Ruzizi Tented Lodge is in the southern part of Akagera National Park, by Lake Ihema and just 15 minutes from the park entrance. The lodge has only 5 tents overlooking Lake Ihema which hosts more wildlife than any other lake in Akagera. You’ll find water animals, birds, and many animals coming to drink or cool off. From your tent or veranda, you might spot hippos, crocodiles, various birds, and elephants enjoying the water. This is the only lake in the park where you can take a boat ride. At Ruzizi, the adventure starts with the boat trip and continues when you return to the lodge.
| Guest Type | Category | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign | Per person sharing | $227 | $258 |
| Foreign | Single supplement | $109 | |
| Foreign | Child 6-12 yrs (triple sharing with parents) | $119 | $119 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Per person sharing | $170 | $186 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Single supplement | $78 | $83 |
| Rwandan / EAC Resident | Child 6-12 yrs (sharing with parents) | $93 | $103 |
| Guest Type | Tent Type | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| International | Standard tent (per person sharing) | $227 | $258 |
| International | Tree-top tent (per person sharing) | $315 | $361 |
| International | Standard tent Single Supplement | $98 | $109 |
| International | Tree-top tent Single Supplement | $142 | $154 |
| International | Child 6-12 (sharing with parents) | $119 | $119 |
| Resident | Standard tent (per person sharing) | $170 | $186 |
| Resident | Tree-top tent (per person sharing) | $253 | $273 |
| Resident | Standard tent Single Supplement | $78 | $83 |
| Resident | Tree-top tent Single Supplement | $111 | $121 |
| Resident | Child 6-12 (sharing with parents) | $93 | $103 |
$360 - Single Occupant,
$250 per person Sharing
ACCOMMODATION GUIDE
Best Price When You Book Direct
Flexible Cancellation Policy
Fully Refundable Within 24h
⏰
Limited Spots Available
⚠️ Popular Dates Filling Fast
Other Camps & Lodges
$250/person 2 people Sharing $360 for 1 person single tent
Ruzizi Tented Lodge is an eco-conscious, lakeside tented retreat in a small, serene setting, designed for engaging wildlife experiences and offering comfort without compromising authenticity or eco-friendly commitment.
Each tent has en-suite facilities, hot and cold water, shaded verandas with hammocks, and thoughtful local décor. It’s simple and well-executed, nature-sensitive comfort.
Karenge's tented suites are designed for the bush, elevated on wooden platforms and facing the Kilala Plains on both sides of the central area. Each suite has an ensuite bathroom, mosquito nets, a changing space with shelves and a clothes rack, a mirror, and a safe. Outside, a private covered patio invites you to enjoy the sweeping plains.
Whats Included
Exclusions
What do I need to bring?
Found a lodge outside Akagera for half the price of staying inside? Read this before you book. Written by Richard Rwabutogo, Rwanda's former Tourism Destination Manager, this guide breaks down every accommodation option inside and outside the park, the entrance fee math most travelers miss, and how to match your lodge to your safari plan.
If We Cancel
In over 6,000 trips, we've never cancelled, but reserve the right to do so in exceptional circumstances. If we cancel, you can reschedule or receive a full refund.
If “God Cancels”
No refunds guaranteed for cancellations within 48 hours of departure, regardless of reason - weather, illness, travel bans, or any other circumstance. Add Protect Group's Enhanced Refund coverage (8% additional) to protect yourself.
If You Cancel
Less than 24 hours: No refund or credit, unless covered by Enhanced Refund Terms.
24-Hour Risk-Free Booking
Changed your mind? Full refund if you cancel within 24 hours. Zero penalty. No stress, no risk.
Premium Safari. Lowest Price Guaranteed.
Book direct online or at our Tourist Information Centers - we guarantee you will receive the lowest price available.
Instalment Payment Options
Split the cost—without paying more. Reserve your stay for 10% down, pay the rest on arrival.
Karenge Bush Camp is the only accommodation in the north and places you inside the park's most wildlife-rich corridor with unobstructed views from sunset to dawn. The area has open plains and higher predator activity on day and night drives, except leopards which are mostly spotted in the south. Simply put, this is where you will see what you came for. Birders favor the south where most species gather around the lakes.
Activities in the north:
Exclusive Access to Sunrise Safari
Safaris here begin at 5:30 in the morning, as the sun rises over the plains. The landscape benefits both predators and prey. The open ground lets them see each other clearly. If you spot one, the other is usually nearby. This safari is available to only the few who have spent a night at Karenge; you barely see another safari car, it's only the vastness of the wilderness with no one else or anything in between.
Exclusive Access to Night Safari
The South is known for its boat rides, especially at sunset. However, there are no lakes or boat rides in the North. Instead, the night safari stands out as much better than the one in the south. You ride in open safari cars, with spotlights lighting up the landscape for up to 60 meters. Seeing lions is always exciting, but at night the adventure feels even more thrilling. This is the top night safari in Akagera and gives you a chance to spot predators you might have missed during the day.
Real stories. Real awe. Hear what our guests experienced on this safari.
With so many safari options online, Akagera Safari's website stood out, and the guaranteed sighting delivered all the Big 5
Emilie
Booked direct and saved a fortune. Customer support responded so fast I genuinely thought I was chatting with a bot - turns out they're just that efficient.
Lea S
5:30 PM – Pick-up from the bush camp
Right before the sun-sets your are sick up in an all open safari car and you see the an array of colors in the sky as gold fades to pink and blue. The spotlights go one and you engulfed in darkness, where all you see is what is illuminated by the cars lights and the massive spotlights. On well lite start nights your guide interprets the stars to give you bearing and when you spot something it's all in whispers, a natural reaction for all who visit.
8:30 PM – Bonfire Dinner
Return to the bush camp for dinner by the bonfire. Meals are cooked in traditional Rwandan pots, and Masai shukas are given to keep you warm against the chilly breeze of the plains. The camp lights go out at 10:00 PM, and you fall asleep to the sounds of wildlife, looking forward to seeing them in the morning.
Your Questions, Answered
International guests
Low season: $227/night per adult
High season: $258/night per adult
Children (6–12): $119/night both seasons
Single supplement: $98 low / $109 high
Rwandan / EAC Residents
Low season: $170/night per adult
High season: $186/night per adult
Children: $93 low / $103 high
Single supplement: $78 low / $83 high
Seasons
Low: March–May, October–December 14
High: June–September, December 15–February
All rates are full board (dinner, breakfast, lunch). Park fees, drinks, and activities excluded.
Children aged 6 to 12 are charged $119 per night for international guests. Rwandan and EAC resident children pay $93 per night in low season and $103 in high season. Children under 6 are not accommodated. Guests over 12 are charged the full adult rate.
Karenge offers only six tents, which are typically fully booked during the high season from June to September and December 15 to February. To secure a reservation during these months, please book well in advance.
* Park fees are calculated by the number of nights spent in the park: $100 for the first night, $50 per night for nights two through four, and no charge from the fifth night onward.
Guests staying at the camp receive discounted park entrance fees starting from the second night. On the second night, you also receive a 10% discount, and by the third night, a 20% discount on accommodation.
The only entrance is located in the south. The drive north through the park takes approximately six hours. Please allow an additional 30 minutes for registration at the park reception and the park warden's briefing. Lunch, which is included in your full board, is served no later than 14:00.
The check-in time at Karenge is 17:30. Allow 6.5 hours to reach the northern area on a full safari, or 4 hours if driving directly without detours around the lakes. The speed limit in the park is 40 km/h.
If you are unavoidably delayed, call the lodge in advance to arrange an after-hours escort from the gate. The escort fee is $50 and this service is only available until 19:30 — arrivals after that cannot be accommodated.
Karenge offers the best night safari in Akagera, allowing you to see wildlife that may have been missed during the day. It is also the only location in the park, aside from the Luxury Camps in the Magashi Wilderness on its own peninsula, where you can enjoy a dawn safari.
Karenge offers only night safaris. And with two cars stationed at the camp, it's not always easy to secure one of them for a day safari. Our recommendation is to use the same safari car that brought you from. Kigali. It not only costs less but also offers the best experience and flexibility in the park
Karenge Bush Camp offers a warm and inviting escape in the heart of nature. Each roomy tent comes with its own patio or deck, en-suite shower, personal safe, and power outlets. The camp runs entirely on solar power, making it a great choice for eco-conscious travelers. Guests can relax in the dining area, lounge, or bar, and laundry service is available if needed. The camp is fully tented and provides WiFi. Emergency evacuation plans are in place for your safety. Children aged 6 and above are welcome. Please note that the terrain is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Yes, there is wifi reception at the camp.
Found a lodge outside Akagera for half the price of staying inside? Read this before you book. Written by Richard Rwabutogo, Rwanda's former Tourism Destination Manager, this guide breaks down every accommodation option inside and outside the park, the entrance fee math most travelers miss, and how to match your lodge to your safari plan.
3-Day Safari in Akagera National Park
Location: Akagera (South & North)
Sightings: Over 95% BIG 5
Duration: 3 days & 2 nights
Intensity: Level 2
Price/ person: $2,300 for 1 , $1400 for 2, $650 for 3, $1200 for 4+ pax
Ruzizi Tented Lodge is an eco-conscious, lakeside tented retreat with a small, serene setting designed for immersive wildlife experiences — offering comfort without compromising on authenticity or environmental responsibility.
Each tent comes with en-suite facilities, hot and cold water, shaded verandas with hammocks, and thoughtful local décor. It’s not about over-the-top luxury—it’s about well-executed, nature-sensitive comfort
The Ruzizi River is one of East Africa’s great waterways. Flowing out of Lake Kivu between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, it winds along the Rwanda–Burundi border before emptying into Lake Tanganyika. As part of the vast Nile River Basin, the Ruzizi has long shaped the landscapes and lives of the region. When Ruzizi Tented Lodge was created inside Akagera National Park, its founders chose the name not for geography alone, but for symbolism.
Akagera is a park defined by its lakes and rivers—Lake Ihema, the Akagera River, and countless wetlands that sustain both wildlife and people. Linking the lodge to the name Ruzizi was a way of honoring this broader water story.
The name also carries regional identity. The Ruzizi River is familiar across Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Congo, instantly rooting the lodge in an East African context. And beyond recognition, the word Ruzizi itself suggests calmness, flow, and life-giving water—perfect for a retreat perched on the shores of Lake Ihema, where boat rides and bird calls frame each day.
Though the lodge is not built on the Ruzizi River itself, its name connects guests to the continuity of Rwanda’s great waterways, a reminder that every journey in Akagera is part of a much larger natural story.
24/7 Support
Union Trade Center, KN4 Ave
Tourism Information Center
Tel: (250) 787 409 137
Toll-Free: US (831) 704-9840
Safaris
Plan
Stay
More Info
