5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari/ Rwanda Cultural Tour experience

5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari and Culture Tour

Overview of 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari

Embark on a breathtaking journey with the 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari and Culture , a perfect blend of Rwanda’s untamed savannah and rich cultural heritage. This 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari takes you deep into the wild heart of Rwanda, where iconic wildlife roams free across golden plains, shimmering lakes, and acacia woodlands. Led by an experienced guide, you’ll venture on thrilling game drives in Akagera National Park, home to the legendary Big Five—elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, and buffaloes. During your 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari, you’ll have countless opportunities to spot these majestic creatures in their natural habitat and capture unforgettable photographs.

The adventure doesn’t stop with wildlife. This 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari also immerses you in Rwanda’s warm and vibrant traditions. After your days exploring Akagera’s rich ecosystems, unwind on the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, where a scenic boat ride introduces you to hidden islands, local fishing practices, and untouched natural beauty. As part of your 5 days culture tour and wildlife safari, you’ll also visit nearby villages and natural hot springs, offering a firsthand experience of Rwanda’s community life and ancient healing traditions. Whether you’re a nature lover, cultural explorer, or wildlife enthusiast, this 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari is designed to awaken your senses and connect you with both land and people.

Itinerary of 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari

Day 1: Kigali Genocide Memorial Visit & Transfer to Akagera National Park

Begin your journey with a relaxed morning and depart your hotel at 9:00 AM for a meaningful visit to the Kigali Genocide Memorial, a powerful and educational site that offers deep insight into the 1994 Rwandan Genocide. After this moving experience, continue your journey eastward toward Akagera National Park. Along the way, enjoy a pleasant stop at the Imigongo Art Centre and Café, where you can stretch your legs, admire unique traditional artworks, freshen up, and enjoy a delicious lunch. You may also sample a freshly brewed cup of local Rwandan coffee if you wish.

You are expected to arrive at Akagera National Park by around 2:00 PM, where you’ll complete park entry registration and then check in at Akagera Game Lodge. After settling in, embark on a short afternoon game drive, your first introduction to Rwanda’s savannah wildlife. Journey through the park’s open landscapes and make your way to Lake Ihema, the largest lake in the park and second-largest in Rwanda. Here, you’ll enjoy a scenic sunset boat ride, observing hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife along the shore. After the boat ride, return to the lodge for an evening of relaxation and your overnight stay.

Day 2: Full-Day Game Drive in Akagera National Park

Start your day with an early breakfast and be ready by 7:30 AM for pick-up by your Universal Ventures Rwanda driver-guide for a full-day wildlife adventure. With your picnic lunch packed, set off on a comprehensive game drive through Akagera National Park, exploring its diverse ecosystems and searching for the incredible wildlife that calls it home. This includes elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, impalas, and countless other species that roam freely across the savannah.

You may also have the chance to spot lions and black rhinos, both of which have been successfully reintroduced after many years of absence. While their numbers are still relatively small and sightings are not guaranteed—especially with the elusive nature of black rhinos—your experienced guide will do their best to locate them. Enjoy spectacular views of Akagera’s numerous lakes, woodlands, and rolling hills as you traverse the park. After a full day of wildlife discovery, return to the lodge for dinner and overnight relaxation.

Day 3: Transfer to Lake Kivu with Cultural Experience En Route

After breakfast, check out from the lodge and depart Akagera by 9:00 AM, heading west toward Lake Kivu. On the way, enjoy a stop in Musanze, where you’ll participate in an enriching Rwandan cultural tour. Learn about traditional Rwandan life, including ancient practices like herbal medicine, cultural dance, traditional weddings, and local crafts. After the cultural experience and lunch in Musanze, continue your journey to Gisenyi, a charming lakeside town along the shores of Lake Kivu. Spend your evening unwinding by the lake, enjoying the serene views and cool breeze before settling in for the night.

Day 4: Lake Kivu Exploration & Optional Coffee or Tea Tour

Wake up to the peaceful beauty of Lake Kivu and enjoy a leisurely morning before boarding a boat ride to explore the lake’s islands. Enjoy fresh, locally prepared lunch—often featuring delicious fish straight from the lake—while soaking in the scenery. Afterward, visit the hot springs, where you can experience a traditional healing massage with mineral-rich water. Time permitting, you may also opt to take a coffee or tea plantation tour, where you’ll learn how Rwanda’s famous beans are grown, harvested, and transformed from farm to cup. Before returning to your hotel, enjoy a visit to the Rwanda–DRC border, a symbolic and scenic stop. Return to your lodge in the evening for your final night by the lake.

Day 5: Return to Kigali with City Walk & Market Visit

Enjoy a relaxed morning and check out of the hotel by 10:00 AM. Begin your drive back to Kigali, with a mid-way stop for lunch. Upon arrival in the capital in the afternoon, check in at your hotel for a brief rest or refresh. Later in the day, enjoy a guided city walk through Kimironko Market, one of Kigali’s most vibrant local markets. Shop for souvenirs, handmade crafts, and locally made gifts while experiencing the lively local atmosphere. After your market visit, you’ll be transferred to your hotel for the evening or to the airport, depending on your onward travel plans—concluding your unforgettable 5-day Akagera and Lake Kivu safari and culture tour.

✅ What’s Included in the 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari

Park entrance fees for all sites and activities
Transport in a 4×4 safari vehicle with Wi-Fi onboard
Accommodation in 3–4 star lodges or hotels throughout the tour
All meals and soft drinks included
Bottled water throughout the trip
Services of a professional, English-speaking driver-guide
Round-trip pick-up and drop-off in Kigali

❌ Exclusions of 5 Days Akagera Big 5 Safari

Alcoholic drinks
Personal expenses and any services not listed above

🧳 Recommended Packing List

Lightweight, breathable clothing suitable for safari drives
Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen for daytime protection
Layered clothing or a light jacket for cool mornings and evenings
Durable, comfortable footwear for light walking or touring
Binoculars and camera for optimal wildlife viewing and photography
Insect repellent for forested and wetland areas

⚠️ Cancellation Policy

All bookings for the 5 days Akagera National Park safari and culture tour are non-refundable and final upon confirmation. Please ensure your travel schedule is set before securing your reservation.

Book for this Big 5 Safari Adventure

      
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   288 Tripadvisor reviews 
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   Alison 
 
 
 
 Verified Day trip safari I would highly recommend going in this day trip with Christian he was very knowledgeable of the animals
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   TIffany T 
 
 
 
 Verified Once in a lifetime So this is my honest and sincere review. I found this company on Viator. I think hands down that they do an amazing job. I was working with Emmanuel a lot in the beginning and planning this trip and I think that you’re in good hands with this company. Christian was my driver, he was really really amazing and early picking me up. Also, make sure you notify the hotel about providing you a breakfast for your morning departure. I understand that most Hotels automatically offer the service but I was staying at the Marriott and I actually had to advise them the evening before and I’m glad I did because the reception is told me if I just showed up the morning of even though they could accommodate, it probably would’ve taken more time, and we probably would’ve been departing later in the morning. So if you’re staying at the Marriott or the Four points, I would just notify the hotel when you check in that you’re going to see the gorillas and the date or notify them the evening before. Just so that they have everything ready for you when you come downstairs for your pick up…. I love the fact that this company reached out to you the evening before just to go over a pre briefing. The lunch that’s included is top notch. They take you to a really amazing restaurant in town and they have a menu full of choices. It’s vegan and vegetarian friendly for those of us who don’t eat meat. So this is a trip I’ve been planning for the last two years, and I did my research, but just so fellow travelers could know with the gorilla trekking there is an easy medium and advance trail. I didn’t know that and it wasn’t given the option to be honest, even if I didn’t know and even if I had the option, I probably would’ve chosen medium because I’m in really good shape, very active, I’m a runner and I lift weights. In fact, everybody in my small group was pretty young active and fit, but in my personal opinion, the medium trail was very difficult. Three of us struggled but overall, it was pretty challenging for everybody and please be advise the altitude can be hard. I knew that we would be hiking. I knew this would be challenging, and that we were gonna be in the forest. I just thought maybe it would’ve been a little bit more paved out. There’s a lot of heavy and huge rocks almost everywhere you step and that’s for about an hour and a half for the medium trail and then another hour and a half literally going through bushes and forest. If you were glasses, I would recommend wearing contacts if you can and something to protect your face I can’t tell you how many times the branches were hitting my face and please bring everything that they recommend. You’re gonna need everything from gaiters to gloves and a small day pack. Please bring snacks you’re gonna get hungry. One thing that I would like to clarify, because I don’t think I fully understood. And maybe there’s a slight misunderstanding on the significance of a Porter for higher again. I really didn’t think that I needed to hire a Porter especially since I had a very light backpack and I’ve done things like this before , but Christian highly recommended it and it first I didn’t want to because I thought it was just another way of spending money, but I’m glad that he insisted because not only does it help some of the former poachers, who have been educated and no longer hunt the animals, It’s supports them to provide for themselves, and they’re families. If it wasn’t for my Porter John who is amazing. I would’ve slipped and fell and struggled even more so without him and he was worth hiring. You can hire a Porter to help you to carry your light backpack as little as $10 or you can pay whatever you desire I did $15, Which brings me to my second point. I understand that where we were was in a local village I get that but at the same time, it is a very popular tourist destination where you can purchase things with debit or credit card. I didn’t have time to get the local currency. For me, which should’ve been three flights to Rwanda ended up being five flights with 12 hour layovers in between the last two. When I got to my hotel I had enough time to shower, relax and eat before waking up at three A.M. for the gorilla trekking the following day. I was supposed to arrive to Rwanda two days earlier, but because of Kenya Airways things just did not work out the way I intended, so at what point am I going to have to get Cash? I just had a little bit of currency that I was able to get from the hotel for my driver Christian, and my local range manager who guided us up the trail. I didn’t know that I was gonna have to have to tip about three other people and I don’t normally carry a lot of Cash on me to begin with so I had to borrow money from my driver, just to pay my Porter and thankfully Christian was kind enough to help me. Please know when you do this tour bring Cash for Emergencies, to tip your driver, to tip the Porter for higher, which I highly recommend after going through this experience, to tip your park ranger who’s guiding you, and also to tip the people that actually go out early ahead of the groups to locate the gorillas. All of that’s important. And these are the things that you wouldn’t know if this is your first time. I love that the $1500 that we spend goes towards the upkeep of the gorillas, their natural habitat and even the local village, but you would think it would even provide for some of these little extra expenses that you don’t really hear a lot about. So just bring some extra Cash on you. Everybody else in my group tipped with American dollars and I almost wish I would’ve brought some of those cause they were happy to receive dollars. And please know I’m not complaining. I’m just giving an honest review from somebody who has done this experience. I highly recommend this company. I think they’re absolutely wonderful and that they do amazing job. I’m just simply here to provide some clarity and a highly emphasize hiring a Porter now that I understand what that means. It’s more so than just having somebody carry your backpack but somebody who genuinely will help you if you do the medium or advance. The last thing is I’ve read in previous reviews that there were people around to help clean the gaiters and the boots. I was never offered that service. I don’t know if if that was something by coincidence or not, but many reviews said that this was something that they were able to experience, so I had that same expectation and was very disappointed that I still had to carry my dirty boots around my hotel. Christian did provide flip-flops for me to switch into during lunch and the remainder of my time, but it would’ve been nice to have that small service of having somebody help you clean your boots and your gaiters. And finally there was a place where we could stop and take photos. I forget exactly what it’s called but you see them and all of the photos. It’s like these two gorillas together and I don’t know if my driver was able to come with me to help take pictures because that would’ve been amazing. I didn’t have anybody to take my photo. Sometimes it’s nice to have photos other than selfies, and I had to ask other guides who were with their customersto take my picture so apart from that I had a great time. I’m just trying to provide sincere feedback to help the company as well as to help advise future travelers. Overall, I’m very satisfied with my experience even though this is pretty intense, I think they did a great job, and highly recommend them, so thank you for everything.
  
 
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   Virginie D 
 
 
 
 Verified Aucun regret Nous avons passé une journée incroyable avec Félix, pick-up très tôt pour arriver a l'heure du lever du soleil a Akagera. Et franchement l'excursion a duré bien plus longtemps que ce que j'imaginais par rapport au prix. Je recommande a 200% !
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   erg2222 
 
 
 
 Verified Experience of a lifetime with fantastic operator The day began at 4:30 AM when Dodos picked us up from our hotel in Kegali, we arrived at the briefing at about 7 AM where we had a nice cup of tea and were assigned our guide and group of 8 people for the day. The hike itself was more strenuous than I expected, and unfortunately, my daughter was sick so they ended up asking the local village to provide a stretcher to carry her with a rotating group of about 9 guys. It was an extra $200 but well worth it given how challenging it was to navigate the trails. A couple of guys lead with machetes, making space for us to travel about 3 miles uphill. Seeing the gorilla was incredible, it was beyond words to experience them in their natural setting for an hour. I know there are several different operators who organize these tours but I would highly recommend Universal Ventures due to their personal attention and going above and beyond when my daughter was sick. We ended up getting back to the hotel at about 8 PM, so a very long day, but one that we will never forget.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   DK Travels the World 
 
 
 
 Verified Perfect Rwanda tour that worked around our flight issues We had a fantastic experience in Rwanda with Dodos our guide and Emmanuel from the office! We had to deal with 2 cancelled flights and delayed baggage, and Emmanuel helped us reconfigure our itinerary so that we were still able to see the Genocide Memorial and go gorilla trekking. Dodos patiently waited for us at the airport even until 3am and helped us shop for clothes due to our baggage delay. He saved us quite a bit of money by bargaining with the locals. The arranged accommodations were very nice. Gorilla trekking is a lengthy hike but gratifying with the hour we had to hang out beside the family. Overall, Dodos and Emmanuel made Rwanda one of our most favorite countries we visited, even though our 5-day tour became 3 days. We highly recommend doing a tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Rosie H 
 
 
 
 Verified Magical experience and lovely tour operator I would definitely recommend this experience in general and this operator specifically. They contacted me quickly to discuss arranging for the permit to see the gorillas (and extra fee paid directly to the Rwandan authorities). They also advised on how to prepare and answered my questions. On the day of, a really lovely driver picked me up from my hotel in Kigali on time in a luxurious jeep. He was friendly and encouraging as I was a bit anxious about the hiking which can be intense but my one wasn't that strenuous. It depends what the gorillas are up to and the park guides try to sort people loosely on fitness levels, I think. I hired a porter to carry my bag, and they also helped with uneven ground, which was not needed in this case but could have been very very essential if we had to walk through a steeper part of the park. The park staff then led my small group of tourists to see the gorillas, which was one of the most magical things I have experienced! The family of gorillas were very tolerant of us and we spent the full hour allotted with them (longer can stress them). After the walk back, Dodos, my driver, greeted me with a fancy drink and flip flops so I could get out of my hiking boots. We then had lunch at a restaurant o. The way back to Kigali. Overall, I felt very safe as a single female traveller and there were no unexpected costs.
  
 
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   Lenka N 
 
 
 
 Verified An Amazing Holidays in Rwanda and Uganda We took a wonderful 19-day trip through Rwanda and Uganda with the travel agency Universal Ventures—a trip tailored specifically to our family. We started planning the entire trip about three months in advance, and communication with the agency was excellent from the very beginning. It was a trip full of powerful experiences, beautiful nature, encounters with local people, and moments we’ll remember for a long time. The agency’s owner, Emmanuel, was very helpful, communicative, and patient from the very beginning, and he always helped us choose the best options for activities and accommodations based on what was most suitable for our family. The agency arranged a car with a driver and guide for us, as well as some of the activity bookings during the trip. We visited Akagera, Volcanoes, Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth, and Nyungwe National Parks, as well as Lake Kivu. Our driver (guide) was John Bosco, whom we can highly recommend. He was not only a great driver but also an excellent guide, thanks to whom we experienced the trip much more intensely. He has a vast knowledge of the local flora and fauna, and his knowledge of local birds was truly impressive. We were equally fascinated by his excellent knowledge of the local area—he was able to drive to any location or hotel without using a map or a GPS on his phone. We also greatly appreciated his punctuality: the car was always ready even before the agreed-upon time. The car remained tidy and clean throughout the entire trip, even after driving on dusty roads. John also provided us with valuable information about the duration of each leg of the journey, helped us plan our itinerary better, and thanks to him, we felt safe and well taken care of the entire time. The agreement with the agency was clear and easy to understand. We had the option to choose from several pricing options, and the one we selected was the final price—we weren’t charged any additional fees. The deposit we paid to Universal Ventures in advance was properly accounted for. Any minor issues that arose during our long trip were quickly resolved. We definitely recommend booking a car with a driver for a vacation in Rwanda and Uganda: finding your way around isn’t always easy, the quality of the roads is often very poor—especially in Uganda—and it’s also better to cross the Rwanda/Uganda land border with someone who knows the local conditions. In addition, the driver can help you organize visits to local cultural centers, which will allow you to get to know the country much better. This vacation was unforgettable for us, and we feel that it was thanks to Emmanuel, John Bosco, and the entire Universal Ventures agency that we were able to experience Rwanda and Uganda in such a beautiful, safe, and in-depth way. Thank you so much for the excellent organization, care, and all the experiences that will stay with us for a long time to come. We can wholeheartedly and with great pleasure recommend this agency for a trip through Rwanda and Uganda.
  
 
      Posted on Tripadvisor  
   
   Joel S 
 
 
 
 Verified Amazing time seeing Gorillas We had the best time with Mupenzi and Dodos! They made the whole trip unforgettable! There is nothing like seeing Gorillas up close in the wild!
  
 
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   Sami M 
 
 
 
 Verified Majestic Experience Today was such an amazing day of adventure! Volcanoes National Park is an amazing and ethical way to see these beautiful creatures. Our trekking guide Mupenzi was so kind, fun, and knowledgeable. And our driver, Dodos was phenomenal. He is such a lovely person and incredibly knowledgeable. Highly recommended!
  
 
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   Greg V 
 
 
 
 Verified Absolutely breathtaking experience! My experience was seamless from the coordination of my pick up and drop off, to the actual excursion! Hands down one of the best experiences of my life! Christian was extremely helpful and welcoming throughout our entire trip, it would not have been the same without him. Seeing the gorillas after the trekking through the thick brush, was absolutely breathtaking! I will definitely be recommending this trip to all my friends and family!