2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari
A private two-day journey into Akagera National Park — extended game drives, an overnight stay near the wildlife area, and a Lake Ihema boat cruise for a different perspective of Rwanda's savannah.
2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari
Experience Rwanda's spectacular savannah landscapes on a 2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari from Kigali. This private safari gives you more time than a day trip to explore Akagera National Park, enjoy extended game drives and experience the wildlife around Lake Ihema. Over two days, you have the opportunity to search for elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles and other wildlife — plus a Lake Ihema boat cruise for a different perspective of Akagera's wetlands.
A two-day safari gives you substantially more time to explore Akagera than a one-day trip. Instead of spending most of your second day driving back to Kigali, you spend a night close to the park and return to the savannah for another wildlife-viewing session.
This creates opportunities to explore different areas of the park and experience Akagera at different times of day. You also have time for a Lake Ihema boat cruise, which adds a water-based wildlife experience to the traditional game drive.
A two-day safari gives you more time inside Akagera. With the one-day version, travelers must return to Kigali after the day's game drive. With this itinerary, you spend a night close to the park and have another morning available for wildlife viewing. That means you have:
For travelers who can spare one night, the two-day version provides a more complete Akagera experience.
| Option | Recommended Lodge | Level |
|---|---|---|
| First choice | Salt of Akagera | Mid-range, inside the park |
| Lower-priced option | Dereva Hotel | Mid-range, near the park |
Salt of Akagera is a mid-range lodge inside Akagera National Park with all meals included. Dereva Hotel is a mid-range hotel less than an hour from Akagera National Park. Accommodation is subject to availability, so a comparable property may be substituted.
Detailed 2-Day Itinerary
From Kigali to Akagera National Park, an overnight stay near the wildlife area, and back. Follow the day-by-day timeline below.
Your 2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel in Kigali. We recommend departing around 5:00 AM, allowing you to reach the park early and maximize your wildlife-viewing time. Your private driver-guide takes you east from Kigali toward Akagera National Park. The scenery gradually changes from Kigali's urban environment to rural villages, farmland and open countryside.
After entering Akagera, your game drive begins. Akagera contains a mixture of savannah plains, woodland, wetlands and lakes, supporting a wide range of wildlife. Your guide will select routes according to recent wildlife sightings and current road conditions. You may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, topi, warthogs, waterbucks, hippos, crocodiles, monkeys and numerous bird species. Akagera is also home to the Big Five, although individual wildlife sightings can never be guaranteed.
Around midday, stop for lunch at your lodge or another appropriate location. After lunch, take some time to relax before continuing with the afternoon activities. In the afternoon, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Ihema. The cruise provides an excellent opportunity to observe hippos and crocodiles while exploring the lake's shoreline. You may also see water birds and other wildlife coming to the water. The boat experience is one of the highlights of an Akagera safari because it allows you to experience the park from a completely different perspective.
After the boat cruise, transfer to your lodge for check-in. Enjoy dinner and relax after your first day in the park.
Wake up early and enjoy breakfast at your lodge. Today provides another opportunity to explore Akagera before returning to Kigali. Set out for an early morning game drive when temperatures are cooler and wildlife activity can be good. Your guide will search the park's different habitats for wildlife. Depending on the area explored, you may encounter elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, antelopes and other species.
The second game drive is important because wildlife sightings are unpredictable. Spending another morning in the park gives you another opportunity to encounter species that may not have been seen on Day 1. Return toward the lodge or an appropriate lunch location. After lunch, begin your journey out of Akagera National Park. Continue west toward Kigali. Depending on your schedule, there may be an opportunity to stop for photographs along the way.
Arrive in Kigali in the afternoon or early evening. Your driver-guide drops you at your hotel, Kigali International Airport or another agreed location.
Rates & Pricing
Pricing for this 2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari depends on the number of travelers, lodge availability, activity arrangements and travel dates. Your personalized quotation will clearly show the accommodation, park fees, activities and transport included.
| Number of Travelers | Suggested Price Per Person |
|---|---|
| 1 Traveler | US$950 |
| 2 Travelers | US$695 |
| 3 Travelers | US$610 |
| 4 Travelers | US$565 |
| 5 Travelers | US$535 |
| 6 Travelers | US$510 |
Important: Rates are based on 2 travelers sharing a private 4×4 safari vehicle and mid-range accommodation. Final pricing should be confirmed based on the current Akagera National Park entry fee, activity costs, lodge availability and your actual travel date. A luxury lodge or tented-camp upgrade can be quoted separately.
What's Included in Your 2-Day Safari
We believe in full transparency. Below is exactly what is included in your 2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari — and what is not.
- Private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Kigali hotel pickup and drop-off
- Transportation throughout the safari
- Fuel
- Akagera National Park entry fees
- Game drives
- Lake Ihema boat cruise
- One night mid-range accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Drinking water during the safari
- Driver-guide services
- Activities listed in the itinerary
- International flights
- Rwanda visa
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic drinks
- Tips and gratuities
- Souvenirs
- Additional activities
- Additional accommodation before or after the safari
- Private expenses at the lodge
- Anything not specifically listed under inclusions
Getting There
This 2-Day Akagera Wildlife Safari begins and ends in Kigali, Rwanda. Most travelers are already staying in Kigali or arriving at Kigali International Airport (KGL). We provide complimentary hotel or airport pickup and drop-off in Kigali. Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda and can be reached from Kigali within a few hours by road.
Meet the Tarec Gorilla Safaris Team
We are a locally owned and operated safari company based in Kampala, Uganda. Our team of experienced driver-guides, primate trackers, and travel planners is passionate about sharing the beauty of East Africa with travellers from around the world. Every safari we run is personally designed by someone who has walked the trails, tracked the gorillas, and knows the lodges by name.
Tarec Gorilla Safaris
We are a full-service safari operator offering custom itineraries, group tours, and self-drive packages. Our fleet of well-maintained 4×4 vehicles and our network of trusted lodges ensure a safe, comfortable, and unforgettable safari experience.