Akagera Game Lodge is a luxurious and convenient base inside Akagera National Park—offering modern comfort topped with panoramic lake and savanna views, plus easy access to wildlife and water-based activities.
| Rooms & Rates | |
| Standard Room | Double: $310 | Single: $270 |
| Family Suite | $700 (up to 5 people) |
| Children | 0–5 free | 7–12 at 50% |
| Conservation Levy | $20 per room / night |
| Recreation Facilities | |
| Swimming Pool · Guided Game Drives · Bird Watching · Curio Boutique Shop · Tennis Court · Gymnasium · Children's Playroom | |
| Business Facilities | |
| Wi-Fi · In-room Working Desk · Conference Room · Boardroom · Audiovisual Equipment | |
| Check-in & Access | |
| Latest Check-in | 17:30 (park closes 18:00) |
| Distance | 45 min from park entrance + 30 min for registration & warden briefing |
| Activities | |
| Night Safari | Departs 17:30 · Max 14 people · Park vehicle only |
| Boat Safari | Morning: 07:00 / 09:30 / 11:30 · Afternoon: 15:00 · Sunset: 16:30 |
$310 - Double, $250 Single half board
20% Booking - Pay on arrival
Best Price When You Book Direct
Flexible Cancellation Policy
Fully Refundable Within 24h
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Limited Spots Available
⚠️ Popular Dates Filling Fast
Note: Weekends regularly sell out 2–3 weeks in advance, so book early to avoid disappointment
Need Help? Ask a Question Call (250) 787-409 -137
$250 Single | $320 Double
Akagera Game Lodge is the most visited lodge in the park. At 45 minutes from the park entrance, it's the only lodge where late arrivals are practical — the northern camps sit 6 hours inside the park. It's also the only lodge that accepts children under 7.
A 4-star, hotel-style property with modern amenities, conference facilities, boat rides and night safaris on the doorstep, and a pool overlooking the entire park — built for more than just a safari.
The original lodge inside Akagera — still the one most people choose first. A place where families have introduced the children to the wilderness
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.
24-Hour Risk-Free Booking
Changed your mind? Full refund if you cancel within 24 hours. Zero penalty. No stress, no risk.
Premium Safari. Lowest Price Guaranteed.
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.
Choose Akagera Game Lodge for hotel-style comfort inside the park, with spacious family rooms, a pool, and ridge-top sunsets over Lake Ihema. Ideal for families — it’s the only accommodation that accepts children under 5.
What else comes with Akagera Game Lodge:
The Sunset Boat Safari
All boat safaris operate on Lake Ihema in the park's southern section, near Akagera Game Lodge. Day visitors can book morning or afternoon boat rides, but only overnight guests can access the sunset boat safari, which is widely considered the best time for wildlife viewing and photography on the water.
Exclusive Access to Night Safari
Night safari is exclusively for overnight guests. Park management runs it using open vehicles with spotlights—your only real chance to see leopards, servals, genets, and other nocturnal predators invisible during daytime. Pickup at the lodge, return by dinner.
The Conservation Experiences
Walk the Line fence patrols, Behind the Scenes park operations, and community cultural visits—only run from the south. Overnight guests only.
Flexible Arrival Times
Located at the park's southern entrance, you can check in as late as evening—unlike northern lodges that require arrival by noon due to distance from the gate.
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 – Depart Kigali
Head east from Kigali toward Akagera National Park. Pause for coffee at Migongo Art Center before entering the park’s wild landscapes.'
10:00 AM – Park Entry & Orientation
Arrive at the southern entrance for ranger briefings and your first views of the savannah grasslands ahead.
10:30 AM – Southern Wetlands Safari
Begin your exploration of southern Akagera National Park. Most sightings happen along the game drive tracks or around the shores of the southern lakes, where animals come to drink and cool off.
1:00 PM – Lunch at Tanzania's Border
Enjoy lunch at the Lake Mihindi picnic site on the Tanzanian border, overlooking the landscape — keep an eye out for waterborne animals and birds.
14:00 PM – Return to Kigali
Drive back and continue south towards Lake Ihema, arriving in time for your sunset boat ride. Lake Ihema is the largest lake in the park — hippos, crocodiles, and elephants are regular sightings along the shore, and the birdlife on the water at dusk is exceptional.
Day 2 - Full-day safari south to North
Drive back and continue south towards Lake Ihema, arriving in time for your sunset boat ride. Lake Ihema is the largest lake in the park — hippos, crocodiles, and elephants are regular sightings along the shore, and the birdlife on the water at dusk is exceptional.
Exit through the northern gate and drive back to Kigali, arriving around 18:00 — in time to check into your hotel or head directly to the airport. Most international flights out of Kigali check in at this hour and depart at 20:00.
Your Questions, Answered
Standard rooms are $310 for double occupancy and $270 for single. The family suite is $700 and accommodates up to 5 people. A conservation levy of $20 per room per night applies.
Children aged 0–5 stay free. Ages 7–12 are charged at 50%.
$20 per room per night, charged separately. This goes directly to Akagera National Park.
During high season — June through October and December 20th to January 5th — early booking is strongly advised as rooms sell out quickly. Outside of these periods, availability is generally better but booking ahead is always recommended.
Yes. Park fees are charged based on the number of nights you spend inside the park: $100 for the first night, $50 per night for nights 2–4, and free from night 5 onwards.
Guests staying at the lodge benefit from discounted park entrance fees from night 2 onwards. Visitors who stay outside the park pay the full entrance fee every time they re-enter — which adds up quickly over a multi-day visit.
45 minutes by road. Allow an additional 30 minutes for registration at the park reception and briefing by the park warden.
The park gates close at 18:00 — arrivals after this time will not be permitted entry.
If you are unavoidably delayed, call the lodge in advance to arrange an after-hours escort from the gate. The escort fee is $50 and this service is only available until 19:30 — arrivals after that cannot be accommodated.
Guided game drives, boat safaris, and night safaris, a behind-the-scenes look at conservation, and hiking with rangers. The lodge also has a swimming pool, tennis court, and gymnasium.
Akagera Game Lodge does not operate safari vehicles or provide safari services directly. You can book your game drive, boat safari, or night safari during the checkout process on this page. Alternatively, book one of our 2 or 3-night safari packages which include the lodge as accommodation.
$50 per person. Pick-up from the lodge at 17:30, maximum 14 guests. Conducted exclusively in park vehicles — private vehicles are not permitted. Must be booked in advance.
You make your own way to Lake Ihema using your own vehicle (4x4) or a safari vehicle booked as part of your package. Pick-up from the lodge is only provided for the night safari. The lodge sits directly on the shores of Lake Ihema — the boat launch is a 30-minute drive
Morning departures at 07:00, 09:30, and 11:30. Afternoon at 15:00. Sunset at 16:30.
Yes — and these are exclusive to guests staying overnight in the south. The 'Walk the Line' is a 10-mile guided walk along the park fence, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the conservation work that keeps Akagera functioning. Community visits including beekeeping and other local excursions in the surrounding area are also available. Only guests staying at Akagera Game Lodge or Ruzizi Tented Camp can access these experiences.
What clothes should I wear?
Mornings are usually cold, but it can get very hot by midday. Wear warm layers with lighter clothes underneath. Khaki pants and shorts, beige, olive green, and brown are best for safari. Avoid bright colors—they attract insects and may disturb wildlife like buffalo or rhinos.
Yes, there are insects in the park, but Akagera uses ecologically approved methods to attract them away from game drive routes. We provide bug spray, but it's best if you bring your own that your skin is accustomed to.
Akagera Safari provides both English and French-speaking guides and trackers. They also speak Kinyarwanda (the local language) and some Swahili. We currently have one German-speaking guide and hope to expand language options in the future.
Swimming pool, tennis court, gymnasium, children's playroom, and a curio boutique shop.
Yes. The lodge has Wi-Fi, in-room working desks, a conference room, boardroom, and audiovisual equipment.
Akagera Safari provides both English and French-speaking guides and trackers. They also speak Kinyarwanda (the local language) and some Swahili. We currently have one German-speaking guide and hope to expand language options in the future.
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.
2-Day Akagera Safari with Boat Ride
Location: Akagera National Park
Duration: 1 day
Sightings: Over 90% BIG 5
Intensity: Level 2
Price/ person: $1,100 for 1 , $700 for 2, $650 for 3, $600 for 4+ pax
2-Day Akagera Safari with Night Safari
Location: Lake Clark National Park
Sightings: Over 95% BIG 5
Distance: 20+ miles
Intensity: Level 2
Price/ person: $1,100 for 1 , $700 for 2, $650 for 3, $600 for 4+ pax
24/7 Support
Union Trade Center, KN4 Ave
Tourism Information Center
Tel: (250) 787 409 137
