Rwanda is struggling to make a name for itself as a destination country which is tough considering they’re best known for the tragic 1994 Genocide. That, and gorillas. The gorillas are Rwanda’s main draw but the tourism board is doing their best to push their other attractions.
But there are also lots of other places that you should consider adding to your Rwanda itinerary, including the Akagera National Park. Check out my travel guide to visiting the Akagera National Park with everything you need to know before you go.
Why Go
Akagera National Park is one of this small country’s potential tourist draws but it’s a tough sell for anyone who will also be including any of the major game drive countries like Kenya, Tanzania or South Africa on their trip. Even the parks in nearby Uganda offer more animals which will make selling the park to potential tourists a tough one.
But for someone who has never been on a game drive and will only be visiting Rwanda on their trip, Akagera is a good way to get a taste of what an African safari is like. You won’t see nearly as many animals as you would in Kenya (and I still don’t believe that they have lions), but you’ll still get a glimpse of zebras, giraffes, hippos, crocs, buffalo, antelopes and, if you’re lucky, some elephants. For someone new to game drives, this is a pretty good introduction.
The park is located to the Eastern province of Rwanda about two hours away form Kigali. The road is mostly paved until about a half hour before you get to the park when things get a bit bumpy and dusty… to get you ready for the park experience! The animals aren’t nearly as plentiful as they are in the Serengeti’s of the world, but a trip to the park makes for a great day or overnight trip away from Kigali.
Cost
Are you wondering how much it costs to go to Akagera National Park? Entrance fees are as; 100 USD per adult per 1 day/night of visit. If you book a structure trip a Akagera safari costs around US $1500 to US $2500 per person/night. If you opt for a more luxurious stay then expect around $2500 – $4000 a night for a highly exclusive, upmarket accommodation.
Accommodation
Camping
Camping is a marvelous experience but beware of roving gangs of baboons. They’re cheeky and will do their best to steal your food and terrorize you just because they’re jerks and have weird bums. But spending the night around the campfire with a group of friends, some beers and the wide open sky makes for a pretty cool experience. It’s not every day you get to camp in a safari park.
The campsite overlooks the mighty Akagera River which is populated by pods of hippopotamus and lazy, oversized crocodiles soaking in the sun… from a nice, safe distance. The views are great, it’s peaceful and, lets face it, camping in a game park with wild animals roaming in the bush is pretty damned cool.
Lodges
If roughing it while evading baboons isn’t really your thing then you’d probably prefer to stay at the Akagera Game Lodge, the only other accommodation option in the park. As we only stopped there for lunch I didn’t get a look at the rooms, but the pool area was beautiful and the lodge seemed pretty nice. Nothing too flashy and fairly simple… but good enough.
They’ve got a pool, tennis courts, business facilities and offer a variety of wildlife activities including fishing, game drives and bird watching trips. The lodge isn’t far from the main entrance to the park but being able to cut out the to hour drive to and from Kigali will mean more time to explore.
Transportation and Getting Here
You could probably hitch your way to the entrance of the park. Or take a bus to Kayonza District before hopping on a moto for a crazy, dusty ride… but it wouldn’t make much sense since you’ll need a vehicle once you actually get to the park. A game drive on a motorcycle, while it would be interesting experience and a hell of a story, probably isn’t the best of ideas.
So do like everyone else and hire a vehicle in Kigali for the trip. You can drive yourself through the park (if you want to pick up a guide at the information centre to lead you around and spot for animals make sure to leave space for him in your car) or you can hire a driver in Kigali to make the trip for you.
We opted to hire a car and driver for the three of us which cost US$200. This included the car, the driver and petrol. We had to pay the park entrance on arrival which was US$20 each plus a mysterious extra $10 fee which might have been for our driver or the fee for our guide, I never did ask.
We were in a Rav4 which was pretty cramped with three of us in the back and the park guide in the front. But we got out several times to stretch and I don’t think we had too many problems seeing things.
Akagera National Park Safaris
An open-topped safari style vehicle tour would be a lot better but also a lot more expensive. Most places quote $500-$1000 for these trucks. But if you can afford it, go for it. You might want to also book online in-advance to get some great deals.
Plan Your Trip
If you want to go backpacking in Africa, and are keen to include Rwanda in your itinerary you really should add the Akagera National Park in your itinerary. Plan your visit to this special destination for yourself.
