Are There Walking Safaris in Akagera?

Are there walking safaris in Akagera? Yes, Akagera National Park offers guided walking safaris. offers more than just vehicle game drives. You can also explore the bush on foot through a range of guided walking safaris. Armed park rangers and trained community guides lead every walk, keeping you safe while you experience the wild up close. Here is what Anthill Safaris recommends you know before you lace up your boots.

Your Walking Safari Options

Guided Nature Walks (1–3 Hours)

These short walks take place in the southern part of the park. This zone has fewer predators, which makes it a practical and safe starting point for first-time walkers. As you move through the bush, you can spot zebras, antelopes, giraffes, and primates. Birdwatchers also love this area, since the vegetation attracts dozens of colorful species. Rangers lead the way, point out animal tracks, and explain the ecosystem around you.

Walk the Line Tour (7 km | ~2 Hours)

This walk follows part of the park’s perimeter fence alongside a community volunteer guide. It costs around $30 per adult and $20 per child. Along the route, your guide shows you how fence attendants patrol the boundary every day to protect wildlife from poaching. It is a powerful, ground-level look at conservation in action. Furthermore, the walk connects you directly with local communities that work hard to keep the park safe.

Lakeside and Birdwatching Walks

These routes run along the shores of Lake Ihema and through the Muyumbu Hills. They focus on Akagera’s wetland ecosystem, where life gathers around the water. You can observe hippos, crocodiles, and water birds from a safe distance. With over 450 bird species recorded in the park, this walk draws serious birders from around the world. In addition, the scenery along the lake makes it one of the most visually rewarding walks available.

Primitive Walking Trail (40 km | 3 Nights)

For experienced adventurers, Akagera offers a multi-day backpacking trek through remote sections of the park. It runs during the dry season, specifically in August, September, and October. This trail covers raw, untouched terrain far from the main tourist routes. As a result, it delivers one of the most immersive wildlife experiences in East Africa.

What You Need to Know Before You Go

Safety First Rangers carry firearms and stay alert at all times. Walking without an official guide is strictly prohibited. The guides track animal movements, read the bush, and ensure your group keeps a safe distance from lions, elephants, and other large animals.

Best Time to Walk: Plan your walk for early morning between 7:00 AM and 9:00 AM or late afternoon between 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM. During these hours, temperatures drop, and animals become more active. Consequently, your chances of great sightings increase significantly.

What to Pack: Wear sturdy hiking shoes and choose neutral-colored clothing such as khaki, olive, or brown. Long pants and a long-sleeved shirt protect you from both the sun and insects. Besides, bring insect repellent and carry plenty of water throughout your walk.

What other activities can tourists do in Akagera National Park?

Akagera National Park offers far more than game drives. When you travel with Anthill Safaris, you have a full menu of experiences to choose from — each one giving you a different window into this remarkable park and the communities that surround it.

Day and Night Game Drives

Game drives remain the best way to cover ground across Akagera’s open savannah. Anthill Safaris uses custom-built safari vehicles that are comfortable, well-positioned for wildlife viewing, and driven by experienced guides who know the park intimately. During the day, you move through grasslands, woodlands, and wetland edges, watching for the Big Five and the many other species that call the park home.

As the sun drops, the park shifts into a different gear entirely. Night drives begin at sunset and take you into the territory of Akagera’s nocturnal animals. Lions, leopards, hyenas, serval cats, and bush babies all become active after dark, and a night drive with Anthill Safaris puts you right in the middle of it. The park provides a dedicated safari vehicle that holds up to seven people, making it a comfortable and shared experience.

Boat Cruise on Lake Ihema

A boat cruise on Lake Ihema is one of the most rewarding ways to explore a side of Akagera that a game drive simply cannot reach. You drift along the water’s edge while hippos surface around you and Nile crocodiles bask on the banks. The forest-fringed shoreline provides a striking backdrop, and the experience feels completely different from anything you get on land. Boats go out four times daily — at 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., and 4:30 p.m. — and Anthill Safaris can also arrange private trips outside these scheduled times.

Birding

With over 482 recorded bird species, Akagera is one of Rwanda’s top birding destinations. The shoebill stork draws serious birders from across the world, but the park also holds numerous Lake Victoria endemics and a wide variety of waterbirds, raptors, and woodland species. Anthill Safaris guides know exactly where to look, and birding works beautifully alongside any other activity you choose during your visit.

Sport Fishing

Lake Shakani offers a quieter, more relaxed way to spend time in the park. You fish from the shoreline, and once you have your catch, you can cook it over an open fire at your campsite. It is a simple and satisfying experience. Remember to bring your own fishing equipment.

Community Cultural Tours

Some of the most memorable moments on any safari happen away from the wildlife. Anthill Safaris connects you with local communities living near the park’s eastern boundary. You can visit farms to learn about traditional cattle keeping and milking, or spend time with producers of banana beer and honey. Every shilling generated by these tours goes directly back to the communities you visit.

Behind the Scenes Tour

For travellers who want to understand the bigger picture, a behind-the-scenes tour of the park’s headquarters is well worth the time. You meet the rangers and conservation staff, hear about the reintroduction programmes that brought lions and rhinos back to Rwanda, and gain a real appreciation for the work that keeps Akagera thriving. It adds genuine depth to everything else you experience in the park.

Akagera on foot is a completely different experience from a game drive. It is slower, quieter, and far more personal. Contact Anthill Safaris today to book your walking safari and explore Rwanda’s wild heart at your own pace.