How to combine Akagera National Park with a Burundi Adventure
Combining Akagera National Park with a luxury tour of Burundi offers an exciting mix of wildlife safaris and cultural exploration. This itinerary takes you through Rwanda’s renowned Akagera National Park, home to the Big Five, before heading to Burundi’s vibrant capital and scenic destinations. You’ll experience wildlife, beaches, history, and local traditions.
Akagera National Park: Rwanda’s Wildlife Jewel
Akagera National Park is Rwanda’s only location where you can see the Big Five: rhinos, lions, buffaloes, leopards, and elephants. The park also hosts giraffes, zebras, hyenas, and birds like the rare shoebill stork. Activities in Akagera include boat cruises on Lake Ihema, night game drives, and cultural experiences with nearby communities.
Bujumbura: Burundi’s Capital by Lake Tanganyika
Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, sits on Lake Tanganyika’s shores, Africa’s deepest lake. Its beaches provide relaxation, while the city offers a lively nightlife with music and dance. Visitors can experience Burundi’s drumming tradition at the Gishora Drum Sanctuary. For nature lovers, Kibira National Park offers rainforest treks with primates and birdwatching. The park’s proximity to Rwanda makes it easy to combine Akagera National Park with a luxury tour of Burundi.
7-Day Itinerary: Akagera and Burundi Adventure
Day 1: Arrival in Kigali and City Tour
Arrive in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital. Depending on your arrival time, your guide will take you on a city tour. You’ll visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial and the Kigali Craft Market.
Luxury Accommodation:
Kigali Serena Hotel, Superior Double Room.
Day 2: Transfer to Akagera National Park
After breakfast, drive to Akagera National Park. Arrive in time for lunch and enjoy an afternoon boat ride on Lake Ihema. If time allows, visit the Humure village for a cultural experience before your night game drive.
Luxury Accommodation:
Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, Balcony Room, Lake View.
Day 3: Game Drive and Night Safari
Enjoy breakfast and set off for a morning game drive. Akagera’s diverse landscape, from savanna plains to riverine forests, offers a variety of wildlife. Look for hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffaloes, elephants, and birds. With the help of an experienced guide, you’ll have the best chance to spot rhinos, lions, and leopards.
After a picnic lunch, return to your lodge for a swim and relaxation. In the evening, embark on a night game drive to see nocturnal animals like hyenas, lions, and leopards. Akagera is also a birding hotspot, home to over 500 species, including the shoebill stork.
Luxury Accommodation:
Mantis Akagera Game Lodge, Balcony Room, Lake View.
Day 4: Morning Game Drive and Transfer to Butare
After breakfast, enjoy one last game drive to explore other parts of Akagera. Then, travel to Butare (Huye), Rwanda’s cultural hub. Visit the Butare National Museum, which showcases Rwanda’s traditional artifacts and colonial history. Later, explore the Royal Palace at Nyanza, the seat of Rwanda’s former monarchy. This restored 19th-century palace offers insights into Rwanda’s past.
Luxury Accommodation:
Hôtel Maisons-Sifa, DeLuxe Room with King Bed.
Day 5: Transfer from Rwanda to Bujumbura, Burundi
After breakfast, travel to the Rwanda-Burundi border. Complete border formalities and head to Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi. Spend the afternoon relaxing on the shores of Lake Tanganyika at your hotel. You can take a stroll along the beach or use the hotel’s pool. If you’re interested, visit Rusizi National Park for a boat cruise to see hippos and birds.
Luxury Accommodation:
Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel, Lake View and Terrace.
Day 6: Visit the Source of the Nile, Karera Waterfalls, and Gishora Drum Sanctuary
After breakfast, head to Rutana to visit the Karera Waterfalls and the Source of the Nile in Rutovu. Then, visit Gitega National Museum, home to Burundi’s cultural artifacts. End the day with a trip to the Gishora Drum Sanctuary, where you can experience Burundi’s drumming traditions up close.
Luxury Accommodation:
Club du Lac Tanganyika Hotel, Lake View and Terrace.
Day 7: Bujumbura City Tour and Departure
After breakfast, take a city tour of Bujumbura. Visit the Explorers Memorial, a monument that marks the meeting of explorers Livingstone and Stanley. In the afternoon, transfer to Bujumbura Airport for your flight home.