Akagera Game Lodge: Our full report

Akagera Game Lodge is one of the few accommodation options within Rwanda’s Akagera National Park, adjacent ...

... to the Tanzanian border. Perched on the edge of the savannah, it has fantastic views over Lake Ihema, and a big swimming pool. In 2018 The Mantis Collection took over the management of Akagera Game Lodge, and significant refurbishment and upgrades took place after Expert Africa's last visit in 2019.

Guest accommodation at Akagera Game Lodge encompasses a range of bedrooms, suites and cottages.

The 58 standard bedrooms are in one long double-storey terrace. Inside they are fairly simple, with African print cushions and throws on the beds. Each room also has a writing desk and chair, satellite TV, phone and a small balcony or patio with a couple of chairs overlooking the lake or the savannah. The en-suite bathrooms are functional as opposed to stylish, and come with complimentary toiletries. All of the rooms can interconnect, so are suitable for families.

The two suites were our favourite rooms at Akagera Game Lodge. They're the last rooms on the terrace – one on the top floor and one on the ground floor. Each has a lounge area with a sofa, solid green-marble table and dining table, TV and minibar (which is filled on request). African artefacts such as traditional drums lend some character, which is lacking in the standard rooms. The en-suite bedroom has a four-poster king-size bed with mosquito net, a dressing table, and a balcony overlooking the lake.

The large reception area at Akagera Game Lodge is dotted with African carvings and pieces of art, and incorporates a small curio shop. Up a spiral staircase you'll find the bar – with chunky wooden bar stools lining a long wooden bar, some chairs and tables, and a TV. The bar opens out onto a wooden terrace which overlooks the pool below. The large restaurant also has an outside decked area where meals can be served.

Outside, set in extensive tropical gardens, are two floodlit tennis courts that guests can use for free, a children's play area, and a small children's pool, as well as a lovely big circular swimming pool with sunloungers overlooking the lake. A small massage area completes the picture.

Activities at Akagera Game Lodge concentrate on game drives in Akagera National Park. These are usually conducted by your own driver-guide, accompanied by a wildlife guide provided by the Rwandan National Parks authority (who are generally quite knowledgeable and fairly communicative). With woodland, savannah, lakes and papyrus swamps, the park has plenty of different habitats to explore with a variety of flora and fauna. Hippo, buffalo, Burchell's zebra, impala, bushbuck, Maasai giraffe, oribi, tsessebe, elephant and crocodile are frequently seen; lion and sitatunga are at present restricted to more inaccessible areas and are rarely sighted. Birding is particularly good and a short boat trip will give you the opportunity to get close to waterbirds that include numerous African fish eagles, marabou stork, crowned cranes, open-billed storks, cormorants, herons and egrets. If you are lucky you may even get to see the elusive shoebill stork.

Our view

Although Akagera Game Lodge has a good location from which to explore Akagera National Park, it was originally built for practicality rather than aesthetics, and did not have much character. That said, the service has always been friendly and the tropical gardens are expansive. Our hunch is that since its major refurbishments, this is a reliable and cost-effective base for visiting the park.

Richard Trillo

Rwanda expert

Geographics

Location: Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Ideal length of stay: 1–2 nights
Directions: Akagera Game Lodge is about three hours' drive from Kigali: the first two on a good tarmac road; the last on a dirt road.
Accessible by: Fly-and-Transfer

Food & drink

Usual board basis: Full Board
Food quality: Although we did not eat at Akagera Game Lodge on our last visit in 2017, we have done on a previous visit, when the food was surprisingly good and tasty.

Breakfast consists of fruit, followed by eggs cooked to order.

Lunch is from an à la carte menu that includes items such as grilled chicken and chips, pizzas, burgers, samosas and salads.

Dinner, too, is usually à la carte, but the manager told us that if they get very busy they may put on a buffet. On our previous visit we enjoyed grilled tilapia (a fish found in Lake Kivu) with chips and salad.
Dining style: Individual Tables
Dining locations: Indoor and Outdoor Dining
Further dining info, including room service: Room service is available at an extra cost of around US$4.
Drinks included: Drinks are an extra cost at Akagera Game Lodge. These are typically around US$3 for a soft drink and US$5 for a beer or a glass of wine.

Complimentary bottles of water are provided in the rooms.

Children

Attitude towards children: Akagera Game Lodge welcomes children.
Property’s age restrictions: There are no age restrictions here.
Special activities & services: There is a children’s play area and small pool, with tennis and a larger pool suitable for older children. All the bedrooms interconnect.
Equipment: They have cots and high chairs.
Generally recommended for children: Although the hotel is well set up for children, its location within the national park means that we'd only recommend it for children over the age of 8 who are interested in wildlife.
Notes: We recommend that children are supervised when using the swimming pool.

Communications

Power supply notes: There is a backup generator
Communications: Akagera Game Lodge has WiFi in the reception and bar area and internet terminals for guests who don't have their own laptops.
TV & radio: There are TVs in the bedrooms and in the bar.
Water supply: Borehole
Water supply notes: All rooms are fully plumbed, but the water is not suitable for drinking.

Health & safety

Malarial protection recommended: Yes
Medical care: One of the staff members at the hotel is a nurse, and there is a small hospital in a village just 15 minutes’ drive away.
Dangerous animals: Moderate Risk
Security measures: Akagera Game Lodge has security guards on the gate 24 hours a day. There are no safes in the rooms, but valuables can be kept in the manager’s safe.
Fire safety: There are fire hoses throughout the hotel; these are checked and maintained on a regular basis.

Activities

4WD Safari
Birdwatching
Boat trip
Fishing
Guided walking safari
Night drive

Extras

Disabled access: Not Possible
Laundry facilities: Laundry can be done for an extra charge. Items are machine-washed and dried.
Money: There are no safes in the rooms, but valuables can be kept in the manager’s safe. The hotel can exchange only small amounts of money if really necessary.
Accepted payment on location: Akagera Game Lodge accepts all major credit and debit cards with the exception of American Express. Cash payments may be made in Rwandan francs, US dollars, euros or British pounds.