Ruzizi Tented Lodge is in the southern part of Akagera National Park, by Lake Ihema and just 15 minutes from the park entrance. The lodge has only 5 tents overlooking Lake Ihema which hosts more wildlife than any other lake in Akagera. You’ll find water animals, birds, and many animals coming to drink or cool off. From your tent or veranda, you might spot hippos, crocodiles, various birds, and elephants enjoying the water. This is the only lake in the park where you can take a boat ride. At Ruzizi, the adventure starts with the boat trip and continues when you return to the lodge.
| Guest Type | Category | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign | Per person sharing | $227 | $258 |
| Foreign | Single supplement | $109 | |
| Foreign | Child 6-12 yrs (triple sharing with parents) | $119 | $119 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Per person sharing | $170 | $186 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Single supplement | $78 | $83 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Child 6-12 yrs (sharing with parents) | $93 | $103 |
| Guest Type | Tent Type | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | Standard tent (per person sharing) | $227 | $258 |
| International | Tree-top tent (per person sharing) | $315 | $361 |
| International | Standard tent Single Supplement | $98 | $109 |
| International | Tree-top tent Single Supplement | $142 | $154 |
| International | Child 6-12 (sharing with parents) | $119 | $119 |
| Resident | Standard tent (per person sharing) | $170 | $186 |
| Resident | Tree-top tent (per person sharing) | $253 | $273 |
| Resident | Standard tent Single Supplement | $78 | $83 |
| Resident | Tree-top tent Single Supplement | $111 | $121 |
| Resident | Child 6-12 (sharing with parents) | $93 | $103 |
$360 - Single Occupant,
$250 per person Sharing
ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
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$250/person 2 people Sharing $360 for 1 person single tent
Ruzizi Tented Lodge is an eco-conscious, lakeside tented retreat in a small, serene setting, designed for engaging wildlife experiences and offering comfort without compromising authenticity or eco-friendly commitment.
Each tent has en-suite facilities, hot and cold water, shaded verandas with hammocks, and thoughtful local décor. It’s simple and well-executed, nature-sensitive comfort.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge sits on the shores of Lake Ihema inside Akagera National Park. Life here moves with the lake. In the early morning, boats slip through the reeds as birds feed and hippos appear nearby. By late afternoon, golden light falls over the lake, wildlife gathers at the shore, and the park becomes still.
What wakes you and sends you to sleep is the same thing — bird calls across the water, hippos snorting as they rise, and somewhere in the reeds an elephant rumbling. After dark, you can sit by a bonfire on the shore and look up at stars you never see in the city. When the moon is full, its reflection on the water is so steady it feels like you are on a boat.
Whats Included
Exclusions
What do I need to bring?
Found a lodge outside Akagera for half the price of staying inside? Read this before you book. Written by Richard Rwabutogo, Rwanda's former Tourism Destination Manager, this guide breaks down every accommodation option inside and outside the park, the entrance fee math most travelers miss, and how to match your lodge to your safari plan.
If We Cancel
In over 6,000 trips, we've never cancelled, but reserve the right to do so in exceptional circumstances. If we cancel, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.
If “God Cancels”
No refunds guaranteed for cancellations within 48 hours of departure, regardless of reason - weather, illness, travel bans, or any other circumstance. Add Protect Group's Enhanced Refund coverage (8% additional) to protect yourself.
If You Cancel
Less than 24 hours: No refund or credit, unless covered by Enhanced Refund Terms.
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Changed your mind? Full refund if you cancel within 24 hours. Zero penalty. No stress, no risk.
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Book direct online or at our Tourist Information Centers - we guarantee you will receive the lowest price available.
Instalment Payment Options
Split the cost—without paying more. Reserve your stay for 10% down, pay the rest on arrival.
Ruzizi Tented Lodge sits on the shores of Lake Ihema inside Akagera National Park. No other lodge puts you this close to the water. In the early morning, boats slip through the reeds as birds feed and hippos appear nearby. By late afternoon, golden light falls over the lake, wildlife gathers at the shore, and the park becomes still. What wakes you and sends you to sleep is the same thing: bird calls across the water, hippos snorting as they rise, and somewhere in the reeds an elephant rumbling. After dark, you can sit by a bonfire on the shore and look up at stars you never see in the city. When the moon is full, its reflection on the water is so steady it feels like you are on a boat. For a birder, this is the only place in Akagera worth sleeping.
Boat Safaris
Safaris here begin at 07:30 as the sun rises over Lake Ihema. On most mornings the sky is pink and gold, mist still on the water, the light coming through in rays that make the whole thing feel unreal. Birds are most active at first light and again at dusk, which makes the sunrise and sunset departures the best on the lake. When you spend a night at Ruzizi, you can take both.
Exclusivity
Ruzizi has only five tents. A family or a group of friends can take the whole lodge — no other guests, no shared spaces, the lake entirely to yours. That kind of privacy is hard to find at this price point.
The Only Bonfire on the Lake
At night, Ruzizi is the only place in the southern park with a bonfire on the shore. The deck sits high enough above the water that you feel safe, but close enough that nothing separates you from it. The fire is the only light. Nothing between you and the wild.
Real stories. Real awe. Hear what our guests experienced on this safari.
With so many safari options online, Akagera Safari's website stood out, and the guaranteed sighting delivered all the Big 5
Emilie
Booked direct and saved a fortune. Customer support responded so fast I genuinely thought I was chatting with a bot - turns out they're just that efficient.
Lea S
07:00 AM – Pick-up from the tented lodge
The early morning boat is the best way to start your day on the lake, and it’s only available to guests staying in the south or lodges at the park entrance. By the time visitors from Kigali arrive, the moment has passed. The water is calm, mist hangs in the air, and birds are busy feeding, fish eagles, herons, pelicans, and sometimes even the rare shoebill along the papyrus edges. Hippos rise to the surface, and crocodiles rest on the banks. You get a full hour on the water before the rest of the park comes alive.
09:00 AM – Full Day Safari
You return from the boat and head straight out on the game drive. The morning is yours as you travel south through the lakes and wetlands, where leopards hunt in the acacia woodland and sitatunga move along the swamp edges. Later, you head north to the Kilala plains, where lions rule the open ground and other animals keep a close watch on them. You cross the entire park from south to north in one day, with enough time to reach the plains and still return for the 16:30 sunset boat, ending your safari where it started.
Found a lodge outside Akagera for half the price of staying inside? Read this before you book. Written by Richard Rwabutogo, Rwanda's former Tourism Destination Manager, this guide breaks down every accommodation option inside and outside the park, the entrance fee math most travelers miss, and how to match your lodge to your safari plan.
3-Day Safari in Akagera National Park
Location: Akagera (South & North)
Sightings: Over 95% BIG 5
Duration: 3 days & 2 nights
Intensity: Level 2
Price/ person: $2,300 for 1 , $1400 for 2, $650 for 3, $1200 for 4+ pax
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Tel: (250) 787 409 137
Toll-Free: US (831) 704-9840
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