Eastern Province

Rwanda's largest province, where the savanna of Akagera National Park offers sightings of big wildlife.

Eastern Province lies in eastern Rwanda, bordering Tanzania and Uganda. The terrain is lower, with many lakes, wetlands and savanna, and the climate is hotter and drier than in the west. Akagera National Park is the province's main attraction, with game drives for lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras and other savanna animals, and boat trips on the lakes to watch hippos and waterbirds. The dry seasons (June–September and December–February) are the best time for safaris. The park is a few hours' drive from Kigali.

Destinations

• Akagera National Park
• Kigali

Itineraries

• Kigali & Volcanoes National Park Gorilla Trekking – A short itinerary from Kigali to Kinigi, tracking mountain gorillas and golden monkeys.
• Kigali Memorials & Akagera National Park – Spend two days understanding Kigali and its genocide history, followed by a safari in Akagera.
• Southern Royal Palace, Nyungwe Forest & Kibuye – Visit the royal palace and museums on the way to Nyungwe rainforest, then head to Kibuye to enjoy Lake Kivu.
• Rwanda Grand Loop – Connect Akagera, Volcanoes National Park, Kibuye, Nyungwe, and the southern Royal Palace.
• Kigali Cross-Border Bwindi Gorilla & Lake Bunyonyi – Cross the border from Kigali to Rushaga for gorilla tracking, then canoe on Lake Bunyonyi before returning.
• Rwanda & Uganda Double Gorilla & Lake Bunyonyi – Track gorillas once in each country, ending with a relaxing stay at Lake Bunyonyi via Rushaga.