Big Five and Silverbacks

Akagera surprises people. It is lake country, papyrus and rolling savannah on the Tanzanian border, with lion and rhino both returned and doing well. You cruise Lake Ihema among hippo and shoebill, then drive the northern plains where the herds run. Afterwards you cross the country to the volcanoes and climb into bamboo for the gorillas. Two entirely different Rwandas in one week, joined by four hours of road or twenty-five minutes of helicopter.

Best months

June to September for Akagera's dry-season concentrations on the lake system and firm Virunga trails. December to February is a strong second window. A low-season permit reduction has applied to itineraries that add Akagera and Nyungwe. We confirm current eligibility with RDB before it goes on your quote.

-1.8833, 30.7000

Akagera National Park

Day by day.

• Day 1 Kigali

  Arrive and orient

  Arrive Kigali International, transfer to Kigali Serena Hotel or The Retreat by Heaven. Afternoon Kigali Genocide Memorial at Gisozi, then dinner and a full route briefing.

• Day 2 Akagera NP

  East to the lake country

  Roughly two and a half hours east to Akagera, entering at the southern gate. Transfer north through the park to Magashi Camp on Lake Rwanyakazinga. Afternoon game drive on arrival.

• Day 3 Akagera NP

  Northern plains at dawn

  Full day in the northern sector, the park's densest game. Lion, elephant, buffalo, eland and the reintroduced eastern black rhino. Afternoon boat on the lake, hippo pods and enormous crocodile.

• Day 4 Akagera NP

  Papyrus, shoebill, night drive

  Early launch on Lake Ihema searching papyrus margins for shoebill. Afternoon behind-the-scenes visit with the African Parks rhino monitoring team, then a guided night drive for hyena, serval and bushbaby.

• Day 5 Volcanoes NP

  Cross the country west

  Akagera Aviation helicopter transfer to Musanze, about fifty minutes over the hills, or four and a half hours by road. Singita Kwitonda Lodge on the park boundary. Afternoon trek briefing.

• Day 6 Volcanoes NP

  Into the bamboo

  Kinigi briefing from 07:00, then one to four hours climbing through terraced farmland into the bamboo zone. One hour with your allocated gorilla family. Afternoon at the lodge or Kwitonda's nursery.

• Day 7 Volcanoes NP

  Golden monkeys and the crater

  Morning golden monkey trek. Afternoon choice of the Bisoke crater lake climb at 3,711 metres, roughly six hours return, or the Dian Fossey tomb hike at Karisoke.

• Day 8 Kigali

  Coffee, art, departure

  Two and a half hours back to Kigali. Question Coffee cupping, Inema Arts Center studios, and the Nyamirambo Women's Center walking tour. Day room, dinner, evening departure.

What the price actually covers.

From USD 15,290 per person sharing. Permits, park fees and charter legs are inside that number, not added at the end. International flights and visas are not.

• Rwanda gorilla permit USD 1,500 and golden monkey permit USD 100 per person

• Akagera park entry USD 100 per person per day, plus boat and night drive fees

• Three nights Magashi Camp and two nights Singita Kwitonda Lodge, full board with drinks

• Akagera Aviation helicopter transfer Akagera to Musanze, or private vehicle alternative

• Kigali Genocide Memorial, Question Coffee cupping and Inema Arts Center entries