The 10 Best Big Five Game Drives in Rwanda

1.One-day Akagera National Park Game Drive with a Choice 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 105 reviews · from $205Our pick

Spend 13 to 15 hours traveling from Kigali to Akagera National Park in a private safari vehicle. Guides such as Ben, Jean Paul, Anaclet, and Amour focus on finding lions, rhinos, elephants, giraffes, and more. Lunch, hotel transfers, drinking water, and optional Lake Ihema boat rides are part of the plan.

“The team is great! My friend and I didn't realize we'd booked solo trips and they let us go together. Jean Pierre was a great guide Olivier was fabulous at answering all my questions beforehand.”

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2.Cool Share Day Akagera Game Drive, Daily Depart, Boat Ride, Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 25 reviews · from $220

Leave Kigali at 5:00 a.m. for a shared 4WD trip to Akagera National Park. With a driver-guide, picnic lunch, wildlife drive, and one-hour Lake Ihema boat ride, you can see elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, hippos, birds, and more in one long day.

“My driver was exceptional. He knew all the names of the birds and the trees. He stopped whenever I was interested in anything and I was interested in everything. What struck me most was the abundance of birds and butterflies. The boat ride was exceptional also. A young Read more”

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3.Full Day Akagera National Park Game Drive and Boat Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 19 reviews · from $430

Leave Kigali at 5:00 am for a private Akagera safari with a professional driver-guide, a six-hour game drive, and a one-hour Lake Ihema boat ride. Expect rhinos, lions, elephants, hippos, giraffes, and antelopes, plus an Imigongo art stop. Pickup is available in Kigali or at the airport.

“Long drive on dirt roads and heavy traffic Water was not available as promised Xx man f hi j e f c,!(/!(.,!,,!,,!”

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4.2 Day Akagera Big 5 Game drive Safari & Highest Peak Camping

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 16 reviews · 2 days · from $490

You’ll leave Kigali at 9 AM for two private days in Akagera National Park, with guides such as Justin, Paul, Harnich, or Alex. Expect afternoon and morning game drives, a night in a tent at Mutumba Hills, picnic lunch, and chances to see lions, rhinos, elephants, buffaloes, leopards, hippos, giraffes, and hundreds of birds.

“Virkelig god tur med Justin som guide. Vi fik set 4/5 af de store (manglede leoparden, den må vi komme tilbage efter en anden gang). Vi var virkelig glade for at overnatte på savannen, så der var mere tid til at se dyrerne!”

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5.Private Full-Day Tour Akagera Game Drive

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · from $360

Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park with a private driver-guide, stopping at Bashana Companies and Imigongo Art Center for coffee, breakfast, and local art. Spend about six hours on safari, looking for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and birds before returning to Kigali.

“Kevin was the best guide possible! I had an amazing experience in the Akagera safari. We spotted 4 of the big 5. I highly recommend!”

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6.2-Day Akagera National Park Game Drive, Ihema boat trip with a Choice 4×4

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 11 reviews · from $400

Travel from Kigali to Akagera National Park for a private 2-day safari with a driver-guide, an Ihema Lake boat trip, and a full-day game drive. Choose transport only or add lodging at Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi Tented Lodge. A pop-up roof 4x4 gives you a better view of wildlife.

“Went on this safari experience with a group of 11! We had such an awesome time and our guides were so friendly and knowledgeable. Plus saw every kind of big 5 animal up close :)”

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7.12 Hour Custom Day trip for game Drive in Akagera NP

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $323

Leave Kigali around 5 a.m. for Akagera National Park with 1000 Hills Safaris. You can choose a long game drive or combine a Lake Ihema boat trip with a shorter drive. Guides such as Yves, Augustine, Claude, and Augustin lead the day, with lunch, water, and 4x4 transport provided.

“We had an excellent trip to Akagara Game Drive. Yves was our guide, and he was absolutely amazing. He was very knowledgeable and helpful. We were picked up on time from Kigali and we did a full-day trip through the park. Akagara is Read more”

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8.1 Day Akagera Game Drive Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $500

Leave Kigali at 5:00 am for a private, full-day game drive in Akagera National Park. Look for lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, hippos, zebras, and birds with guides such as Shadaday, Abu, Kevin, or Ben. Private transport, park entry, and water are included, but lunch is not.

“We can recommend the 1 day Safari. We saw 4/5 of the big five and additionally our driver Kevin was the best guide/ driver we could ever imagine. He has eyes like an eagle, he knows everything about the nature and we felt very comfortable to drive with him. The day was from the beginning till the end well organized. It was a perfect day for us!”

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9.2-Day Akagera Game Drive, Boatride & Safari resort overnight

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 8 reviews · 2 days · from $590

Spend two days in Akagera National Park with a private guide, 4x4 game drive, optional Lake Ihema boat ride, and an overnight at Rhino Lodge. Guides such as Justin, Elvis, and Philipp are praised for animal tracking and park knowledge. Pickup, meals, water, and resort lodging are included.

“Turen har gitt et minne for livet. Vi hadde en fantastisk guide som het Justin. Hans kunnskap og erfaring gjorde at turen ble en uforglemmelig opplevelse. Vi lærte om samarbeidet mellom de lokale innbyggerne og nasjonalparken. Og vi fikk en fantastisk tur i selve parken hvor vi fikk sett 4 av 5 store. Alt på grunn av han. Vi overnattet på Rhino Logde, som har en rustikk atmosfære og en fantastisk utsikt mot parken, noe som gjorde overnattingen en utrolig flott opplevelse.”

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10.1 Day Akagera Game Drive Safari

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $930

Leave Kigali at 5:30 am for a private Akagera safari with a guide such as Didi or Iddy. Spend about seven hours among savannah, woodland, swamps, and Lake Ihema, looking for elephants, lions, giraffes, hippos, crocodiles, and birds, with lodge lunch included.

“Viator told us in two different occasions that the park entry ticket was included, that was incorrect. But the trip it self was awesome! A good guide with a lot of knowledge.”

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