How an Akagera safari works
There are three ways to do a game drive in Akagera. You can drive your own vehicle, you can drive your own vehicle with a guide on board, or you can book a park vehicle that comes with a driver and a guide. Self-drive visitors may use the park every day from 06:00 to 18:00. Giraffes, zebras, antelopes and baboons live here, and so do elephants, buffalo, hippos and Nile crocodiles. Lions and rhinos are present too, but no drive can promise to find them.
Entry is charged per person and does not include the vehicle fee, a guide, a boat trip, accommodation or other activities. Prices below are for 2026 and the 2026–2027 tariff.
Our picks: Akagera safaris
The all-inclusive day safari gives you one clear price with park entry. The two-day tour adds the Lake Ihema boat and a second day of driving, and the private day lets you choose the car and the options.
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.
2-day Akagera safari with park entry and boat
- Park entry
- Lake Ihema boat trip
- Meals and drinks
Guided game drives over two days, with transport from and back to Kigali. Accommodation is extra, so plan your own night near the park.
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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.
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One-day Akagera wildlife safari from Kigali
- Private 4x4
- Kigali hotel or airport transfer
- Lunch and drinks
A private 4x4 with a driver-guide, with or without a pop-up roof depending on the option. Park entry and the boat on Lake Ihema come only with the matching option.
Check availability →Akagera safaris and game drives
Guided game drives, day trips and multi-day safaris in Akagera, with live prices and availability.
Akagera game drive options compared
Per vehicle or per person, 2026–2027 tariff. Entry is extra.
| Option | Who drives | Guide | Extra cost on top of entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-drive | You | – | Vehicle fee, $10 to $40 for a car or minibus |
| Self-drive with a guide | You | On board | Vehicle fee plus $25 half day or $40 full day |
| Park vehicle, half day | Park driver | Included | $200 per vehicle, up to 7 guests |
| Park vehicle, full day | Park driver | Included | $350 per vehicle, up to 7 guests |
Half-day park drives run from 06:30 to 11:30 or from 12:00 to 17:00. The full-day drive runs from 06:30 to 17:00. A park vehicle is picked up and returned in the south only. For most first-time visitors, a half-day or full-day park vehicle is the easiest start, and a self-drive with a guide suits you if you have your own 4x4 and want to set the pace.
Self-drive and guide in Akagera
What to book and what to bring.
Self-drive rules
Your own vehicle is allowed, and a guide can come with you. The park advises a 4x4 in the rainy season. For the rainy months, see weather and the best time to visit.
Guide prices
A guide for a self-drive costs $25 for half a day and $40 for a full day. Park guides and community freelance guides are both available.
Fees to expect
Entry is per person and the vehicle fee is separate. An international adult with a car or minibus pays $100 for entry and $10 to $40 for the vehicle, which makes $110 to $140 before guide, boat and food. The vehicle rate depends on where the car is registered, so ask which applies when you book. All rates are on the park fees page.
The south and the north of the park
Plan the two areas separately.
The southern part around Lake Ihema has the reception and the southern activities, including the boat trips. The northern plains and Karenge are far from the south. Pick up your guide at the southern reception before you drive north. A guide in Karenge is possible on request, with an extra charge for food and accommodation, so ask when you book.
A crossing from south to north with an exit in the north counts as a full guide day, however long it takes. Arrange the guide's return through Kayonza. The guide's night in Karenge costs RWF 20,000 extra, and the guide's transport from the north gate to Kayonza is at most RWF 5,000. There is no fixed time for a south to north safari. Plan the route with the reception, because no one can promise that every track is open.
What you may see on a game drive
Chances, not promises.
Giraffes, zebras, antelopes and baboons are the animals most visitors meet. Elephants, buffalo, hippos and Nile crocodiles are present as well. Lions came back in 2015 and rhinos in 2017 and 2021, and 70 more white rhinos arrived in June 2025. Read about each species on the Big Five page and the wildlife page. To see hippos and crocodiles from the water, add a boat trip on Lake Ihema.
Akagera safari: frequently asked questions
Do I need a guide for a self-drive?
No. Your own vehicle is allowed, and a guide is optional. A guide costs $25 for half a day and $40 for a full day, and can join you on the whole drive.
How much does a park vehicle cost?
A half day costs $200 per vehicle and a full day $350, with driver and guide included, for up to 7 guests. Entry for each guest is extra.
What hours can I drive?
Self-drive game drives run daily from 06:00 to 18:00. Half-day park drives start at 06:30 or 12:00, and the full-day drive starts at 06:30.
Do I need a 4x4?
The park advises a 4x4 in the rainy season. No one can promise that every route is open, so ask at the reception before you set off.
Can I do the whole park in one day?
There is no fixed number of hours for it. The south and the north are far apart, and a crossing counts as a full guide day. A day visit in the south is possible, and a crossing to the north needs more time.