Game drive tours in Rwanda
Game drive tours in Rwanda take place in Akagera national park which is located in the eastern part of the country.
Rwanda has only one savannah park where game drives can be done during safaris as tourists enjoy looking out for different wildlife species around the savannah plains while also enjoying the beautiful scenery.
The big five including elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffalos are among the wildlife species which can be seen during game drive tours in Rwanda. Giraffes, zebras, hippos, bushbucks, impalas, topi, reedbucks, oribi, reedbucks among others can also be seen in Akagera national park.
Tourists engage in game drive tours as part of the safari experience in Akagera national park and this experience is one of the popular activities to do at the destination while exploring different habitats around the park including the plains and around the papyrus swamps.
When exploring Akagera national park during the game drive tours in Rwanda, tourists are accompanied by ranger guides who are knowledgeable of the routes to take in search for the different wildlife species around the destination.
In the morning and in the afternoon tourists can take part in game drive tours in Rwanda as they look out for wildlife species around Akagera national park. The game drives are done in company of ranger guides while exploring the destination in 4×4 safari vehicles.
Night game drives can also be done during tours around Akagera national park and some of the wildlife species which can be seen at the destination include leopards, hyenas among others which can be spotted in different parts of the park.
During game drive tours in Rwanda, tourists can use the southern gate and northern gate to get into and out of Akagera national park. One of the best places to see the different wildlife species around the park is in the northern part of the destination.
Self drives are also done in Akagera national park as tourists enjoy game drive tours around the park. This activity can be done with ranger guides hired at a fee to lead the way around the savannah plains in search for the various wildlife species like lions, zebras, giraffes, antelopes, buffalos among others. Maps are also provided for tourists during their self drives around the park.
Some of the parts of Akagera national park where game drive tours are done include the Muhindi loop, Kilala, Mutumba, Mohana among others. Lions can be spotted around different parts of the park and elephants can be seen around Muhindi loop. Lake Ihema can also be visited during safaris at the destinations they enjoy boat rides in Rwanda.
Different bird species can also be seen during safaris around Akagera national park which is home to over 500 bird species. Some of the birds found at the destination include Ross’s Turaco, White Faced Whistling, Red-Chested fluff tail, Grey Crowned crane, Helmeted Guineafowl, Red winged Francolin among others.
Park entrance fees for Akagera national park
Park entrance fees are charged for tourists during their game drive tours in Rwanda as they explore Akagera national park and they are as follows;
Foreign nonresidents are charged 100 USD for 1 day tours to Akagera national park, 150 USD for 2 days tours and 200 USD for 3 days tours. Children are charged park entrance fee of 50 USD for 1 day tours, 75 USD for 2 day tours and 100 USD for 3 day tours.
Foreign residents visiting Akagera national park for game drive tours are charged a fee of 50 USD for 1 day visits, 75 USD for 2 day tours and 100 USD for 3 day tours. Children are charged park entrance fee of 30 USD for 1 day tours, 45 USD for 2 day tours and 60 USD for 3 day tours.
Rwandan citizens visiting Akagera national park are charged a fee of 15,000 RWF for 1 day tours, 22,500 RWF for 2 day tours, 30,000 RWF for 3 day tours in Rwanda. Children are charged a fee of 10,000 RWF for 1 day tours, 15,000 RWF for 2 day tours and 20,000 RWF for 3 day tours.
Tourists visiting Rwanda for game drive tours in Akagera national park above 3 days entrance fees are not charged to tourists visiting the destination. Tourists visiting the national park for more than 3 nights to 1 week one week are not charged park fees.
Children below the age of 5 years are also not charged park entrance fees for Akagera national park.
For half day tours in Akagera national park, tourists are charged a fee of 25 USD for guides to accompany them for self game drives. The fees for full day guide fees during self game drives in Akagera national park is 40 USD.
For night game drives in Akagera national park, tourists are charged a fee of 40 USD per person for a period of 2 and half hours. The night drive tours in Rwanda begin at 05:30 pm and end at 08:30 pm and take place in the southern part of the national park.
Best time for game drive tours in Rwanda
Game drive tours in Rwanda can be done throughout the year in Akagera national park with the best time for the safaris being the dry season around June to October and also around December to February when wildlife species can easily be seen around the savannah plains.
Tours can also be done during the rainy season around March to May and in November when wildlife species can be seen in the lush savannah plains of Akagera national park.
How to get to Akagera national park
The drive from Kigali to Akagera national park takes about 3 to 4 hours and tourists can get flights to Kigali international airport during their safaris in Rwanda.
Accommodation in Akagera national park
There are different accommodation options for tourists to spend their nights during tours around Akagera national park and they include budget, midrange and luxury lodges such as Akagera game lodge, Ruzizi tented lodge, Karenge bush camp, Magashi camp among others.