Visiting Rwanda for business, or are in Rwanda, and have a day or weekend off? Plan a trip to Akagera National Park home to many animals such as buffaloes, elephants, giraffes, lions, antelopes, hippos, crocodiles, etc…
Akagera National Park is just 2 hours drive from Kigali and can be visited in one day and you are back to Kigali before nightfall, that is, if you just want to see animals on the drive trail. However, the park offers many activities and spending one night or more enables you do more activities and get a better bush experience… And the good news is, the second night is half price for entry and no entry fees after 3 nights for up to a week!
Below are the Akagera national park entry and activity fees for year 2024.
IMPORTANT: The rates are set by African Parks that manages the park
Akagera Park tourist entry fees (per person)
| Entry fee / self-drive permit | 1 Day/Night | 2 Nights | 3 Nights | |||
| USD | RWF | USD | RWF | USD | RWF | |
| Rwandan/EAC Citizen | ~16 | 15,000 | ~24 | 22,500 | ~32 | 30,000 |
| Rwandan/EAC Resident | 50 | 75 | 100 | |||
| International Visitor | 100 | 150 | 200 | |||
| Rwandan/EAC Citizen children 6-12 | ~11 | 10,000 | ~16 | 15,000 | ~21 | 20,000 |
| Rwanda/EAC Resident children 6 – 2 | 30 | 45 | 60 | |||
| International Visitor children 6 – 12 | 50 | 75 | 100 | |||
Children 5 or below do not pay entry fees
Entry fees are not charged beyond 3 nights for up to one week
Visitors who stay outside the park are considered day visitors and have to pay each time they enter the park. Plan your Akagera safari with staying inside at Akagera Game Lodge and Ruzizi Tented Lodge (in the south), Karenge Bush Camp and Magashi Camp (in the north). Camping grounds & facilities are also available in the park.
Vehicle entry fees in Akagera National Park
| Details | USD |
| Vehicle / Minibus (Rwandan/EAC registered) | 10 |
| Omnibus / bus / overlander (Rwa/EAC reg.) | 20 |
| Vehicle / Minibus (Foreign registered) | 40 |
| Omnibus / bus / overlander (Foreign reg.) | 100 |
Hiring a park guide for game drive in the park (if you want one, not mandatory)
| Duration | USD |
| Per guide / ½ day | 25 |
| Per guide / full day | 40 |
Guides picked up from the reception before 9am and returned to the same reception within 5 hours will be considered as ½ day activity. Guides picked up from reception after 9am will be charged for a full day, unless the guide is returned before 12 midday. Guides picked up after midday will be charged ½ day.
Guides picked up at the reception and travelling with guests through the park, exiting from the north, will be charged for a full day, regardless of the time taken. If you wish to exit from the north with a guide, please drop the guide off at Kayonza, they will then catch public transport back to the park (transport fees will be covered by the park for park guides). If you cannot drop the guide at Kayonza, please cover their transport fee from the north gate to Kayonza, this does not exceed 5,000 RWF. If a guide is requested to accompany a visitor to Karenge Bush Camp overnight, an additional fee of 20,000 RWF is applied for the guides accommodation and food at Karenge.
Activities in Akagera Park and pricing
| Activity | Adult (13+ years) | Children (6 – 12 years) | |
| USD | USD | ||
| Night drive (operated by AMC) | pp/2.5hrs / vehicle, driver, guide/min. 2/max. 7 | 40 | 25 |
| Fishing | Pp per day (own equipment) | 25 | 15 |
| Boat trip – scheduled morning/day | Price pp / 1 hrs / max. 11 pax | 35 | 20 |
| Boat trip – scheduled sunset trip | Price pp / 1 hrs / max. 11 pax | 45 | 30 |
| Boat trip – private, non-scheduled | Per boat / 1 hrs / max. 11 pax | 180 | – |
| Camping | Price pp / night | 25 | 15 |
| Behind the scenes tour | Price pp / min 4 pax / 1.5 hrs | 25 | 15 |
| Group rate for 8+ pax / 1.5 hrs | 180 | – | |
| Game drive day (AMC operated) | ½ day max. 5hrs/vehicle, driver, guide/max. 7 | 180 | – |
| Full day / vehicle, driver, guide / max. 7 pax | 280 | – | |
| Walk the Line | 7km walk along the fence / min. 3 approx. 2 hrs | 30 | 20 |
| Community Cultural Experiences | Various activities offered / half day / min. 3 pax | 30 | 20 |
| Rhino tracking | Min. 2 pax & max 4pax / Only guests at Karenge Bush Camp | 75 | |
| Balloon safari | Min. 2 pax & max 4pax / Only guests at Karenge Bush Camp | $450 (int.) $350 (resident) $250 (citizen) |
Night drives are operated by the park (Akagera Management Company) and they provide a car, driver and spotlights. The Night drives begin at 5.30pm and end around 8 – 8.30pm. You are picked and dropped at your lodge, and only in the south of the park.
Boat trips are scheduled at the following times:
- 7:30 – 8:30am
- 9:00 – 10:00am
- 3:00 – 4:00pm
- 4:30 – 6:00pm (sunset trip)
Private boat trips can be organized and are charged at a flat rate for the boat, not per person. These should be booked at non-scheduled times starting between 10.30am – 1.30pm.
Rhino tracking is done in the north of Akagera national park (Kilala plains) and is therefore available to only guests staying at the Karenge Bush Camp that is located in the north overlooking the Kilala plains.
Other Akagera park fees
| Item | USD | |
| Tent hire | Per 6-man (3m x 3m) canvas tent (south sites) | 20 |
| Recovery fee | Breakdown or assistance from the park | 70 |
| Recovery fee coasters | Breakdown or assistance from the park | 150 |
| Fines | For breaking any park rules & regulations | 150 |
| Landing fee | Per landing within Akagera | 50 |
| Research fee | Contact the management prior to any research | 200 |
| Ranger assistance fee | For researchers / per day / conditions apply* | 25 |
| Commercial filming / photography | Per day. Contact the park for all filming | 300 |
Annual pass
| USD | RWF | ||
| Rwandan/EAC Citizen | Single pass | 95,000 | |
| Rwandan/EAC Citizens | Couples pass | 150,000 | |
| Rwandan/EAC Citizens | Family pass | 205,000 | |
| Rwandan/EAC Resident | Single pass | 300 | |
| Rwandan/EAC Residents | Couples pass | 500 | |
| Rwandan/EAC Residents | Family pass | 700 |
Annual fees do NOT include park fees and only a 10% discount is offered on activities. But you have unlimited tourist entry for a period of one year.
Book a tour to Akagera National Park
Have just day a day? Look for our 1 day trip to Akagera with prices on this list of 1 day trips from Kigali that we organize.
Otherwise if you want to spend at least a night you can book one of these trips: