LION SAFARIS TEAM
Lion Safaris
- Office In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2016)
- Member Of:
- RTTA, RDB, RSGA, VISIT RWANDA & RWANDA CHAMBER OF TOURISM
- Tour Types:
- Custom mid-range & luxury tours that can start every day
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $100 to $650 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
for a custom tour
Your request will be sent directly to the operator
If preferred, you can contact the operator directly
Reviews
Email Matt | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Took the stress out of planning
Godfrey was a wonderful driver and very helpful every step of the way. He made sure I had what I needed and knew what was happening at every stage. The actual trek was wonderful, the guide was funny and informative. The experience was surreal and I was impressed with how many gorillas we were able to see and how much time we spent with them.
The actual process of booking the trek was at first nerve wracking, but Emile made the process feel safe and secure with quick responses and follow ups as the date got closer. The value of the experience I received was exceptional and I’m glad I booked with Lion Safaris.
More - I had an unfortunate incident the night before losing my cash for payment and Emile answered my late night call and we found a solution together. Professional.
ES
Email Thomas | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Emile was the best tour guide!
I did an eight day safari with Lion Safaris, including seeing chimpanzees, a gorilla trek and safari. Emile was a great tour guide and great company throughout the time together as we covered all corners of Rwanda. He was very patient, professional and knowledgeable. I learned an incredible amount about a diverse, beautiful and resilient country thanks to him. I hope to return again someday.
Email Jude | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Gorillas, Crocs, Hippos and More!
had an exceptional experience with Lion Safaris of Kigali, Rwanda, from my initial online booking through my final airport drop-off.
The owner, Emile, and my multi-day guide, Danny, both have extensive backgrounds in wildlife, professional guiding, and ecotourism. Before Lion Safaris, both worked at Akagera National Park as registered wildlife guides or rangers, and that depth of experience was evident throughout my trip.
I booked everything online, and Emile was responsive, communicative, and professional from the beginning. Pricing was transparent, and after experiencing the trip, I felt it was absolutely worth it.
My package included a gorilla trek in Volcanoes National Park, followed by 2.5 days in Akagera National Park. Transportation and logistics were handled seamlessly, but what really distinguished the experience was the amount of knowledge shared along the way—not only about wildlife, but also about Rwanda's history, culture, communities, and conservation efforts.
At Akagera, I had the opportunity to see the Big Five and so much more. My stay at the beautiful eco-focused Ruzizi Tented Lodge was another highlight, with fantastic service and food. I experienced both day and night game drives, as well as a boat safari on Lake Ihema, where I saw an incredible variety of birds, crocodiles, hippos, and other wildlife.
My trip concluded with a seamless airport drop-off. I was so impressed with both Lion Safaris and Rwanda that I am already considering returning, this time with a greater focus on the country's birdlife and aquatic wildlife.
I also appreciated that so much of what Lion Safaris does is connected to conservation, ecotourism, and local community development. This wasn't simply a safari—it gave me a much deeper appreciation for Rwanda, its wildlife, its people, and the extraordinary work being done to protect both.
Professional, knowledgeable, transparent, and genuinely worth it. I would absolutely book with Lion Safaris again.
Email Frances | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A perfect tour start to finish, everything we wanted and more
Lion Safaris were 100% value for money: professional, reliable, knowledgeable and friendly. Our guide was happy to answer all of our questions and tell us about the country and wildlife of Rwanda, whilst also being sensitive to giving us space to just sit and watch the world go by. They provided my partner and I and 2 young adult children with a fantastic bespoke 11 day holiday in Rwanda, booking all necessary permits, tickets and hotel rooms for us. From being met at the airport (and yes, we were a little nervous, having sent a lot of money to an unknown company!) with our smart safari Landcruiser to the very last day, we loved every minute of our tour of the country. Lion Safaris really showed us they care about satisfied customers. We saw the Volcanoes region, Nyungwe national park and Akagera National park, with great drives in between all 3. The hotels and lodges we were booked into were outstanding and as they have known Lion Safaris for many years, have a good working relationship with them. They went above and beyond to provide meals out of hours or to takeaway. We hope to return for a tour of Uganda/Tanzania where Lion now offers tours. Do not hesitate to book with Lion Safaris, a family-run business in the heart of Rwanda.
Email Yvonne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing gorilla trek made great family memories!
Emile was helpful and responsive as we planned this once in a lifetime adventure. We chose Lion based on that and what previous travelers shared about their experience with this tour operator. Joel, our guide, was a great fit for the three young adults in our group. We appreciated his positive energy and his knowledge of Rwanda’s history, culture, and wildlife, particularly on safari in Akagera National Park.
IE
Email Olive | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent service and knowledgeable company, Emile is fantastic.
From the moment I first contacted him Emile was very fast responding and answered all my questions. He was very reliable and flexible all throughout the trip and nothing was too much trouble. He really helped me with the gorilla trekking as so had been ill the week before and I wasn’t sure I would make it if I got a long distance trek. He spoke with the park organisers a number of times and helped request a nearby group so my trek would be as short as possible. It was a truly amazing experience and I really thank him for helping to make sure I made it. He kept me informed at every point of what was happening and where we were going which was very reassuring as a solo traveller. I would highly recommend Lion Sarafis for any trip you are considering in Rwanda.
RO
Email Tudor | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Best experience in Rwanda
Everything was flawless from the beginning, perfectly organised by Emile, they provide the best safari vehicle I ever had, the accommodation at Da Vinci Lodge was perfect, the staff, the location. All the info needed, very punctual and lots of fun. Highly recommend
Email Eliz Stewart | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Awesome journey
Highly recommended for Rwanda! Emile was a great guide and driver. Our 8 day trip was well organized with top notch accommodations due to Emile's contacts and relationships. Amazing experience overall!
Email Helen & Tracy | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Knowledgeable & always ready to go with a smile
Emile of Lion Safaris spent 7 days guiding us throughout Rwanda. We started with tours in Kigali, then onto Nyungwe, Volcano and Akegara National Parks. Emile was professional, on time (early really) and booked us lovely accommodations with superb service. Emile is extremely knowledgeable and willing to discuss anything: culture, history, plants, animals and birds! He worked in Akegara for many years so he knows a lot about that huge park. In the planning stage, Emile communicated often and wanted the best itinerary for our requests. He understood we were spending a lot of money and planned amazing experiences for us.
We highly recommend Emile and Lion Safaris. Emile was professional and just so enthusiastic and outgoing. It was a joy to spend time with him and visit Rwanda!
Email Stewart | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Gorillas, Golden Monkey, Kigali City Tour
IF YOU’RE SOMEONE WHO VALUES AUTHENTICITY IN A REVIEW PLEASE READ THIS IN ITS ENTIRETY.
I’m the type of person to do insane due diligence and cross reference several reviews / sources. If you’re reading this, you’ve found your spot. I spent hours finding this exact tour operator. It was absolutely perfect in every sense. The communication was sensational, the value was reasonable , and my tour driver , Emile, was world class.
There’s a few things I look for in an operator as non negotiables. Communication skills, punctuality , and sincerity. All 3 of which were met and exceeded my expectations. We spoke in length about what tour made sense for me and the implications associated. I was extremely satisfied with the lodges and overall experiences. Frankly speaking, the experiences (golden monkeys and Gorillas) are all uniform in the sense of your tour operator taking you to a place you congregate with other tourists and are deployed in groups.
The main difference in operators is the communication , transport, and suggested lodging and recommended services tailored to your preference and budget.
This is where Lion Safaris shines. I was met with a warm smile and passion for local culture. I shared so many laughs and great moments with my driver , Emile. He was very passionate about the culture and just a kind person. My flight got cancelled and he literally offered to allow me to stay at his house for free. Do NOT miss the genocide tour. It is critical to understanding the resilience of the people of Rwanda. I cried so much and it was truly humbling to know their struggles. That said, the humanity and resilience these people showed after the fact was jaw droppingly inspiring and really helped expand my perspective. You can’t visit Rwanda to just see the animals.
Obviously the gorillas are world class. It’s a top 3 experience of my life and I’ve been to 30 countries that are highly regarded and all continents except Antarctica. I’m a seasoned traveler and I don’t BS my reviews. I wanted to take the time to be verbose in hopes of reaching the target audience of people looking for a world class, unforgettable experience.