Rwanda's Big Five in Akagera
All five species live in Akagera: lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino. That makes it the place in Rwanda for an Akagera Big Five safari. The Big Five do not include gorillas, which live in a different park in the northwest. The simplest way to look for the five is an Akagera safari, either self-drive or with a guide.
Lions and rhinos were gone from the park and came back through translocations. The dates below tell you when. They are not today's population counts, and nobody can promise you all five on one drive.
Looking for gorillas instead? They live in the Volcanoes region: see gorilla trekking in Rwanda.
The Big Five in Akagera at a glance
Dates and numbers, no sighting promise.
| Animal | In Akagera | What the dates say |
|---|---|---|
| Lion | Present | 7 lions (2 males, 5 females) brought from South Africa in July 2015 |
| Leopard | Present | Rarely seen, no sighting promise |
| Elephant | Present | 26 young elephants moved in 1975; about 142 in 2025 |
| Buffalo | Present | Seen on normal game drives |
| Rhino | Southern white and eastern black | White rhinos from 2021, black rhinos from 2017 |
For a first visit, a safari of one full day gives you the best mix of grassland, lakes and woodland. Overnight guests add the night drive and the boat trip. See the night drive page for the evening options.
Our pick: a Big Five day safari
A day safari from Kigali with park entry and a boat trip is an easy way to look for the Big Five, though no tour can promise any of them.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. 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.
Akagera Big Five safaris
Day trips from Kigali and multi-day Big Five safaris in Akagera, with live prices and availability.
Akagera lions: back since 2015
Lions disappeared from Akagera, and in July 2015 seven lions came in from South Africa: two males and five females. That is the starting group, not a count for today, so do not rely on any exact number for the pride.
Lions are the animals most visitors want to find, and no one can promise a sighting. A guide and more time in the park improve your chances.
Rhinos, elephants, leopards and buffalo
The other four of the five.
Rhinos
Southern white rhinos arrived from 2021, with a further 70 in June 2025. Eastern black rhinos returned in May 2017, when 18 came from South Africa, after the last earlier sighting in 2007. Five more black rhinos followed from European zoos in June 2019. The full story is on our page about white and black rhinos in Akagera.
Elephants
In 1975, 26 young elephants were moved to the park, and the population grew from them. In 2025 the park had 142 elephants, of which 106 are identified individually.
Leopards
Leopards live in the park. As with all wildlife, there is no guarantee, so do not plan a trip around seeing one.
Buffalo
Buffalo live in the park. You look for them from a vehicle during a normal game drive.
How to give yourself good chances on a game drive
Options and 2026 to 2027 prices for the Big Five.
Drive yourself
Your own vehicle is allowed, and the regular day runs from 06:00 to 18:00. A self-drive guide costs $25 for half a day or $40 for a full day. A vehicle costs $10 to $40 for a car or minibus and $20 to $100 for a bus, depending on registration, so ask which rate applies when you book.
Park vehicle with driver and guide
A half-day costs $200 per vehicle and a full day $350, for up to 7 guests. Half-day slots run from 06:30 to 11:30 or from 12:00 to 17:00, and a full day from 06:30 to 17:00. Pickup and return are in the south only.
Add the evening
The night drive adds a different light and different animals. It costs $40 for adults and $25 for children.
Stay in your vehicle
Stay in the vehicle during a game drive and keep a safe distance. No fixed distance in metres applies to every animal, so follow your guide.
Entry is separate: $100 for an international adult for one day (2026 to 2027). See Akagera park fees for the full table.
Plan the rest of your Akagera visit
More on the animals and the park.
Rwanda Big Five: frequently asked questions
Does Rwanda have the Big Five?
Yes, in Akagera National Park. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino all live there. Gorillas are not part of the Big Five and live in a different park.
Can I see all of the Big Five in one day?
Nobody can promise it. Plan two days and add a night drive for better chances.
When did the lions come back to Akagera?
In July 2015, when seven lions arrived from South Africa. Two were males and five were females.
How many rhinos live in Akagera?
A little over 100 white rhinos as of September 2026, plus black rhinos that were reintroduced from 2017 and 2019.
Which rhino species live in Akagera?
Southern white rhinos and eastern black rhinos. The northern white rhino does not live in the park.
How many elephants live in Akagera?
In 2025 the park had 142 elephants, 106 of them individually identified. The herds go back to 26 young elephants moved to the park in 1975.