This 1 Day Akagera national park safari will take you to Rwanda’s only savannah park for a classic African tour outlook in the land of a thousand hills. Akagera national park is a combination of both savannah and forested areas situated in the eastern side of Rwanda on the borders with Tanzania. The park was named after river Akagera that flows on the eastern border of the park. Akagera national park is blessed with so many lakes such as Lake Ihema, Lake Shakani, rivers, papyrus swamps, rolling plains and savannah plains that make it one of the most scenic national parks in Africa. When you visit Akagera national park, you expect to see so many animals including the big five mammals – African lion, African elephant, leopards, buffaloes and rhinos. Other animals like giraffes, topis, impalas, water bucks, hippos, crocodiles, kobs and cape elands to mention but a few. The park is also a home to more than 525 different species among which include the rare shoebill, grey craned cane, papyrus gonolek, African jacana and many more.

1 Day safari to Akagera national park itinerary

Transfer to Akagera national park for game drive and Afternoon boat cruise Safari

Our driver guide will pick from your hotel or your residence in Kigali city. You will have a short briefing about the tour then start your journey from Kigali to Akagera national park for your 1 day safari which will take you about 2.5 hours. On arrival at Akagera national park, you will have a quick check in at the park. You will immediately start your game drive which will take you about 4 hours depending on your arrival time, routes used, animal sightings and interests. On you game drives, you have an opportunity of seeing animals such as elephants, buffaloes, giraffes, topis, elands, sitatungas, impalas, leopards if you are lucky and birds such as long crested eagle, grey backed fiscals, grey crown carne and others.

After the game drive you will have lunch relaxing at Akagera game lodge and later proceed to Lake Ihema for an afternoon boat cruise. Lake Ihema is the largest water in Akagera national park and the second biggest lake in Rwanda. During the boat cruise, you have opportunities of seeing water animals such as crocodiles and hippos, water birds such as papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle and the shoe bill. You will also see herds of elephants drinking water on the shores of the lake. After the boat cruise you will return to Kigali with more game viewing as you are getting out of the park. You will arrive in Kigali in the evening and be dropped at your hotel, residence or Kigali international airport to catch up with your flight.

1 Day Akagera National Park Safari Rwanda Tour includes

Ground transport

Drinking bottle water

Service of the guide

Game drive

Park entrance fees

1 Day Akagera National Park Safari Rwanda Tour excludes

Extra costs such as drinks, laundry etc.

Tips to driver / guide and porters

Accommodation before and after the trip

Insurance

Airfares

Visa

Things to do in Akagera national park

Game drives

In Rwanda, game drives are only done in Akagera national park through the green savannah plains. Akagera national park is a home of different wild animals including the big five – lions, leopards, elephants, buffaloes, and rhinos. Other animals in the park include Defassa waterbuck, oribis, zebras, sitatungas, elands, topis, giraffes, and so many others.

There are night game drives in Akagera national park which allow you to see nocturnal animals such as civets, leopards, wide-eyed bush babies, and several cats. There are also nocturnal birds such as owls and nightjars. Night guides in the park are done by bright flashlights accompanied by an experienced ranger guide.

Fishing 

Fishing is one of the tourism activities done in Akagera national park. Fishing in the park can be done on both Lake Shakani and Lake Ihema which happens to be an amazing experience. The most common fish caught in these lakes are tilapia and catfish. While fishing you might see hippos and crocodiles in waters while listening to sounds of different bird species. Fishing is done on a catch and realize method and after participation, you are allowed to go with a fish home roast and have a taste of it.

Boat cruises

Boat cruises in Akagera national park are done on Lake Ihema which is the second largest lake in Rwanda after Lake Kivu. Boat cruises on Lake Ihema allow you to see schools of hippos and crocodiles in the waters, elephants drinking water on the lake shores, and water birds such as papyrus gonolek, African fish eagle as well as the rare shoebill.

How to access Akagera national park

Akagera national park can be accessed by air or road transport. There are helicopter flights available at Kigali international airport to Akagera giving visitors a beautiful aerial view of the park. Getting to Akagera by air takes you only 25 minutes. The park can also be accessed by road transport from Kigali city takes you only 2 – 3 hours driving for about 135 km.