Akagera offers a different experience: the park is smaller and the wildlife is in recovery rather than at the density of the great East African reserves. But the intimacy and the conservation story make every sighting deeply meaningful, and the rhino and lion experiences are exceptional.

The shoebill is one of Akagera’s most celebrated species and is found in the park’s papyrus wetlands year-round. Sightings during the lake boat safari are reasonably reliable with knowledgeable guides.

Mantis Akagera Game Lodge sits in the southern sector of Akagera National Park in eastern Rwanda, approximately 110 kilometres from Kigali. The park borders Tanzania and covers a landscape of savannah, woodland, and lakes, with Lake Ihema directly accessible from the lodge for boat-based wildlife viewing. For honeymooners combining a Rwanda gorilla trekking experience with a traditional savannah safari, Akagera offers a compelling and often overlooked addition to the itinerary.

There are no scheduled fixed-wing domestic flights serving the park, so guests arrive either by helicopter from Kigali International Airport, a journey of 25 to 30 minutes, or by road, which takes approximately two and a half to three hours. The helicopter option is the more dramatic arrival for honeymooners, with aerial views of the park’s lakes and savannah on the approach. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris arranges all transfers from Kigali as part of your Rwanda honeymoon package.

The lodge has 60 air-conditioned rooms across five categories, all styled with contemporary African décor and en-suite bathrooms. The 27 Standard Rooms on the ground floor are spacious enough to accommodate two children under twelve on rollaway beds. The 29 Balcony Rooms on the upper level offer elevated views of either the savannah or Lake Ihema and are a strong choice for honeymooners who want an outlook over the landscape from their own private balcony. The Balcony Suite adds a separate lounge area for additional privacy and relaxation. The two Family Suites each have three bedrooms, an open-plan lounge, and a kitchenette, suited to honeymooners travelling with family. The Presidential Suite is the most exclusive option, with two en-suite bedrooms accommodating up to four guests, a private patio, a fully fitted kitchen, and a dining room seating up to ten.

Guided game drives run as morning, afternoon, and full-day options through the park in search of the Big Five, which in Akagera includes lion, leopard, rhino, elephant, and buffalo. Night game drives lasting approximately two and a half hours begin around 5:30pm using spotlights to find nocturnal species including hyena, leopard, and mongoose. The Lake Ihema Boat Cruise offers a completely different perspective on the park’s wildlife, with hippos, crocodiles, and water birds viewed from the water at close range. Birdwatching is exceptional throughout the park and lodge grounds, with over 500 recorded species including the rare Shoebill stork, which is one of the most sought-after bird sightings in East Africa. The Walk the Line guided hike covers seven kilometres along the park’s perimeter fence over approximately two hours, taking in high-ridge views and offering insight into the park’s active conservation and monitoring programme. Catch-and-release fishing tournaments on Lake Shakani targeting tilapia and catfish are held periodically and can be enquired about through the lodge management.

Akagera is Rwanda’s only savannah national park and one of the most underrated Big Five destinations in East Africa. The park’s recent conservation success, including the reintroduction of lion and rhino after decades of absence, means game viewing is improving rapidly and the sense of witnessing something still being built carries a particular kind of meaning. Combined with the lake boat cruise, the rare birdlife, and the lodge’s contemporary design and elevated balcony views, Akagera makes a natural complement to a Rwanda honeymoon that begins with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park. Africa Bed of Roses Safaris regularly combines both parks into a single Rwanda honeymoon itinerary for couples who want the full range of the country’s extraordinary wildlife experiences.