One Day Akagera Wildlife Safari

I spent a bit more than 5 days in Rwanda and actually did three experiences with Afri Safaris, including the 1 day Akagera, 1 day Golden Monkeys, and a city tour. All three went great and were good experiences and ways to see this very pretty country. Big thanks to my driver and guides Christian (Akagera and Golden Monkeys) and Elysee (city tour) who were always very helpful, professional, made good conversation, and had lots of good information to share. Vehicles were all clean, comfortable, and well maintained and I appreciated the snacks and little extras that were included. I'd certainly book with Afri Safaris again in the future.

Without a doubt, Afri Safaris organized a top-notch safari trip. Thank you very much.

Worth it. I recommend going with AfriSafari and ask for Bosko to be your tour guide!!!

I had a wonderful overall experience with Afri Safaris - from booking to confirmation, clear and prompt updates before the actual trip, pick up and of course the safari as such. Elysee was my guide (and driver) for the day. He is very pleasant, knowledgeable and accommodating. I must appreciate Afri Safaris for their flexibility in accommodating my interests. I'm a birder and made a request for a little extra focus on birding along with mammals of course. I was assured that this could be done and I'm happy that they kept their word. It was a wonderful birding experience as well. The safari vehicle was very comfortable and the pop up roof was perfect for birding in addition to spotting mammals. The lunch inside the park was delicious. Overall, I had a wonderful experience thanks to Afri Safaris and Elysee. I would highly recommend them to anyone who values an all round safari experience.

My sister and I visited Akagera National Park and had an amazing time. Our guide Bosco was very knowledgeable about the park and its animals and did an excellent job keeping us comfortable all day. We saw elephants, rhinos, hippos, crocodiles, and many other species during our trip through the park.

Amazing safari. Elysee from AfriSafaris was excellent. The company was very professional and accomodating.

Unbelievable experience. Elysee was an awesome guide and driver. We saw four of the big five in just one day. Elysee was informative and I leaned a lot from him. Pickup was timely, we did get back a bit late but was worth it as we were held up by a herd of elephants. More than I expected, great value.

Had a wonderful experience with Afri Safaris. Their team helped me plan the perfect solo game drive, and I spent an amazing day surrounded by the beautiful wildlife of Akagera.

Booking, confirmation, pick up everything went smoothly. The entire day was perfect, including a delicious lunch in the middle of the park. Highly recommended and don’t skip the boat safari.

We had a wonderful experience with Afri Safaris today. The safari was amazing, and I was very happy to see so many animals in Akagera National Park. Our guide Elysee was very professional, knowledgeable, and helpful throughout the trip. He made the experience enjoyable and did not disappoint at all. Everything was well organized, just as we hoped. Thank you for the great experience! 😊

We had an amazing safari experience! We saw many animals and enjoyed every moment of the trip. Our guide was excellent very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. He did everything he could to make sure we saw as many animals as possible and took great care of us throughout the safari. We are very happy with our experience and would definitely recommend this safari and our guide to others. Thank you for making our trip so memorable!”

It was an amazing experience! We got lucky and saw alle the big fives during our trip. Our guide Bosco was very kind and welcoming!

Fantastic guide and ranger, saw 4 out of the Big 5! A fantastic experience!

Amazing experience with a great guide, cannot recommend enough!!!

We enjoyed the Safari, but do understand that it is going to be a very long day. Our Guide picked us up early and it was about 2 1/2 hours drive to the park, stopping along the way for a clean restroom and snack break. The boat ride was first, where we saw hippos, baboons, and lots of birds. Then we made our way from the south end of the park all the way up through to the north end. We saw zebras, giraffes, one elephant, white AND black rhinos, lots of Cape Buffalo, impalas, waterbuck, warthogs, and some things I’m sure I am forgetting. Yes, the roads are terrible within the park, but that’s all part of the experience. They call it an African massage lol. The drive back was closer to four hours because again you exit through the north end of the park. I really enjoyed the rides to and from the park because you got to see so much of the Rwandan people and their customs/culture. It was fascinating to see how they carry things on their heads, even the small children. And crazy how many things they can carry on a bicycle! Our guide was very nice, always checking to make sure we had everything we needed, and communicated with other guides to be sure we saw all the animals that were nearby. We recommend this Tour. I would suggest that you just order from the restaurant within the park, though our sandwiches in our boxed lunch were good too (but our cokes were warm by the time we got to eat lunch).

We had such a wonderful experience with Afri Safaris from start to finish. From the very first message, the team was incredibly responsive and patient, answering questions and helping us plan at all hours of the day as we put our trip together. That kind of attentiveness made everything leading up to the trip feel easy. That care carried right through to our full-day Akagera safari with our guide, Moses, who made the whole day. We started at 5:30am and didn’t wrap up until 10:30pm, and he stayed warm, upbeat, and completely dialed in the entire time, going out of his way to make sure we had the best possible experience and saw as many animals as we could. We really appreciated how much he engaged our child all day. He made a genuine effort to connect with her. You could tell it wasn’t just part of the job, but that he actually cared about the day being wonderful for our family. By the end of the day, it genuinely felt like we’d made a friend. We loved getting to know him, and if you’re heading to Akagera, be sure to ask for Moses. You won’t regret it. Thank you Afri Safaris, and thank you Moses, for such a special day!

I did two tours with AfriSafari during my stay in Rwanda, and both were phenomenal. Elysee, my guide, was so knowledgeable about the wildlife, the park, and Rwanda in general — he made the trip so special. He really knew his way around the park, and where to go. I also truly appreciated how responsive Alfa was before my trip, answering all my questions and making sure I had everything I needed ahead of time. Akagera exceeded my expectations. I saw four of the Big Five — lion, elephant, buffalo, and rhino (no leopard, sadly) — along with giraffes, zebras, impalas, waterbucks, warthogs, a pygmy mongoose, crocodiles, and hippos. The highlight was watching a pride of 3 lions stalking a small herd of buffalo — the females were so graceful and seeing them work together in action was a sight to behold. (We didn’t see them actually attack- lions can stalk for hours or even days before taking any action). What made it even more meaningful was learning the park’s history: poaching had wiped out nearly all of its wildlife, including the total loss of its lions by the mid-1990s. Starting in 2015, African Parks partnered with the Rwanda Development Board to begin reintroducing lions, followed by black and white rhinos in the years after. Seeing the park thriving today, I can only imagine how much more wildlife will be roaming Akagera 10 years from now. I also took the boat cruise, which was excellent — this is where I saw the majority of the hippos and quite a few crocs, along with so many birds. If you’re a bird lover, don’t miss it. Akagera is an incredible safari destination .

This was an amazing experience. My guide, Elysee, was knowledgable and fun. I was blown away by all the animals we saw. Thank you, Elysee for a wonderful day.

My safari in Akagera National Park was one of the highlights of my trip to Rwanda. The park is beautiful, and we were fortunate to see an incredible variety of wildlife throughout the day, including giraffes, zebras, hippos, crocodiles, and many other animals. A special thank you to Moses, who was an outstanding guide. He was knowledgeable, professional, and clearly passionate about Rwanda’s wildlife and conservation efforts. He made sure everyone had a great view of the animals and shared interesting information throughout the tour. The day was very well organized, from the early hotel pickup to the game drive itself. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Kigali and looking for an unforgettable safari experience.

We had such a fun and unforgettable day on the Akagera Wildlife Safari with Afri Safaris! Our guide, Elysee, was fantastic—friendly, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the best wildlife experience, carefully spotting animals and sharing interesting facts throughout the game drive. Thanks to Elysee's excellent guidance, we were lucky enough to see so many amazing wild animals, including elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, buffaloes, and many beautiful birds. Every moment felt exciting, and it was clear how passionate he is about wildlife and the park. The whole tour was well organized, comfortable, and stress-free. We couldn't have asked for a better guide or a better safari experience. Thank you, Elysee, for making this trip so special—we'll always remember this incredible adventure in Rwanda. Highly recommended!

I cannot speak more highly of Elysee my guide on this tour. It was just me and him, and he really went above and beyond to make sure I saw as many animals as possible! We saw elephants, buffalo, rhinos, hippos, crocs, antelopes, zebras, impalas, birds, and so much more! He had special spots that were very successful in seeing animals. He was also so very knowledgeable and was able to answer every one of my questions. The tour was amazing, but Elysee was out of this world. Would certainly use him as a tour guide again, and would use the company again as well!

The safari was AMAZING and our guide Elysee was great! He was very knowledgeable and made an effort to make sure we saw different animals. Thank you for an memorable experience!

We did the one day Akagera Safari and had an amazing experience! We got picked up at 5 am at our hostel in Kigali, made a coffee stop on our way and arrived at the National Parc at 8 am. There we got a quick instruction and payed the park fee of 100$. Then the safari started and it was incredible! For about 6 hours we discoverd the park, were close to some lakes, saw different kind of birds, crocodiles, hippos, buffallos, herds of impalas, zebras, giraffes, rhinos, and our highlight: elephants! Some came really close to the car. For lunch we had a stop at a picknick place. At about 4 pm we arrived in the north of the park and drove back a different route, so we had the chance to see another part of Ruanda. The whole day was organized super well, the car was comfortable, great to take pictures and well equiped with drinks, wifi etc. Special thanks to Elysee, who accompanied us the hole day, told us many about the park, the animals, Ruanda etc. We had lots of fun together, couldn't have been better!

We had the most incredible day with Afri Safaris. Our guide Elysee was exceptional in every way. Such attention to detail and full of information that brought more depth to our tour. We saw 3 out of the 5 but saw so so many more. I would recommend the boat safari as we saw so much wildlife. We also left our sunnies in the van and their services above and beyond - they hand delivered them to our hotel Thanks so much for having us - a special special day

We had an amazing time! Our driver was awesome, very hospitable and looked after us. We saw many animals, didn’t get to see Lions or Leopards but everything else. The boat trip was particularly good! Saw some incredible animals. I left my sunglasses in the car, they very quickly found them the next day and brought them hand delivered to our hotel. Highly recommend.

Great Safari. Our guide Christian was excellent. Boat ride is definitely worth the extra money. Saw lots of animals on the boat and in the car. Its a long day but very much worth it

I had the most amazing safari experience in Akagera with Afri Safaris! Everything was perfectly organized, from the comfortable transport to the incredible game drive. We saw so many beautiful animals and enjoyed breathtaking views throughout the park. The guide was knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole experience even more special. If you’re looking for a memorable wildlife adventure in Rwanda, I highly recommend Afri Safaris. Truly an unforgettable experience!

I have been on several safari in Tanzania and one in Kenya. Those was exceptional. This was far away the most disappointing. We saw very few animals. We spent much more time traveling to and from the park than we did in the park. I came to love Rwanda, but not this particular experience

Thank you so much for this amazing experience! I had a private safari and absolutely loved every moment of it. I was blessed with an incredible guide, Samuel, who made the whole trip smooth, and informative. If you’re hesitating between a regular vehicle and an open-roof jeep… definitely go for the open roof. It makes such a big difference! Highly recommend this to anyone wanting a personal, high-quality safari.

Loved every part of the trip! Absolutely Superb!

An incredible adventure through the heart of Rwanda! From breathtaking landscapes to close encounters with elephants, giraffes, zebras and more, Akagera was full of unforgettable moments. The game drive was exciting from start to finish, and the guide’s knowledge and energy made the experience even better. A perfect safari for anyone who loves nature, wildlife and adventure.

We had a great time! We got lucky with some beautiful weather and got to see plenty of animals, including 2 of the big 5. Our guide, Samuel, did a great job at answering all of our questions and showing us around the park. We would definitely do it again!

It was a cold and wet day at the safari, but regardless it was a wonderful experience. I had an amazing time with my guide who was very nice and professional. Loved the whole experience and would love to return again with this same company. The guide made sure I saw the 2 animals on my list & I’m so glad

What a day! Samuel told me he wanted to make the day memorable and it certainly was. The land trip was great! We saw a herd of elephants, zebras, giraffes, hippos and a rhinoceros and more! What a difference seeing them outside a zoo. Samuel was a terrific guide. The boat trip got us close to hippos and they put on a show. I’ll always remember my day at Akagera!

The process itself was really smooth. Communication was great. Alain was ready waiting for us in the morning to pick us up. He has a lot of experience and helped see the animals we were looking for. We would highly recommend!

I visited Akagera National Park with Afri Safaris, and I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From start to finish, the company was extremely professional, reliable, and well-organized. Everything was handled smoothly, and I felt completely safe and comfortable throughout the trip. My guide, Samuel, was absolutely amazing. His knowledge of Akagera and wildlife is truly impressive. He knows the park inside out, understands animal behavior, and thanks to him we were able to see an incredible number of animals. He always seemed to know exactly where to go at the right time. His passion, patience, and sharp eye made the whole experience unforgettable. I strongly recommend Afri Safaris to anyone visiting Rwanda and planning a safari in Akagera. And when I come back, I will definitely choose them again without hesitation. Thank you for such an amazing experience Samuel&AfriSafaris!!

I had a wonderful day at Akagera Park. The team organized the tour down to the smallest detail, making everything smooth and enjoyable. My guide, Samuel, was incredibly kind and went above and beyond to ensure I saw as many animals as possible. Highly recommended!

The trip was amazing from start to finish. Alain, our driver-guide, knew exactly where to find animals and we saw the Big Five and so much more in this beautiful park. Akagera is a top safari destination with diverse wildlife and stunning landscapes. The safari vehicle was super comfortable, equipped with wifi, water and cool beverages in the fridge, making the whole journey smooth and enjoyable. Everything went perfectly early morning pick-up, game drive, and return. I can’t recommend Afri Safaris enough!

Had an amazing time in Rwanda and this safari was the highlight. Denys was a great guide and knew all the best spots to see the animals. Additionally, the boat ride was well worth the price. The provided meal was also very good. Overall a great experience and the highlight of my trip.

After taking a day tour with AfriSafaris to the King’s Palace and Ethnographic Museum at the start of my trip, I booked a last-minute day safari to Akagera National Park due to a change in my travel plans before leaving Rwanda. And I’m really grateful that the AfriSafaris team was able to make it happen. My driver-guides, Denys and Elyse, were outstanding and an absolute pleasure to spend the day with. Our day started off with a bit of rain, but it did not impact our wildlife viewing and ended up being an amazing experience. Although we didn’t spot lions or leopards, we saw a white rhino, elephants, and buffalo, along with an incredible variety of birds and other wildlife—a monitor lizard, vervet monkeys, baboons, zebras, giraffes, hippos, and my personal favorite: the dwarf mongoose. While searching for animals, Elyse kept the drive engaging by sharing fascinating insights about the wildlife, the park, and Rwanda in general. We stopped for lunch at Lake Mihindi, where the food was excellent and the setting beautiful. The safari vehicle was very comfortable and well equipped, with Wi-Fi, multiple charging options, and a cooler with beverages. Both of my tours with AfriSafaris became some of my favorite experiences in Rwanda, enriching my trip and providing me with a better understanding of the country. I definitely wouldn’t hesitate booking this safari, as well as considering their other options, including the King’s Palace tour and trips to Volcanoes National Park.

Nice, lots of beavers + good crack with the guides (Denys+Elyse) highly recommend for families+groups.. watch out for the Americans in their camo gear whilst in the car..

We had an absolutely unforgettable safari experience and were incredibly lucky to see the entire Big Five in just one day! Everything was perfectly organized from start to finish, with excellent communication and outstanding support from the office team. Our driver/guide Denys was exceptional highly knowledgeable, professional and passionate about wildlife, which made the experience even more special. The safari vehicle was very comfortable and well equipped with wifi and a fridge stocked with a variety of beverages, adding an extra level of comfort throughout the day. This was truly a world-class safari experience, a d I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a seamless, exciting and memorable adventure in Rwanda

My guide, Denys, was wonderful. He drove extensively around the national park where we saw a variety of animals Unfortunately, we were unable to find a lion but seeing a giraffe and a zebra in close proximity was truly unreal! We also saw crocodiles, hippos and tropical birds on the boat trip. Kudos must go to Denys and the tour group on the smooth handling and professionalism of organising this trip.

Brilliant one day trip - saw everything: giraffe, lion, rhino, hippo! Mugeni was a fantastic guide and an expert driver! Great guy.

I was in Kigali for work and decided to spend my free day on the safari with my colleagues and it was totally worth it! We saw so many animals, our guide Kevin was amazing, and the food was delicious. The safari vehicle was super comfortable with plenty of water, drinks and even phone charging. An unforgettable experience. Highly recommended Afri Safaris!

I had a wonderful 1-day experience at Akagera with Afri Safaris and my guide Samuel. Afri Safaris were very responsive of my last minute requests and accommodating of my request for a bird specialist guide. Samuel was very knowledgeable and passionate about birds. He shared my curiosity, interest and patience, all essential to have a memorable experience while birding. We saw 65+ species of birds that day and I had a wonderful time chatting about the birds and figuring out their identification with Samuel. We also saw four of the Big 5; the leopard eluded us but it was amazing to see dozens of elephants crossing the road during sunset as well as the lions lazing in the savannah. Samuel made sure I got the best shots and angles, and he slowed/quickened the pace of the drive as necessary. Really professional and passionate guide. Highly recommend Samuel and Afri Safaris!

Akagera Park was absolutely fantastic and so memorable! I was on a work trip, and my colleague decided to join me at the last minute for the safari. With such short notice, everything turned out great, on time and very well organized. The drive was very good, and we were able to arrive on schedule. At the park, we saw a few animals of luck, such as elephants, rhinos, hippos, and even the sly lions, hidden, actually. Special thanks also to Samuel, our guide, who told a lot of things and became such good company. He had an easy manner, which made the experience even better. I would very much recommend Samuel for this experience on any visit to Rwanda!

My one day safari in Akagera National Park was absolutely amazing, everything exceeded expectations! The trip was perfectly organised, and our guide was knowledgeable, friendly and passionate about the park's wildlife and conservation. We saw a lot of animals including lions, elephants and more. Lunch by the lake was peaceful and beautiful If you're in Rwanda, don't miss this safari! Highly recommended

This trip was absolutely unforgettable. From start to finish, the service and communication were excellent. Our guide was knowledgeable, caring, and helped us spot the big 5, making the trip truly unforgettable. The safari vehicle had plenty of water, WiFi and the lunch was delicious. I highly recommend Afri Safaris for a seamless and memorable Akagera experience!