Luxury safaris in Akagera National Park

Lion, leopard, both white and black rhino, elephant, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, hippo and crocodiles, as well as countless other wildlife species, can be seen in the park. 

You can visit Akagera National Park throughout the year. The rule of thumb is that drier seasons make viewing wildlife easie, as they congregate around various water sources, but with our knowledgeable guides and well-positioned camps, you are in excellent hands when it comes to wildlife spotting.

Akagera National Park is found in the east of Rwanda, on the border with Tanzania.

Today more than 30 lions are found in Akagera National Park.

Most people come from the capital Kigali. The drive to Akagera takes about two-and-a-half hours. A charter helicopter flight takes approximately 22 minutes.

Wilderness has exclusive-use rights to a private wilderness area in the north-east of the park, with safari and other activities taking place from luxurious and intimate Magashi. 

Magashi offers you the opportunity to catch tilapia and catfish on a catch-and-release basis.

Rwanda's mountain gorilla trekking is widely regarded as one of Africa's most profound wildlife experiences. Volcanoes National Park holds over a third of the world's remaining mountain gorilla population. Trekking to spend one hour with a habituated gorilla family — sometimes within arm's reach — carries an emotional weight few safari experiences can match. Rwanda has invested heavily in park infrastructure and guest experience, making it the most accessible of the three gorilla trekking countries (alongside Uganda and DRC).

Trek duration varies significantly depending on where the gorilla family has moved overnight. Treks can range from under an hour to a full day of walking through montane rainforest. The average trek is 2–4 hours of walking each way. Guides track the family's location from dawn and radio updates to the trekking group. You spend one hour with the gorillas regardless of trek length. Bisate Lodge, Bisate Reserve and Sabyinyo Lodge are positioned at the park boundary for the fastest possible access.

Rwanda's gorilla trekking areas — Volcanoes National Park and the surrounding Virunga region — are at altitude (2,500–4,000m above sea level) and are considered very low malaria risk. Kigali and lowland areas carry a higher risk. Most gorilla trekking guests experience no meaningful malaria exposure. Akagera National Park, where Magashi Camp is located, is at lower altitude and carries a seasonal malaria risk. Confirm with your travel health specialist for your specific itinerary.

Rwanda works exceptionally well as part of a longer East or Southern Africa itinerary. Kigali is a natural hub connecting onward to Nairobi (for Kenya/Tanzania) or to Johannesburg (for Botswana, Zimbabwe, or Zambia). A popular combination is gorilla trekking at Bisate or Sabyinyo followed by a classic savanna safari — a complete contrast in terrain and wildlife that delivers one of Africa's most diverse safari experiences.