Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Where the savanna
Akagera sits in the northeast corner of Rwanda, along the border with Tanzania. It's a different world from the volcanoes — open savanna, acacia woodland, papyrus swamps, and a string of lakes that attract some of the richest birdlife in East Africa.
The park was heavily impacted during the 1994 genocide and its aftermath. What happened since is one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation stories on the continent. Lions were reintroduced in 2015. Black rhino followed in 2017. Today Akagera holds the full Big Five, and the wildlife is thriving.
I've been coming here for years. The light in the morning over Lake Ihema is something I don't think I'll ever get used to.
— Che
No two game drives are the same. These are the animals that define the park.
Lake Ihema is the centrepiece of Akagera. We take a slow boat through channels lined with papyrus, past hippo pools, crocodiles drifting in the shallows, and flocks of birds that you simply don't see anywhere else.
It's a different kind of safari — quieter, slower, more intimate. Guests who do both the game drive and the boat consistently say the boat changes the whole experience.
3 hours from Kigali — comfortable road, good tarmac all the way. I drive you.
Minimum 2 days to do it properly. I recommend 2 nights to cover morning and evening game drives plus the boat.
June to September is peak season with dry conditions. December to February also excellent. Wet seasons bring lush greenery and great birdlife.
Akagera charges a daily park fee of $50 per person, included in your TourwithChe package.
Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, Akagera Rhino Lodge, or Ihema Lodge — all inside the park for maximum wildlife access.
Neutral colours, long sleeves for morning drives, binoculars, sunscreen, and a sense of patience. The best sightings come to those who wait.
Tell me your dates and how many people. I'll put together an itinerary and tell you exactly what to expect.
