Safari · October 2026

After Gorilla Trekking: See the Big Five in Akagera National Park

You've met the mountain gorillas. Now meet the rest of Rwanda's wildlife. In Akagera National Park you can see lions, elephants, buffalo, rhinos and leopards, all within a few hours of Kigali.

Giraffe and zebras on a lakeshore in Akagera National Park, Rwanda — Giraffe and zebras by the water. Akagera is Rwanda's savannah side: open plains, lakes and big skies.

Most visitors come to Rwanda for the gorillas, and many leave without knowing the country has a second, completely different wildlife experience. In the east, far from the misty volcanoes, Akagera National Park is a place of open savannah, lakes and papyrus swamps, and it's home to the Big Five.

Meet Akagera National Park

Akagera covers about 1,122 km² along Rwanda's eastern border with Tanzania. Rolling grassland, acacia woodland, a chain of lakes and wide wetlands make it a world away from the mountain forests of Volcanoes National Park.

It's also one of Africa's great conservation comebacks. Since 2010 the park has been managed by African Parks in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board. Lions returned in 2015, eastern black rhinos in 2017, and 30 white rhinos arrived in 2021. Today Akagera is the only place in Rwanda where you can see the Big Five.

Safari vehicle beside a lake on a game drive in Akagera National Park — A game drive stop by the lake. In Akagera, the savannah runs right down to the water.

The Big Five in Akagera

Lion: seven lions were brought back in 2015, and the population has grown well since.
Leopard: present but shy. Your best chance is on a night drive.
Elephant: herds move between the woodland, the swamps and the lakeshores.
Buffalo: common and easy to see, especially near water.
Rhino: both black and white rhinos now live in the park.

Lion and lioness resting in the grass, Akagera National Park — Lions returned to Akagera in 2015 after years of absence from Rwanda.

Elephant herd grazing in green grassland in Akagera National Park — Elephants grazing near the wetlands.

Cape buffalo with large curved horns in Akagera National Park — Buffalo, one of the easiest of the Big Five to spot.

More Than the Big Five

Akagera is just as rewarding for everything else. Look for giraffe, zebra, impala, topi and warthog on the plains, and hippos and crocodiles in the lakes. With close to 500 bird species recorded, it's one of the best birding parks in East Africa. Keep an eye out for the African fish eagle and, if you're very lucky, the rare shoebill in the papyrus swamps.

Hippos in a lake in Akagera National Park — Hippos are easy to see from the water.

African fish eagle perched on a tree in Akagera National Park — The African fish eagle, a lakeside regular.

Want gorillas and the Big Five in one trip? We'll plan the whole route for you.

Click to Plan Your Trip

Things to Do in Akagera

Game drives: explore the savannah by day with a guide, from the southern lakes to the open plains in the north.
Boat trip on Lake Ihema: a relaxed hour on the water, passing hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. It's one of the most peaceful ways to see the park.
Night drive: look for nocturnal animals such as hyena, genet, bushbabies and, with luck, leopard.
Birdwatching: the wetlands and lakeshores are excellent for birds all year.

Safari vehicle on a dirt track through Akagera, with a lake in the distance — Game drives follow sandy tracks between the hills and the lakes.

How to Add Akagera to Your Gorilla Trip

Akagera is in the east of Rwanda, while Volcanoes National Park and Lake Kivu are in the west, so plan your route rather than doubling back. The park gate is about 2.5 hours by road from Kigali, which makes Kigali the natural link between the two.

A simple 7-day route looks like this:

Days 1–2: Kigali to Akagera for game drives, a boat trip on Lake Ihema and a night in or near the park
Day 3: Back through Kigali and north to Musanze
Day 4: Gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, then the drive west to Lake Kivu
Days 5–6: Rest at B&P Ever Retreat Villa in Rubavu
Day 7: Return to Kigali

Short on time? Our 4-day gorilla trek and Lake Kivu itinerary covers the western half, and Akagera can be added at the start or the end.

When to Visit Akagera

The dry seasons, June to September and December to February, are best for game viewing: the grass is shorter and animals gather near the lakes. The rainy months turn the park green and are excellent for birdwatching, though some tracks can get muddy. These are the same seasons that shape gorilla trekking, so read our guide to the best time to go gorilla trekking to plan both together.

More Ideas After Your Trek

Golden monkeys in Volcanoes National Park: a playful, easier trek through the bamboo.
Nyungwe Forest in the southwest: chimpanzee tracking and a canopy walkway high above the rainforest.
The King's Palace in Nyanza: traditional royal architecture and Rwandan history.
Lake Kivu: the simplest choice of all. Rest, swim and do nothing at B&P Ever Retreat Villa.