6-Day Akagera & Lake Ihema Safari

Safari Overview

Explore Rwanda’s only savannah park, Akagera, combining Big Five game drives with a relaxing boat safari on Lake Ihema. This 6-day safari takes you through rolling savannah plains, acacia woodlands, and lush wetlands, offering the chance to spot elephants, lions, rhinos, buffaloes, and leopards the Big Five. Akagera is one of Africa’s most beautiful and underrated national parks, where wildlife thrives against the backdrop of Lake Ihema and the distant hills of Tanzania. This is Rwanda at its wildest untamed, authentic, and unforgettable.

Safari Highlights

• Day 1: Transfer from Kigali to Akagera – Afternoon game drive

• Day 2: Full-day game drives – Photography & wildlife viewing

• Day 3: Morning & afternoon game drives – Optional bush walk

• Day 4: Lake Ihema boat safari – Hippos, crocodiles & birds

• Day 5: Optional walking safari – Leisure at the lodge

• Day 6: Transfer to Kigali – Departure

 

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Akagera National Park – Afternoon Game Drive

Your safari begins with an early morning pickup from your Kigali hotel. After a brief introduction and orientation, you depart for Akagera National Park, located in eastern Rwanda along the Tanzanian border. The drive takes approximately 2.5 to 3 hours, passing through Rwanda’s rolling hills, rural villages, and scenic countryside.

Upon arrival, check into your lodge with views overlooking the park and Lake Ihema. After lunch, head out for your first afternoon game drive across the savannah. The golden light of the late afternoon is perfect for photography as you spot elephants, buffaloes, antelopes, and perhaps the elusive leopard.

Meal Plan: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drives – Photography & Wildlife Viewing

Wake early for a full day of game driving across Akagera’s diverse landscapes savannah plains, acacia woodlands, and papyrus swamps. This is one of the best ways to experience the park’s incredible biodiversity. Your guide will navigate the park’s tracks, adjusting the route based on wildlife movements and recent sightings.

During the day, you may encounter:

• Elephants

• Buffaloes

• Lions

• Giraffes

• Zebras

• Antelopes (impala, waterbuck, bushbuck, topi)

• Rare bird species

Guided photography stops are included throughout the day, ensuring you capture the perfect shot of the wildlife and landscapes. A picnic lunch inside the park allows uninterrupted wildlife viewing. Return to the lodge in the late afternoon for dinner and relaxation.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Morning & Afternoon Game Drives – Optional Bush Walk

Start your day with an early morning game drive the best time to see predators in action as lions and leopards return from the night’s hunt. The cool morning air and soft light create the perfect conditions for wildlife viewing and photography.

Return to the lodge for breakfast and relaxation through the heat of the day. In the afternoon, head out for another game drive, exploring different sectors of the park. The wetlands and riverine areas are particularly productive during the dry season, with large concentrations of wildlife gathering around water sources.

For the adventurous, an optional bush walk is available in designated safe zones, offering a different perspective on Akagera’s wildlife and plant life. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Lake Ihema Boat Safari – Hippos, Crocodiles & Birds

Today brings a change of pace. After breakfast, head to the shores of Lake Ihema, the park’s largest lake, for a half-day boat safari. This is one of the highlights of the entire safari. As you glide across the tranquil waters, you’ll encounter enormous pods of hippos, Nile crocodiles basking on the banks, and a spectacular array of birdlife.

Keep your eyes peeled for:

• Hippos grunting and splashing

• Nile crocodiles sunning themselves

• Fish eagles diving for their catch

• Herons, kingfishers, and cormorants

• The rare shoebill stork (if you’re lucky)

The boat safari offers a unique perspective on Akagera’s wildlife, bringing you closer to the water-dwelling creatures that are harder to spot on land. After the boat safari, return to the lodge for a relaxing afternoon at leisure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Optional Walking Safari – Lodge Relaxation

On your final full day in Akagera, you have the option to go on a guided walking safari. Accompanied by an armed ranger, you’ll explore the park on foot, gaining a deeper understanding of the smaller creatures, tracks, and plant life that you might miss from a vehicle. This is an intimate way to connect with the African bush.

Alternatively, you can choose to spend the day at the lodge, enjoying the amenities the pool, the views, and the peaceful sounds of the savannah. In the evening, enjoy a final dinner overlooking the park as the sun sets over the hills of Tanzania.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Transfer to Kigali – Departure

After breakfast, depart Akagera and begin the journey back to Kigali. The scenic route offers one last chance to enjoy the rolling hills of Rwanda. Upon arrival in Kigali, you will be transferred to Kigali International Airport for your departure flight, carrying with you memories of Akagera’s wildlife and the beauty of Rwanda’s only savannah park.

Meal Plan: Breakfast & Lunch

Safari Inclusions

• Accommodation as mentioned in the itinerary

• All meals as specified in the itinerary

• Park entry fees and conservation fees

• Game drives as mentioned in the itinerary

• Lake Ihema boat safari

• Optional walking safari (if chosen)

• Private 4×4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof

• Professional English-speaking driver-guide

• Bottled drinking water throughout the safari

• Government taxes and park fees

Safari Exclusions

• International flights

• Rwanda visa

• Travel insurance (mandatory)

• Personal expenses (drinks, laundry, souvenirs)

• Tips and gratuities for guides and staff

• Accommodation in Kigali before and after the safari

• Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary

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