Rwanda
2-Day Akagera Big Five Wildlife Safari
Diverse Beauty
From
$1,780 PP
Duration
2 Days
Pickup
Kigali
Best Time
1 january to 28 February
This two-day journey into Rwanda’s Akagera National Park offers a complete Big Five safari experience just hours from Kigali. Track lions, elephants, rhinos, and more across the savannah, swamps, and rolling hills of this biodiverse haven. Enjoy an afternoon game drive on day one, followed by a relaxing overnight at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge. On day two, take to the water with a guided boat ride on Lake Ihema, then continue with a final game drive through the park’s northern section. This is a perfect wilderness escape for those looking to make the most of a short stay — without missing the highlights.
Highlights
Track Africa’s Big Five—lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo—on guided game drives through Akagera’s savannahs and wetlands.
Cruise Lake Ihema on a boat safari with sightings of hippos, crocodiles, kingfishers, and the rare shoebill stork.
Relax with a full-board overnight stay at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, blending comfort with views of the park’s wilderness.
Day 1 – Kigali to Akagera National Park (Approx. 2.5 hrs)
07:30 – Pickup from your Kigali hotel or residence and depart for Akagera B.
10:30 – Arrive at the park headquarters for registration and a short briefing. Begin a guided game drive, exploring southern regions of the park and searching for elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, antelopes, and dozens of bird species.
13:00 – Break for lunch at Lake Mihindi Restaurant inside the park.
14:30–17:30 – Continue the afternoon game drive with chances to spot predators and rhinos.
Evening – Check in at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, enjoy dinner and a relaxed overnight.
Accommodation: Mantis Akagera Game Lodge
Room Type: Standard Room (Twin or Double)
Meals: Lunch, Dinner, Breakfast (Full Board)
Day 2 – Akagera National Park to Kigali
07:00 – After breakfast, transfer to Lake Ihema for a 1-hour guided boat safari. Expect hippos, crocodiles, kingfishers, herons, and the rare shoebill stork.
10:30 – Resume your final game drive as you head north through the park, covering diverse ecosystems.
13:00 – Lunch break at Lake Mihindi Restaurant.
15:00–16:30 – Leisurely game viewing as you make your way to the northern gate for park exit. Return to Kigali; drop-off at your hotel or the airport.
THE END
Tour Pricing (Per Person in USD)/ 2025
Group Size
1 Person
2 People
3 People
4 People
5 People
6 People
International / African Guests
$1780
$1260
$1170
$1075
$960
$915
Foreign Residents
$1705
$1210
$1120
$1025
$910
$865
EA & Rwandan Citizens
$1675
$1180
$1100
$1005
$890
$845
What's Included
- Round-trip hotel transfers in Kigali
- One night at Mantis Akagera Game Lodge (half Board)
- Full board meals (from lunch Day 1 to lunch Day 2)
- Park entry fees & permits
- Guided boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Private custom safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- English-speaking professional driver-guide
- Bottled drinking water in the vehicle
- Emergency medical evacuation coverage
- 24/7 assistance throughout the trip
What's Excluded
- Drinks at the lodge unless mentioned
- Tips and gratuities
- Personal expenses (e.g., phone calls, mini-bar, travel insurance
- Visa to Rwanda
- All extras not mentioned in the itinerary
Travel Information – Kenya & Rwanda
Passenger Information:-
– In case of non-availability, we may have to reroute and provide alternative accommodation at lodges of similar category.
– At the moment, gorilla permit rates have not increased. Should they do so in 2026, the cost will be passed on to the guest after informing the agent with a formal communication from Rwanda Development Board.
– Passengers should bring only soft sided bags on safaris as our vehicles have limited luggage space
– All the passengers must have Identification Card/Passport with them throughout their travel.
Tipping:
Tipping is not compulsory but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service and would like to tip. There are no set percentages for tips. Local culture believes the level of tips should be at the discretion of the client and any token of appreciation is gladly received. These are our suggestions: We recommend that you tip your guide direct at the end of your stay in camp; as a rough guideline you might
want to tip from US$5-10 per person/ day.
Photography:
- A good camera with zoom function. 300 mm lenses are adequate for wildlife photography.
- We recommend you bring plenty of memory cards/film and batteries.
- A dustproof bag ensures your camera is safe from the dust whilst on safari.
- A pair of binoculars will enhance your game viewing experience and although your guide will have pairs available to use, you may wish to bring your own.
- Please don’t forget to ask permission before taking a photograph of any Rwandan resident. There could be a charge for this.
- A small flashlight – although flashlights are available at each property.
Safety:
Most areas are as safe as any other destination in the world, however, basic common-sense precautions should be used:
- Ask the concierge at your hotel which areas are safe to walk around in and when
- Travel in groups or pairs and always choose well-lit areas
- Carry only as much cash as necessary
- Don’t leave your property unattended
- Don’t draw attention to yourself by flaunting valuables around openly or counting your cash at the ATM
- Carry a copy of your passport/ ID in a separate section of your luggage
- Clothing:
- Subdued safari colors such as khaki, green, beige and neutral colors (dark blue and black clothing is not practical during game drives/treks but can be worn at the lodges)
- Shirts with long sleeves
- (Safari) trousers
- A fleece or thick sweater is recommended for early mornings
- Lightweight waterproof jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes sturdy shoes for hiking, (running/tennis shoes are fine).
- Jackets or ties are not required nor any special dress code when dining in lodges & restaurants.
- Swimwear is fine on the beach or around the pool, but not appropriate in town. Topless sunbathing is prohibited.
What to Bring on Safari:
- Sunscreen
- Toiletries, personal medication
- Insect repellent
- Sunglasses
- Camera (with extra memory card and batteries)
- Binoculars
- Lip balm
- Hand wipes
- Wildlife checklist (or just paper) & a pen
Please use the form below for bookings or questions
Voices of the Journey: Gorilla African Tours Reviews
Dale C2024-12-17Verified Gorrile Africain Tours We contacted Gorille Africain Tours about a safari to Tanzania in October. After a few emails we had a phone conversation with one of their representatives that we felt was very benificial.Gorille put a perfect 10 day tour of Tanzania, Zanzibar and Mafia Island together for us Our Guide Albert picked us up at the airport in Kilimanjaro and we toured Tarangire,Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater all very unique from each other National parks.Be prepared for rough roads ( called an African Massage). We found standing up in the Landcruiser and holding on to the handrails the most comfortable way to ride and view wildlife. A good pair of binoculars is a must. We went in December which is the slow season a sometimes we were the only guests at some of the lodges. This meant less traffic and uncrowded roads and if we did get rain it didnt last for long. The Landcruiser can hold 7 passengers but we felt 2 or 4 is the best for viewing and communication. Our guide Albert was amazing, competent, knowledgeable and fun to be with. We flew to Zanzibar for our last 3 days, lots of history of the Spice trades and excellent museum on the history of the slave trade. We stayed one night in Stone town and toured and then were driven to the NE side for 2 nights. Long beaches, amazing sand. Beach shoes are a must as the shallow pool between the beach and the reef is full of urchins. No swimming but wading in the incredible warm water There are Snorkel and Scuba trips available right from the beach.. We flew to a remote island called Mafia one day and after a few hours of searching ( no guarantees) we found a pod of 6 Whale Sharks and were able to snorkel amongst them for over an hour,an amazing experience! We can’t thank Goriile enough for arranging such an amazing trip for us and we wouldn’t have changed a thing.We travelled to Africa to find adventure and we found it and a whole lot more! sally2024-12-15Verified Legends Safari. We went into the Kruger with Legends Safari and we had so many amazing sightings all up close. Within 2 hours we had seen the Big 5. Our guide Bradley was outstanding....highly recommend Kdot Innocent2024-12-12Verified Gorilla Trekking Experience On Sept 28 I went gorilla trekking with my friend, and it was an incredible experience! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was absolutely breathtaking. The team from Gorille Africain Tours went above and beyond to make our trip unforgettable. Everything was well-organized, and our driver was fantastic so friendly and professional. I’d highly recommend them to anyone planning a gorilla trekking adventure!
Embark on a journey with Gorille Africain Tours to discover the hidden gems and breathtaking landscapes of Africa.
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