Wilderness Magashi

Wilderness Magashi is the best place for a honeymoon safari in Rwanda's Akagera National Park and the obvious partner to a gorilla trek in the Virunga volcanoes. It is a camp of eight tented suites on the shore of Lake Rwanyakazinga, in a private concession in the north of the park where only Magashi guests drive. That exclusivity matters: you will often have a lion sighting or a herd of elephants at the water's edge to yourselves.

Akagera is a conservation success story. Managed by African Parks with the Rwanda Development Board, it has seen lions and both black and white rhinos return in recent years, so the Big Five are now present. Magashi adds boat safaris, fishing and birding on the lake, with more than 520 bird species recorded in the park.

The camp suits couples who want a quieter, more personal safari than the busy parks of East Africa and who are already traveling to Rwanda for gorillas. Rates are high and fully inclusive. If your priority is huge herds and classic big-cat action every day, the Serengeti or Masai Mara are stronger bets.

Highlights at a glance

• Only eight tented suites on Lake Rwanyakazinga
• Private concession in northern Akagera
• Big Five present, with over 520 bird species in the park
• Boat safaris and catch-and-release fishing
• Easy pairing with gorilla trekking

Why Couples Love Magashi

Magashi feels like a private lake house in the bush. With only eight suites, the camp never holds more than a few couples and small groups, so meals and evenings around the fire are intimate. Elephants come down to drink and splash in the lake in front of camp, hippos grunt through the night and fish eagles call from the shoreline at dawn.

The north of Akagera is wide open savanna dotted with acacia, very different from the mountain forests where you trek gorillas. Pairing the two gives you contrasting halves to a Rwanda honeymoon: the emotional, muddy hike to see gorillas, then a few slow days of game drives and boat trips by the water. Guides are known for their knowledge of the park's recovery story, which adds meaning to every sighting.

The Tented Suites

Each of the eight suites faces the lake, with canvas walls, a raised deck and the light, natural style Wilderness uses across its camps. They are proper suites rather than simple safari tents, with comfortable beds, en-suite bathrooms and room to spread out. The deck is where you will spend your free time, watching birds and game move along the shore.

There is a pool with views over the lake for the hot middle of the day, plus massages on request. Wi-Fi is available in camp. Couples who want even more seclusion can look at Magashi Peninsula, Wilderness's smaller and more exclusive camp nearby, which costs considerably more. For most honeymooners, the main camp already offers more privacy than safari lodges in busier parks.

Meals, Drinks and What Is Included

Magashi's rate is fully inclusive. It covers your suite, all meals, local drinks, laundry, tourism tax and the camp's activities. Reserve wines and champagne cost extra, as do the park conservation fees and any gorilla trekking permits elsewhere in the country.

Meals follow the safari rhythm: coffee before an early drive, a cooked breakfast on return, lunch in camp and dinner under the stars or in the main area, often with Rwandan dishes alongside international cooking. Ask the team for a private dinner on your deck or a sundowner on the lake one evening. Because drinks are included, the evening fire becomes a natural gathering point, though you can always slip back to your suite when you want time alone.

Safari Activities

Activities run from camp and can be tailored to what the two of you enjoy most.

• Game drives explore the private concession and wider park for lions, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, zebras and antelope. Black and white rhinos and leopards are present but harder to find.
• Boat safaris on Lake Rwanyakazinga bring you close to hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. On rare occasions guests spot a shoebill.
• Catch-and-release fishing appeals to anyone who wants a slower afternoon.
• Guided nature walks and birding outings focus on smaller details.
• Lion tracking with researchers helps monitor the population when it is available.

Wear light neutral clothing on drives. Tsetse flies are attracted to dark blue and black.

Getting There

Fly into Kigali International Airport (KGL), which has connections via Europe, the Gulf and other African hubs. From Kigali, Magashi is several hours by road through the countryside and into the park, so most couples arrive by afternoon and plan two or three nights. Wilderness or your safari planner can arrange transfers and many itineraries combine Magashi with gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park, either before or after.

Rwanda is a malaria area, so talk to a travel clinic about prevention, sleep under the provided nets and use repellent at dusk. If you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices. The long dry seasons, roughly June to September and December to February, offer the easiest game viewing. Entry and visa rules depend on your citizenship and can change at short notice, so check the official government website before you book.

Is It Worth It?

If you are already flying to Rwanda for gorillas, a few nights at Magashi is an excellent addition. You get a calm, private safari in a park that very few travelers visit, in a camp with high standards of guiding and comfort. The fully inclusive rate makes budgeting simple once you accept the headline price.

The honest comparison is with the great parks of Tanzania, Kenya and Botswana, which offer denser wildlife at similar or lower prices. Akagera's game is still recovering, so sightings can be less predictable than in the Serengeti. Couples on a tighter budget can stay at Ruzizi Tented Lodge in the south of the park for a much lower rate. But for a quiet lakeside safari that feels personal and supports conservation, Magashi is the top choice in Rwanda.

Insider tips

1. Stay at least two nights so you get both game drives and a boat safari.
2. Pack light neutral clothes; tsetse flies are drawn to dark blue and black.
3. Ask for a private dinner on your deck or a sundowner on the lake.
4. Plan gorilla permits first, then fit Magashi around your trekking dates.

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