1 Day Akagera National Park Adventure
1 Day Akagera National Park Safari Adventure
Experiencing our 1 Day Akagera National Park Safari , the perfect one-day Rwanda wildlife safari designed for travelers eager to experience the best of Rwanda’s savannah in just a day. This 1 Day Akagera National Park Safari promises action-packed encounters with some of Africa’s most iconic animals. From sunrise to late afternoon, you’ll traverse the diverse terrain of Akagera National Park, one of Rwanda’s top wildlife destinations, renowned for its Big Five sightings and spectacular landscapes.
Your 1 day game drive safari in Akagera begins with a scenic journey through rolling hills and into open savannah, where the real adventure starts. Expect to see majestic elephants roaming near wetlands, lions basking in the golden grasslands, herds of buffalo moving through the plains, and—if you’re lucky—the elusive leopard stealthily making its appearance. This 1 day Akagera trip offers more than just game viewing; it’s an immersive nature experience where the calls of exotic birds and sights of giraffes, zebras, and antelopes keep the excitement alive at every turn. As part of your 1 Day Akagera Adventure, you’ll have ample opportunities for breathtaking wildlife photography, with pristine lakes and lush scenery providing the perfect backdrop.
Led by an expert guide, your 1 day Akagera safari is not just a drive—it’s a well-orchestrated journey into the wild. Your professional driver-guide knows where to find the action, enhancing your chances of spotting rare and shy species. Whether it’s a stealthy lion hunt, a pod of hippos resting in Lake Ihema, or a fish eagle soaring overhead, this 1 day wildlife safari in Rwanda delivers unforgettable moments throughout. It’s a compact, expertly curated 1 day adventure safari in Akagera that provides deep insight into the wildlife of Rwanda, even for those with limited time.
Day 1: 1 Day Akagera national park Safari Itinerary – Departing from Kigali
Your 1 Day Akagera National Park Adventure begins early in the morning, with a prompt departure from Kigali at 05:30 AM. A professional driver-guide from Universal Ventures Rwanda will pick you up from your hotel or designated location to begin the scenic drive eastward toward Akagera National Park. The journey takes approximately three hours, offering a peaceful morning drive through Rwanda’s picturesque countryside as the sun rises over the hills.
Along the way, you’ll enjoy a short stopover at the Imigongo Art Center, a local cultural hub known for its unique geometric artwork made from cow dung and natural pigments. This quick break allows for a bit of leg stretching, browsing the gallery of handcrafted Rwandan art, and perhaps purchasing a souvenir that supports local artisans.
You are expected to arrive at Akagera National Park reception around 08:30 AM, where you’ll go through the registration process and secure your entry permits. From here, your game drive safari officially begins. The rest of the day will be spent exploring the diverse wildlife of Akagera, with your guide navigating through savannah plains, lake-side wetlands, and gently rolling hills in search of the Big Five and other fascinating wildlife. Expect sightings of lions, elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, hippos, and more, with plenty of time for photography and observation.
After a thrilling full-day adventure in the park, you’ll begin the drive back to Kigali in the late afternoon or early evening, arriving at your drop-off point with incredible memories and stunning photos from your one-day Akagera wildlife safari. This itinerary is ideal for travelers seeking to make the most of a single day while still enjoying one of the best wildlife safaris in Rwanda.
✅ What’s Included in the 1 day Akagera national park safari
- Park Entrance Fee
Transportation in a 4×4 Safari Jeep
Bottled Water & Soft Drinks
Lunch (Meals provided)
Wi-Fi Access in Vehicle
Professional English-speaking Driver Guide
Pick-up & Drop-off from Kigali or your hotel
❌ Exclusions in the 1 day Akagera national park safari
Alcoholic Beverages
Items not explicitly mentioned in the inclusions
🧳 What Should You Bring
Some areas of Akagera have tsetse flies, which may bite. For optimal comfort and safety:
Use insect repellent
Wear medium-weight clothing in neutral colors (khaki or earth tones) to blend into the surroundings
Avoid bright colors or dark blue/black fabrics that attract flies
Mobile vouchers are accepted for this trip
⚠️ Cancellation Policy
All bookings for the 1 Day Akagera National Park Adventure are final and non-refundable. Please ensure your schedule before confirming.
Book for this Safari Adventure today
Posted on Karsten Sidelmann VajhøjVerified Akagera National Park It was a very interesting day in Akagera National Park. We saw many different animals, and the nature was beautiful. Kim was great at spotting the game and was also a very nice and pleasant person to talk to throughout the whole tour.Posted on Kaushik BVerified Memorable trip to see the gorillas! Really enjoyed this trip to Volcanoes national park. Uviversal Ventures arranged it perfectly well. The driver was very punctual and friendly. He did an excellent job not only as a driver but also as a guide by providing useful information about visiting the park, etc.Posted on Caroline LVerified A wonderful experience! We had a really great 1 day trekking tour with Universal Ventures Rwanda. Everything was beautifully organized, with great attention to small details. Our driver, Christian, truly went above and beyond to make sure that we had an amazing experience thanks to his professionalism and kindness. He carefully answered every question, and was sure to point out spots of interest. We are so thankful!Posted on rosaVerified Amazing experiences, the company you need to book with! Cannot recommend this company enough! 20/10 would recommend both for solo and couple/friend travels. We actually did three different activities with them: Gorilla trekking 1 day, Kigali tour and 2night/3d in Lake Kivu. It was super professional, safe, beyond reliable and so well organized. First of all, our guide Christian (ask for him!) was incredible. Super professional, knowledgeable and great ressources provided. He really made sure we had the best experience. Suggested experiences along the way and made sure we got to them even though they were not included in the initial itinerary and did not even blink at the idea of prolonging his long day just for our benefit. He was also the nicest human being. One of us got sick and he simply brought us back to the hotel for her to rest and continued the itinerary with the rest of the group. He also helped us run errands even though he absolutely did not have to. He is also super punctual and really just cares about the guests. Super nice guy and really goes above and beyond. Also takes the best pictures and knows the best spots for your feed 😄 Second, Emmanuel (company owner) was the most responsive and helpful person we have ever interacted with. Super thorough and present. Third, the vehicles were in excellent conditions and water was always available. Lastly, the vendors/companies they work with are amazing. The boat tours in Kibuye (ask to go with Fabrice!), the hotel on Lake Kivu, all amazing! They truly are a gem of a company :) would definitely rebook with them without hesitations!Posted on Andrei RVerified Awesome Outstanding experience ! My guide Shadady went above and beyond paying attention to all my needs.Highly recommended !Posted on EdMotionVerified Nzirorera was just chill The Rwanda admissions fee of US$1500 is excessive for the experience. But the tour guide company’s service was easy and just fine. My guide and driver was Nzirorera Shadady who was extremely chill and helpful and conversational guy who gave me insights into many things about his country. My sneakers was fully submerged in deep mud during the walk and he got someone from the town nearby to clean my shoe completely while we had lunch after the experience. The gorillas? Akin to meeting them in a zoo. Except that here we had to trek 4-5 km. Something to be done once in our lives, I guess although I met Americans who were paying the $1500 per person for five days in a row. Even the locals were impressed by such extravagance.Posted on Amy CVerified Smooth and great experience for gorilla trekking I booked my trip from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park with Universal Travel at the very last minute, and the entire experience was incredibly smooth and well-organized. I already purchased my permit but neglected transportation until the day before. Really appreciate them for accommodating us!Seeing the gorillas was absolutely unforgettable. Christian, our driver and guide, picked us up directly from our hotel in Kigali and made sure we were comfortable, informed, and perfectly on time for every key moment of the trek. The drive itself can be intense, so we were especially grateful for his skill, calmness, and guidance throughout the journey.Overall, a fantastic experience. Highly recommend Universal Travel and Christian for anyone planning a gorilla trek in Rwanda.Posted on Gilberto JVerified Experience BEYOND AMAZING! A must do in Rwanda I booked a one-day tour from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park for gorilla trekking, and it was absolutely exceptional from start to finish. The company handled everything with professionalism — including arranging all the official trekking logistics directly with the national park — which made the whole experience completely stress-free.My guide, Christian, was outstanding. He picked me up exactly on time in a new, clean, and very comfortable car, which immediately set the tone for a great day. Throughout the entire journey, he made sure I was comfortable, informed, and fully prepared for the trek ahead.Christian stayed with me through every step of the process, from check-in to the briefing area to the trailhead, always making sure I was ok. It felt like exploring with someone truly invested in making sure I had the best possible day.The gorilla trekking itself was unforgettable, but the quality of service is what made the day seamless and memorable.Highly, highly recommended for anyone considering a day trip from Kigali to Volcanoes National Park. I would absolutely book with this company again.Posted on sb12015Verified Extraordinary experience I had the pleasure of exploring Rwanda with Christian as my guide, and he was exceptional from start to finish. He’s the kind of guide who instantly makes you feel at ease — professional, attentive, and genuinely passionate about sharing his country’s culture, wildlife, and history.Posted on NarraGirl01Verified Once in a Life Time We had the good fortune to have Fidel as our guide for this once in a lifetime opportunity. Fidel and his team of porters and trackers were fantastic. We were assigned to a large family of gorillas (24) took about 2hrs to trek to them. It was such a memorable and wonderful experience. The guides/porters really knew how to respect and communicate with the gorillas. I cannot recommend this highly enough. The park and the activities are well managed and organised (in addition to gorillas).
