Game Drives in Akagera National Park – Park Entry Fee, Cost, How to book, Best time to book and Guide

Game Drives in Akagera National Park are exciting especially if you get to view the wild animals on your Rwanda wildlife safari adventure. We have come up with a compleate guide to help you enjoy a thrilling game drive in this park.

One of the main highlights of visiting the legendary 1,122 sq km Akagera National Park in Rwanda is to encounter wildlife spectacle seeing millions of zebras, buffalos, elephants stampeding across the plains of savannah to the permanent river banks of Akagera and lakes in search of water. Even the seasoned safari goers are struck by wild African spirit of Akagera. The green acacia woodlands surrounding the lakes harbor dense populations of various grazers including the last surviving species of eland, the largest of African antelopes.

Taking a game drive early in the morning may reward you with possible views of elephants, buffalos, topi giraffes, reedbucks, waterbucks and zebras. Given the sheer scale of this outstanding wilderness, vast savannah plains, resounding silence acacia woodlands, swamp marshes, forest fringed lakes of a Kagera National Park make for an paralleled African safari experience in a life time.

Entrance fees

Park entry fees vary depending on the nationality of visitors, 35 US dollars for international visitors per person, 25 US dollars for East African residents per person, car entry is at 7.50 US dollars per car. There are discounted rates for children under 12 years of age, children less than five years are allowed to enter for free while those over five years are charged normal rates like any other visitor.

Game drive vehicles are offered by the park for hire with their own drivers and guides given your choice of half or full day game drives. Visitors without experience on African roads are advised to organize a vehicle with a driver rather than self drive. However there are possibilities for one to self drive in the park under the guidance of experienced guides who takes you to the most scenic spots full of wildlife encounter.

The cost of self drive vehicles is at 175 US dollars for half day drives for five hours and 275 US dollars for full day drives. Both park employed and community employed guides are available for hire right from the reception and will join visitors on their drives. Park employed guides can be hired at a cost of 25 US dollars for half day and 40 US dollars for full day drives while community guides are at a cost of 20 US dollars for half day and 30 US dollars for full day drives. Visitors are recommended to check the visitor information center for any assistance regarding park activities, best routes to encounter wildlife, including self drive maps and guide books.