6 Day Akagera Big Five Safari & Kigali City Tour

This 6 day Akagera Big Five safari is a calm way to see eastern Rwanda: a Kigali city tour on the way out, a full day of game drives and a boat safari at Akagera National Park, then a second day in Kigali for history and art. The driving is easy, the lodges are comfortable and the schedule leaves room for meals, photographs and rest. Park fees, full board, a driver guide and a safari vehicle are included.

Akagera is Rwanda's only savannah park. It has become a true Big Five destination, with elephants, buffalo, lions, leopards and rhinos living among open plains, woodland, lakes and wetlands. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the quiet roads and varied habitats give you a good chance. Our page on the Big Five safari and the guide to Big Five safaris in East Africa and South Africa help you compare it with other destinations.

The trip also gives time to the capital. You take a city tour on the way out and spend a full day on Rwanda's history, art and food. Our Kigali city tour guide and the Rwanda destination page give the wider picture.

Easy to moderate. You need to be comfortable with normal walking and several hours in a vehicle. The longest drive is from Kigali to Akagera, which takes two and a half to four hours depending on your lodge, traffic and the park gate. Roads are mostly good, but the last stretches and some park roads are slower and uneven. Game drives mean sitting for long periods, sometimes on bumpy ground, so tell us before booking if you have back or mobility problems. The Lake Ihema boat trip lets you watch wildlife from a seat on the water.

June to September is the dry season, when animals gather at the lakes and the grass is shorter. December to February is also dry. The wetter months, March to May and October to November, bring green scenery, fewer visitors and some muddy tracks. Dress in neutral colours and bring a light rain jacket in any season.

This trip suits adults, couples, families with older children, solo travellers and private groups who would rather see wildlife and culture than do a hard trek. If you want a shorter trip see the 4-day Akagera Big Five safari and Lake Muhazi escape, and if you also want gorillas the 5-day gorilla trekking and Akagera safari.

For an Akagera trip that includes conservation and community work, see our Signature Journey, the 10-day Rwanda chimpanzee tracking and Eco Hive Guardian tour, and the Hive Guardians initiative.