Lake Ihema
The largest lake in Akagera National Park, ringed by papyrus and open water. Boat trips offer close views of hippos, crocodiles and many waterbirds.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's savannah safari park offers lakes and wetlands as well as the chance of seeing hippos, rhinos, elephants and lions.
Attractive locations
Lake Mihindi
A smaller lake inside Akagera National Park, surrounded by wetlands and savanna. It is a quiet spot for watching birds and animals that come to drink.
Lake Rwanyakazinga
One of the lakes and swamps along the Akagera River system in the park's north. Papyrus beds and open water attract waterbirds and other wildlife.
Akagera National Park
Rwanda's only savannah park, along the Tanzanian border, with lakes, papyrus swamps, open plains and hills. Visitors drive or take boat trips to see elephants, hippos, giraffes and lions.
Lake Shakani
A small lake inside Akagera National Park, ringed by open woodland and savannah. Birds and grazing animals gather near the shore, and it is a quiet stop on a game drive.
Airports
Kigali International Airport KGL
It is about 81 km in a straight line from Akagera National Park.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan21.5 °C78 mm
- Feb22.2 °C80 mm
- Mar21.5 °C139 mm
- Apr20.6 °C154 mm
- May20.3 °C121 mm
- Jun20.4 °C43 mm
- Jul20.7 °C30 mm
- Aug21.5 °C50 mm
- Sep21.6 °C89 mm
- Oct21.2 °C124 mm
- Nov20.6 °C138 mm
- Dec20.9 °C92 mm
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Mar, Apr, Nov.
Costs
Prices here are about 27% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
112 is the general emergency number. Ask your hotel or guide for local police and ambulance numbers.
local government
Rwanda National Police emergency line 112
Helps with: Rwanda has no separate tourist police unit listed. The national police list 112 as the emergency number, plus 113 for traffic accidents and 111 for fire and rescue.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Rwanda, including visitors, who needs the police urgently.
Phone: 112
Email: [email protected]
Address: P. O. Box 6304 KIGALI - RWANDA
local government
Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
Helps with: Rwanda's national development agency, which also promotes tourism through the Visit Rwanda website. Its listed contact line takes general questions; it is not an emergency service.
Who qualifies: Anyone with questions about visiting Rwanda or planning a trip there.
Phone: 1415
Email: [email protected]
Address: KN 69 Street, Kigali
ngo
Rwanda Red Cross
Helps with: Rwanda's national Red Cross society. Its work includes disaster response, first aid and health care, restoring family links for separated families, and blood donation drives.
Who qualifies: People in Rwanda who need its first aid, health, family-links or disaster help services.
Phone: +250 788 457 617
Email: [email protected]
Address: KG 15 Ave, Kacyiru, Kigali, Rwanda
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Rwanda
Helps with: The UN migration agency. In Rwanda it supports the government on migration, and its work covers migrants in vulnerable situations and survivors of trafficking.
Who qualifies: Migrants in Rwanda, especially vulnerable migrants and trafficking survivors. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +250 788 389 723
Email: [email protected]
Address: KG 227 28 St, Amarembo, Nyabisindu Cell, Remera, P.O. Box 1126, Kigali, Rwanda
local government
Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA)
Helps with: Rwanda's emergency management ministry, which coordinates disaster response and recovery. Its page lists the toll-free number 170 and an email address.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Rwanda affected by a disaster or needing to report one.
Phone: 170
Email: [email protected]
embassy
Foreign embassies in Rwanda (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy. The ministry's page says 47 missions are based in Kigali and links PDF lists of them.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.