Akagera National Park at a glance
Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda on the border with Tanzania, with the Kagera River along its eastern edge. The landscape is a mix of savanna, woodland, lakes, papyrus swamps and floodplains. The park was founded in 1934, and African Parks and the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) have managed it together since 2010 through the Akagera Management Company.
This guide covers safari and game drives, tours and day trips from Kigali, boat trips on Lake Ihema, night drives and other activities, the Big Five, rhinos, wildlife and birds, the park's history, fees, weather, accommodation, the way there and the towns of Rwamagana and Kayonza. The park is 110 km from Kigali, about 2 to 2.5 hours by road. Prices are for 2026 and the 2026–2027 tariff, and they can change.
Our picks: Akagera tours
Most visitors are well served by a day safari from Kigali with park entry in the price. Choose the camping trip or the four-day tour if you want more time in the park, and the balloon flight if the sunrise matters more than the animals.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
4-day Akagera Big Five safari with boat cruise
- Private 4WD and guide
- Lake Ihema boat trip
- Picnic lunch
Two park days with a night drive and a boat cruise on Lake Ihema, then the road back to Kigali. Park entry, hotels and dinners are extra.
Check availability →
2-day Akagera safari with a night camping
- Tent and sleeping bag
- Kigali transfers
- Picnic or hot lunch
Two days of game drives in a 4x4, with a night in a tent in the park. Park entry is extra unless you pick it as an option.
Check availability →
All-inclusive Akagera day safari from Kigali
- Park entry
- Airport or hotel transfer
- Lunch and water
A 4x4 with Wi-Fi and a charging point, with park entry in the same price. The optional boat trip on Lake Ihema costs extra.
Check availability →
Hot air balloon flight over Akagera with breakfast
- Balloon flight with pilot
- Bush breakfast
- Flight insurance
Transfers start at hotels near the park, so plan your own trip from Kigali. Ask whether park entry is included before you book.
Check availability →
1-day Akagera safari in an open 4x4
- Park entry
- Open Land Cruiser
- Picnic lunch
Pick-up and return in Kigali, a guide and a picnic lunch come with the price. The boat trip on Lake Ihema costs extra.
Check availability →Akagera safaris, boat trips and day trips
Game drives, Lake Ihema boat trips and day trips from Kigali, with live prices and availability.
Plan your Akagera trip
Start with the safari and the fees, then pick the pages you need.
Akagera safari
Self-drive or with a guide, hours, the south and the north of the park.
Rwanda safari tours
What a tour to Akagera includes and what to check before you book.
Day trip from Kigali
Driving time, entry, a boat trip and how the hours add up.
Lake Ihema boat trip
Start times, prices, hippos, crocodiles and water birds.
Night drive and other activities
The night drive, Behind the Scenes, Walk the Line and fishing.
Rwanda's Big Five
Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos in the park.
White and black rhinos
Where the rhinos came from and how many live here.
Wildlife and birds
Giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles and the shoebill.
History and African Parks
From 1934 to the return of lions and rhinos.
Park fees
Entry, vehicles, guides and activities in the 2026–2027 tariff.
Weather and best time
Rainy seasons, dry months and what they mean for your visit.
Where to stay
Tented lodge, bush camp and four campsites inside the park.
Getting there
By road from Kigali, airport transfers and self-drive.
Rwamagana and Kayonza
The eastern towns on the way to the park.
A few things to know before you go
Facts that decide how you plan.
Children up to 5 enter free
Children up to and including 5 years pay no entry and no activity fee. Ages 6 to 12 pay the child rate, and from 13 the adult rate applies.
Park fees →The rhino count is much higher than it was
The first 30 southern white rhinos arrived in 2021. 70 more came from South Africa in June 2025, and by September 2026 the park had a little over 100 white rhinos.
Rhinos →Two lakes, two activities
The boat trip runs on Lake Ihema. Visitor fishing is offered on the shore of Lake Shakani. Do not mix them up when you book.
Boat trip →Walk the Line is outside the park
The guided Walk the Line follows the fence outside the park for 7 km and takes about 2 hours. Ask the park reception which other guided walks are on offer.
Other activities →The vehicle fee depends on registration
A car or minibus costs $10 to $40 and a bus or overland truck $20 to $100, depending on where the vehicle is registered. Ask which rate applies when you book.
Vehicle fees →Entry and travel advice for 2026
A single-entry tourist visa on arrival costs $50 for 30 days, and your passport should be valid for at least 6 months. Government advisories name border areas in the west of Rwanda, while Akagera lies on the border with Tanzania in the east. Check your government's current advice before you book.
Getting there →Akagera in a longer Rwanda trip
Other places have their own guides.
Many visitors add the savanna to a longer trip. For the mountain gorillas, see the guide to gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. For the forest in the southwest, see Nyungwe National Park. The capital has its own page on Kigali. This site stays with Akagera and the places you can reach from it.
More independent Rwanda guides
Separate guides from the same team.
Akagera National Park: frequently asked questions
How far is Akagera from Kigali?
It is 110 km, about 2 to 2.5 hours by road each way, depending on traffic and the gate you use. See the day trip page for how the hours add up.
How much does it cost to enter Akagera?
In the 2026–2027 tariff an adult international visitor pays $100 for one day or night, $150 for two nights and $200 for three nights in total. Children aged 6 to 12 pay $50 for one day. A vehicle, a guide and activities cost extra. See park fees.
Will I see the Big Five?
Lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo and rhinos all live in the park, but no one can promise a sighting of every species on one drive. Good chances come with time, a guide and an early start. More on the Big Five page.
Can I drive myself?
Yes. Your own vehicle is allowed, and the park is open to self-drive visitors daily from 06:00 to 18:00. A guide can join you. In the rainy season the park advises a 4x4. See the safari page.
When is the best time to visit?
Many visitors choose November to April for green landscapes. The longer dry season from June to mid-September makes the tracks easier to use. Both are in the weather guide.
Is akagera-national-park.org the official park website?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It has no link to the park, African Parks, the RDB, any lodge or any tour operator.