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
Sandrine G2025-09-22Verified Rwanda Home of Big five Animals/ Akagera national park. Good safari Tour with Universal, animals were spotted very closer and guide John provided the necessary insights for animals behaviors/ Life style, we sow faux in big five which is not bad at all, Food was delicious too with lake view behind us.The list of animals viewed is too long: Elephants, buffalos, hypos, crocodile, giraffe, Lion, zebras, impala, Birds,.........Thank you John and your company to make this Tour enjoyable and funny. i highly recommend it to Anny one.Thank youSandrine. Dr. Katina2025-09-19Verified Amazing Experience from the state of Florida in the USA My experience was amazing from the start (booking) to the end of the tour! They contacted me and advised me what was needed for the tour via WhatsApp. Additionally, they were patient in answering all of my questions. The driver Shadady was skilled and knowledgeable. He was the best!! The porters helped me make it to the top to see the gorillas after having breathing issues due to the high altitude. We trekked up the mountain for 2 hours because the gorillas kept moving. We were able to see the silverback!! The guide Francis was knowledgeable and ensured we were all okay. I would highly recommend this company for your needs. My husband and I had an amazing experience!! Anona W2025-09-07Verified Exciting adventure with expert guides! The gorilla trek exceeding my expectations. Our driver and guide, Christian, did a great job of navigating busy traffic to get us safely to and from Volcanoes National Park. He managed the gorilla permits and park fees so we did not have to think about it. The trek was the adventure of a lifetime! The expert guide and gorilla trackers found our gorilla family right away and primed us on how to behave. Porters were friendly and available to carry bags and provide assistance as needed. Trekking in the park involved some slipping & sliding on roots, so I think you have to be ok with falling down. After the trek, Christian met us with a thoughtful refreshment and took us to a delicious restaurant. Highly recommended. Kaushik I2025-09-04Verified Kind guide/driver Good choice for safari experience, Universal has been a good and professional company for my trip in Akagera national park , Christian my guide went beyond my expectations , we drove all corners and find out the animals, We have been able to spot Elephant, big troop of buffalos, hyena , zebras, giraffes, birds, crocodile , lions, hypos,...... Thank you Christian to make this safari Easy and Possible. i highly recommend it to any one. Thank you. Khaled m2025-08-20Verified Top notch animals experience/ Akagera Amazing animals safari in Rwanda with my colleagues, within a short free period of our business trip in Rwanda we have booked the safari in Akagera one of the best national park of Rwanda, The company has provided excellent service and Richard the guide was friendly and passionate for his career job, he knows animas for any type and size. we did all park from southern to northern and have definitely enjoyed the safari, i can' wait to give recommendation for any one wish visit Rwanda and especial Akagera, Plan and Book Universal they are The Champion. Thank you. Shiloh Therrien A2025-08-19Verified Passionate Guide, Incredible Wildlife, Perfect Day! We had an unforgettable safari experience in Rwanda with Christian as our guide. From the very beginning, it was clear that he truly cares about the animals and the park. His passion and knowledge made the entire trip both exciting and educational.Christian made sure we felt safe, comfortable, and well taken care of the whole time. He explained what we were seeing in a way that was easy to understand and answered all of our questions with patience. Thanks to him, we were able to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, baboons, hippopotamus, and so much more—it was incredible!If you’re looking for a guide who is professional, caring, and genuinely invested in giving you the best experience possible, I highly recommend booking a tour with Christian. He truly made our safari one we will never forget! Jasmine C2025-08-14Verified Great experience It was a great experience with this company. On time . Professional. Highly recommend. Our driver was the best! Forgettable experience Heidi B2025-08-11Verified Memorable safari. Thank you very much for tour was a great experience! Definately Will do ir again. Our tour guide picked us up at the hotel early in the morning driving its about 3 hours and he took the time to explain everything we see during our way. Thank you Shaddi for taking us and driving so we can see a lot of the animals. We traveled to Kigali as a delegate of jehovahs witnesses our first time in Africa. And people are helpful and friendly. We went for breakfast as well where we meet a lot of friends there. He wasn’t in a rush. Thank you once again!! Highly recommended!! Marc H2025-08-10Verified An unforgettable trip to Uganda! 🦍🌿 Thanks to Rwindy, we had an exceptional experience: We had the chance to experience emotional highlights: watching mountain gorillas in their natural habitat, walking alongside chimpanzees, meeting elephants, lionesses, and so many other wildlife... All in absolutely spectacular landscapes, between jungle, savannah and misty hills, visits to schools and villages, all in breathtaking landscapes.Lodges (not high-end but very comfortable), tasty food with vegetarian options everywhere, and above all a remarkable guide, passionate and attentive, contributed greatly to the success of the trip.Surprisingly, we didn’t meet any French, only Belgians, Germans and Americans. A destination still little frequented... and to discover absolutely! KABERA S2025-08-10Verified Vacation trip I came to Rwanda with my entire family in vacation trip, we did a trip of two days in Akagera national park our tourist guide was Christian he really managed time he came on time for a pick up and he gave us a short well understandable briefing. On our way he drove us well, he could answer every question we could ask up to the park after we arrived in the park he suggested us about doing bot trip experience on ihema lake and we spotted all aquatic animals such as hippos, crocodiles and different species of birds. We saw Elphant and buffaloes drinking water on the lake actually this experience was very impressive we even spotted four out of five big animals as well others like giraffes, antelope. I would like to conclude by thanking universal ventures especially tourist guide Christian I am kindly requesting that who ever come to travel in Rwanda with universal ventures would ask for Tour guide Christian on his or her safari thanks ❤️