Discover Akagera by Helicopter is one of the ultimate experiences in Rwanda. Grab your slot this year for the most exciting and biggest adventure that even the most discerning relative will approve of. Our 5 Days Discover Akagera By Helicopter is a world-class safari experience to share with your family and loved ones.
This luxury Rwanda safari experience can combine wildlife encounters to enrich your experience or take you to remote places that will make a truly unique adventure.
Discover Akagera by Helicopter
Introduction of 5 Days Discover Akagera by Helicopter.
| Start | Accommodation | Destination | Basis | Duration |
| Day 1 | The Retreat by Heaven | Kigali | HB | 1 Night |
| Day 2 | Wilderness Magashi | Akagera National Park | FB | 3 Nights |
Key
HB: Half Board – Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast
B&B: Bed and Breakfast
FB: Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch
Included in our 5 Days Discover Akagera by Helicopter.
• Airport and inter-hotel transfers from day 1 to the last day
• Exclusive use of a private safari land cruiser 4×4 with WI-FI in receptive areas.
• All activities as highlighted in the itinerary as per Magashi Camp arrangement.
• Return helicopter flight Kigali-Akagera.
• 1 Night Accommodation at Kigali Retreat by Heaven
• 3 Nights at Accommodation at Magashi Camp includes: – All meals, All local drinks (excludes premium imported brands and champagne), Laundry, Complimentary in-room welcome massage (**additional massages would be for guest’s own account), Wireless internet connection in room only, Local Government taxes. In the event of a change in local taxes
• Kigali Genocide Memorial Museum visit.
• Game drives.
• Boat Safari in Akagera
•Services of a professional, experienced English-speaking driver guide.
•Bottled mineral water in the vehicle during the tour.
•Our assistance.
Excluded in our 5 Days Discover Akagera by Helicopter.
- International and domestic airline tickets unless where indicated,
- All extra activities, visits, entrances, and extra meals/drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Entry visa fees,
- Optional extras whilst in Kigali
- Drinks throughout the trip,
- Tips and gratuities,
- Personal expenses such as telephone calls, mini bar, porter-age, travel insurance, etc.
Day 1: The Retreat by Heaven, Kigali
Kigali
Rwanda’s capital and biggest city stretch across lush undulating hills surrounded by towering mountains, the largest of which is Mount Kigali, rising 1850 meters above sea level. Kigali is the country’s financial, commercial and cultural hub, served by an international airport and featuring a wide range of accommodation options.
It also offers a collection of restaurants and points of interest, including the Kigali Genocide Centre, an atmospheric market, and numerous craft shops. With its interesting architecture, busy streets, meandering boulevards, and green hillsides, Kigali is said to be one of the most attractive cities in Africa and is definitely worth a visit.
Day Itinerary
- TBA: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
- TBA: VIP Meet & greet assistance through immigration.
- TBA: Pick up from Kigali International Airport for a 25 minutes transfer to Retreat Heaven Boutique Hotel.
- TBA: Check-in at the Retreat.
- TBA: Dinner and overnight stay at Kigali Retreat by Heaven.
Overnight: The Retreat by Heaven
Town & Country and The New York Times describe The Retreat in Kigali as one of the top boutique hotels of the world. The American owners of Heaven Restaurant created The Retreat, a 20-room luxury boutique hotel located on a tree-lined street steps from Kigali City Center and 20 minutes from the airport. 8 new luxury pool villas are now open and recently hosted Prince Charles!
The Retreat is Kigali’s first eco-friendly resort and features solar electricity, organic toiletries, locally-crafted furniture from a Tanzanian sustainable teak farm, outdoor showers, private terraces, a yoga, and meditation deck, a spa, a large heated saltwater swimming pool with jacuzzi and diving rocks, and an open-air fitness center.
Fusion Restaurant and its Swahili-inspired bar, located at The Retreat, offer delicious farm-to-table international cuisine, while Heaven Restaurant (reached through the Retreat’s “Stairway to Heaven”) offers an innovative modern African menu. The Retreat is the perfect choice to host guests for the first 2 nights or several days as it offers innovative, curated cultural experiences and exciting activities onsite and around Kigali.
From public health to hospitality, co-owners Alissa & Josh Ruxin created Heaven Restaurant in 2008 to provide jobs and vocational training in hospitality, to date, Heaven and The Retreat have trained over 2,500 Rwandans in hospitality skills.
Basis
Half Board – Dinner, Bed, and Breakfast. Book Now
Day 2: Wilderness Magashi, Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park
Bordering Tanzania in eastern Rwanda, Akagera National Park is central Africa’s largest protected wetland and the last refuge for savannah-adapted species in the country. Stretching across a vast expanse of low-lying mountains and savannah plains, the park takes in the rolling highlands woodlands, swamp-fringed lakes, and wetlands of the Kagera River along the way.
Crocodiles and hippos wallow in the park’s watery basins, predators prowl through its acacia groves, and elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo, and other animals roam across its grassy plains. Bursting with rich biodiversity, the park features a variety of rare species, as well as a plentitude of mammals and hundreds of bird species.
Day Itinerary
- 0800: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0830: Transfer to Kigali Genocide Museum.
- 0900: Visit the Kigali Genocide memorial centre.
- 1015: Transfer to Kigali airport for your helicopter flight to Akagera.
- 1100: Helicopter departs for Akagera National Park.
- 1145: Arrival at Akagera Heli-pad.
- 1200: Pick up and transfer to your lodge for check-in.
- 1230: Lunch at the lodge.
- 1400: Embark on the Lodge’s activities by Magashi
- 1830: Return to the lodge.
- 1930: Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge.
Overnight: Wilderness Magashi
Wilderness Magashi is situated in the productive and phenomenally diverse northeastern corner of Akagera National Park, overlooking scenic Lake Rwanyakazinga. Akagera comprises some of the most scenic savannah in East Africa – open plains, woodlands, lakes, swamp, and grassy low mountains – and is home to one of Africa’s highest hippo densities, large crocodiles, as well as the rare sitatunga and boasting an impressive 520 species of birds.
Teeming with plains game, Akagera now also boasts a healthy population of lions which were introduced by African Parks in 2015 after a 20-year absence; black rhinos were reintroduced in 2017, and white rhinos in 2021. Wilderness Magashi – the only exclusive-use area in Akagera – also harbors a good density of leopards.
INSIDER’S TIP: Our core Purpose in Akagera is to help conserve Rwanda’s last protected savannah ecosystem, and species like the black rhino and the rare and elusive shoebill; furthermore, our presence here will contribute towards enabling it to become economically self-sufficient for the first time.
Activities
| Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum |
| Akagera National Park Game Drive |
Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum
Located just outside of Kigali City Centre in the Gasabo district, Kigali Genocide Memorial & Museum was created by a joint partnership of the Kigali City Council and the UK-based Aegis Trust. The center is extremely moving, challenging, educational, and ultimately inspiring as well as a great place to understand the cause, tragedy and successful rebuilding post-genocide.
The memorial hosts a tour that is transparent and educational but very somber and humbling when guests realize that over 250,000 deceased are buried on the site of the memorial.
Akagera National Park Game Drive
Lead by a guide, Akagera National Park Game Drive occurs early in the mornings and late in the afternoons. While driving along the park tracks in a 4WD Safari vehicle, passengers will have the chance to spot animals such as hyenas, elephants, various buffalo, and lions.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch. Book Now.
Day 3: Wilderness Magashi, Akagera National Park
Day Itinerary
- 0630: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0700: Morning game drive in Akagera National Park and other days activities by the lodge.
- 1400: Boat safari in Akagera on Lake Rwanyakizinga.
- 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at Magashi Camp.
Activities
| Magashi Game Drives |
| Magashi Boating |
Magashi Game Drives
Explore the area in an open 4×4 vehicle with each vehicle able to accommodate a maximum of seven guests, allowing each individual an outside seat.
Magashi Boating
Magashi offers boating in eight-seater swamp cruisers. This is an excellent way to view the water birds and many other aquatic animals seen around Lake Rwanyakazinga.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch
Day 4: Wilderness Magashi, Akagera National Park
Day Itinerary
- 0630: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0700: Day’s activities by the lodge.
- 1100: The rest of the day at Magashi -Akagera
- 1800: A night game drive could be done on this day. (Activities are under the lodge).
- 1800: Dinner and overnight stay at Magashi Camp.
Activities
| Magashi Night Game Drives |
Magashi Night Game Drives
Magashi is in the only private access area in Akagera so exclusive night game drives in open 4×4 vehicles are offered.
Basis
Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch
Day 5: End of Itinerary- 5 Days Discover Akagera by Helicopter.
Day Itinerary
- 0800: Begin the day with a morning breakfast.
- 0900: Morning activity s per Magashi Camp arrangement.
- 1100: Check out and fly back to Kigali by helicopter.
- 1130: Arrival at Kigali International Airport.
- End of service.
Basis
Bed and Breakfast