2 days Rwanda wildlife safari is one most exceptional offer set for you to explore and experience the pristine wilderness of Akagera National Park which is located in eastern Rwanda. Embarking on this tour gets you the best of Rwanda’s ultimate game viewing experience in Akagera National Park while on a game drive along the savannas and boat cruise along the scenic Lake Ihema.
Akagera National Park is 1112sq.kms and remarkably a complete home to big five African game (African lions, leopards, African bush elephants, rhinos and buffaloes), Masai giraffes, spotted hyenas, hippos, warthogs, crocodiles, zebras, antelopes (kobs, elands, impalas, reedbuck, topis, sitatungas, waterbucks, roan antelopes, duikers), primates including olive baboons, bush babies, vervet monkeys, blue monkeys; bush pigs, black-tailed mongoose; over 550 bird species including shoebill stork, papyrus gonoleks, lesser kestrel and many others. Your 2 days Rwanda wildlife safari to Akagera National Park will begin and end in Kigali which is 2 to 3 hours’ drive.
Things you should expect on 2 days Rwanda wildlife safari
• Game drive
• Boat cruise
• Ground transportation in a comfortable 4×4 safari car
• Services of an English speaking driver guide
Brief itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park
Day 2: Morning game viewing in Akagera National Park and return to Kigali
Detailed itinerary
Day 1: Drive from Kigali to Akagera National Park
After your hot cup of tea or coffee at your lodge, hotel or area of residence in Kigali, you will have a warm welcome from our company representative. Your road trip to Akagera National Park will cover about 2 to 3 hours in a comfortable 4×4 safari vehicle. Arrive early enough at the southern gate which the entry point to Akagera National Park where you will commence with your first game viewing experience along the pristine savanna grassland filled with acacia thickets and woodland. Expect to view diverse species of wildlife including the African bush elephants, lions, buffaloes, leopards, Masai giraffes, zebras, antelopes, rhinos, birds as well as the park’s breathtaking landscape. Later, you will drive back to the lodge where you will be served lunch.
In the afternoon, you will embark on an afternoon boat cruise along the scenic Lake Ihema where you will have a chance to see hippos, basking crocodiles, water birds, and many other wildlife species. After your thrilling water sport on Lake Ihema which may take you approximately 2 to 3 hours, you will get back to your preferred safari lodge to relax, dine and spend a night.
Travel time: 2-3 hours
Meal plan: Lunch and dinner
Accommodation choices
• Ruzizi Tented Camp/Magashi Tented Camp (Luxury).
• Akagera Game Lodge (Midrange).
• Devera Hotel (Budget).
Day 2: Morning game viewing in Akagera National Park and return to Kigali
Enjoy your breakfast early in the morning and after, you will have an early morning game drive from the southern gate to the northern part of Akagera National Park. You will have the opportunity to look out for wildlife species you missed to see the previous day while also enjoying the beautiful landscape filled with acacia thickets, bushes, savanna grassland, and woodland. The wildlife species for you to expect to see include elephants, buffaloes, rhinos, leopards, birds, antelopes, and many others. Drive along the Kilala plains in the north where a huge concentration of wildlife can be spotted and after, you will return to the lodge to have lunch then drive back to Kigali.
End of your 2 days Rwanda wildlife safari
2 days Rwanda wildlife safari includes
• Boat cruise along Lake Ihema
• Game drives
• Transportation in a 4×4 safari car
• Accommodation and meals
• Entrance fees
• All activities in the travel plan apart from the optional ones
• Relevant government taxes
• Bottled water
2 days Rwanda wildlife safari
• Personal insurance
• Rwanda visa fees
• Personal expenses like alcoholic drinks, airfares, laundry services, tips, cigarettes, hotel fees in Kigali, optional activities, telephone calls to mention but a few.
Other activities to do in Akagera National Park
• Night game drives
• Birding
• Sport fishing
• Nature walks
• Cultural tours
• Helicopter tours
What to pack on your Rwanda wildlife safari
• Camera
• Binoculars
• Safari clothing
• Sun glass/sunscreen
• Safari hat
• Safari shoes
Best time to visit Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is perfect to visit for wildlife viewing safari in the dry months of the year which occur in June, July, August, September, and December, January, February. As well, the wet or rainy season is also ideal for game viewing especially if you are bird enthusiast. The wet season in Akagera National Park starts in March, April, May, and October, November.
How to get to Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is set in eastern Rwanda and it is accessible both by road and air. By road, it is 2 to 3 hours’ drive from Kigali. From Rwamagana, you can spend about an hour to get to Akagera National Park. From Akagera Game Lodge, the entrance park gate of Akagera National Park is just half a kilometer away. To get to this park, you can take a minibus but we recommend that you use a 4×4 safari car which you can hire from a reliable tour operator. Alternatively, you can fly from Kigali International Airport to Akagera National Park using Akagera Aviation.