around its wetlands.

Night drives and cultural visits

Guided night drives offer the chance to spot nocturnal species and predators on the hunt, while community and cultural experiences around the park add a rewarding human dimension to your safari.