Travel advisory · RwandaSome governments advise against travel to parts of Rwanda.The warnings cover only these areas: Border regions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rusizi district border areas.Advice depends on your passport. Read your own government's advice before you book.Official advice
- Border regions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) · avoid non-essential travel · Germany, Spain, New Zealand
- Rusizi district border areas · avoid non-essential travel · Italy, UK
Also named by one government: Rubavu district (New Zealand), Bugesera district border areas (Italy), Gisagara district border areas (Italy), Karongi district border areas (Italy), Kirehe district border areas (Italy), Musanze district border areas (Italy), Ngoma district border areas (Italy), Nyabihu district border areas (Italy), Nyamasheke district border areas (Italy), Nyanza district border areas (Italy), Rubavu district border areas (Italy), Rutsiro district border areas (Italy)
| Government | Advice | Updated | Read the advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (FCDO) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| United States (State Dept) | Reconsider travel | Jun 4, 2026 | Read the advice |
| Canada (Global Affairs) | Take normal security precautions | – | Read the advice |
| Germany (Auswärtiges Amt) | No advice against the whole country (regional advisories) | Oct 13, 2026 | Read the advice |
| New Zealand (SafeTravel) | Exercise normal safety and security precautions (regional advisories) | – | Read the advice |
| France (Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs) | Vigilance renforcée (en jaune) pour l'ensemble du pays | – | Read the advice |
Checked daily from the governments' published advice; last checked Nov 2, 2026. RoamLedger summarises official advice; it is not advice from any government.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's only savanna park, where you can see lions, zebras and hippos on game drives past lakes and papyrus marsh.
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Akagera National Park lies in eastern Rwanda, near the border with Tanzania, about two hours' drive east of Kigali. It is the country's only savanna park, with open grassland, acacia woodland, and lakes fringed by papyrus and swamp. Poaching and resettlement emptied much of the park in the past. Lions were reintroduced in the mid-2010s, and black rhinos followed in 2017. Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, in the northwest, is a separate trip, so plan it as its own stop.
The park suits a short, focused trip. Two or three days is enough for several game drives, a boat trip on one of the lakes, and time at a lodge. You can expect giraffes, zebras, buffalo, elephants, antelope and hippos, along with several hundred bird species. The dry season, from June to September, is the usual choice for game viewing, because animals gather near water and the grass is shorter. The long rains from March to May make some tracks hard to drive, and the park is quieter.
Akagera National Park in five
- Get a high-clearance vehicle or a driver-guideAkagera's tracks are dirt and turn muddy after rain, so a standard car can get stuck. A driver-guide also knows where animals have been seen that morning.Getting around
- Add a boat trip on Lake IhemaFrom the water you can get closer to hippos and crocodiles than on a game drive. Ask your lodge or the park about boat times before you plan the day.
- Carry Rwandan francs for small costsCash in francs covers tips for drivers and guides and small purchases on the road. Ask your lodge whether it takes cards before you arrive.Money and costs
- Check Rwanda's entry rules before you flyVisa status depends on your passport, and some travelers need an eVisa while others get a visa on arrival. Check the rules for your nationality on the official immigration site.Visas and entry
- Set up an eSIM before you leave KigaliSignal is patchy away from the city, so download offline maps and your booking details before you set out.Phones and eSIM
Things to do in Akagera National Park
See all attractions in Akagera National Park
Need to know
- Currency
- Rwandan franc (RWF)
- Entry
- Visa-free, visa on arrival or eVisa, depending on your passport
- Emergency
- Ask your lodge for local emergency numbers before you travel
- Tipping
- Customary for guides and drivers; not expected elsewhere
- Time
- UTC+2, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryGreen, rains
- FebruaryGreen, wet
- MarchLong rains
- AprilLong rains
- MayRains ease
- JuneDry, grass thins
- JulyPeak dry season
- AugustAnimals at water
- SeptemberDry, still good
- OctoberShort rains start
- NovemberShort rains
- DecemberGreen, rains
Right now in Akagera National Park
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
21
- Feels like
- 23°
- Humidity
- 79%
- Wind
- 2 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 76%
Akagera National Park
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today26°16°76%Monday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Tue23°16°90%Tuesday: Rain. High 23°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 90%.
- Wed26°17°51%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 51%.
- Thu26°17°70%Thursday: Drizzle. High 26°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 70%.
- Fri25°17°78%Friday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sat25°17°82%Saturday: Drizzle. High 25°, Low 17°. Chance of rain 82%.
- Sun24°16°84%Sunday: Rain. High 24°, Low 16°. Chance of rain 84%.
Updated 06:46 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 1,476 RWF
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Before you go to Akagera National Park
Rules for Akagera National Park, checked
- Keep to marked tracks and stay in the vehicle on game drives; follow your ranger or guide on where you can stop.Source
- Rwanda bans plastic bags, and they can be confiscated or fined at the border, so leave them at home.
Plan around Akagera National Park
Entry rules, money and the wider country
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules and eVisa checks by nationality
Read the guideGetting aroundCar hire and drivers for the trip from Kigali
Read the guideWhere to stayLodges and camps inside and near the park
Read the guideTours and ticketsGame drives, boat trips and park entry
Read the guideTravel insuranceCover for remote tracks and medical care
Read the guideAkagera National Park FAQ
Is Akagera worth visiting from Kigali?
Yes, if you want savanna game viewing within a few hours of the capital. Akagera is Rwanda's only savanna park, and lions, rhinos, elephants and giraffes are among the animals you can see.
How many days do I need in Akagera?
One full day covers a morning and an afternoon drive. Two days, with a night at a lodge or camp, gives you a second game drive and time for a boat trip.
When is the best time to visit Akagera?
June to September, the dry season. Grass is shorter and animals gather around water, so they are easier to spot.
How long is the drive from Kigali?
Roughly 2 to 3 hours by road, depending on your route and traffic in Kigali. Start early so you reach the park before the morning drive.
Can I see the Big Five in Akagera?
Lions, buffalo, elephants and black rhinos live in the park after reintroduction and restocking, but leopards are rare, and no sighting is guaranteed.
How close can I get to elephants and buffalo?
Keep your distance and stay in the vehicle, since buffalo and elephants can charge a car. Your driver-guide will know how close is safe on that day.