One Day Akagera Safari from Kigali: 6 hours game drive

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.96 (122 reviews) 98% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/49

Duration12h–13h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · FR

PickupAt your hotel

A full day in the African bush: drive, wildlife, lunch by the lake, and back to Kigali

The One Day Akagera Wildlife Safari is a full-day tour from Kigali to Rwanda's only savannah park, with 6 hours of game drive in a 4×4 vehicle, a professional driver-guide, lunch at Lake Mihindi, and hotel or airport drop-off. The tour departs early morning and returns the same day, covering the drive, park entry, wildlife viewing, and a meal break in one itinerary.

12h–13h

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Akagera Wildlife Safari

Morning pick-up in Kigali
Drive to Akagera National Park
Stop at Imigongo Art Center for coffee and snacks
Arrive and clear park reception
Game drive in Akagera National Park
Lunch break at Lake Mihindi
Continue game drive in the park
Drive back to Kigali for drop-off

The Experience

Your day starts with pickup anywhere in Kigali—hotel, airport, or a meeting point on the way—and a scenic 2.5 to 3 hour drive east through Rwanda's countryside to Akagera National Park. Along the route, your Afri Safaris driver-guide shares details about the landscape and local culture. You'll stop for 15 minutes at the Imigongo Art Center in Kayonza for coffee, restrooms, and a look at local handcrafts before continuing to the park.

Once you clear the park reception, the game drive begins. Six hours in the African bush means time to spot wildlife in their natural habitat—the animals move at their own pace, and so does the vehicle. You're traveling in a 4×4 with either a pop-up roof or fixed roof, depending on which option you book, and the vehicle carries Wi-Fi and charging ports so you can stay connected and keep your camera powered. Your guide reads the landscape and the animal behavior, stopping when there's something to watch and moving on when the moment passes.

Midday, you break for lunch at Lake Mihindi's picnic area. You choose from a hot meal menu or bring a packed lunch, and the vehicle carries cool beverages and fresh water in reusable bottles. The lake sits within the park, so the break is part of the safari itself, not a step outside it. After lunch, the drive continues until late afternoon, when you head back toward Kigali. Drop-off happens at your hotel or airport, arriving in the evening after a full day in the park.

What’s included

Park entry to Akagera National Park.
6 hours of game drive with a professional driver-guide speaking English or French.
the 4×4 safari vehicle with Wi-Fi and device charging.
pickup and drop-off anywhere in Kigali or at the airport.
a 15-minute stop at the Imigongo Art Center for coffee and restrooms.
hot lunch of your choice at Lake Mihindi with cool beverages and fresh water.
and the option to add a boat safari on Lake Ihema depending on which tour option you select.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Afri Safaris

Is this one for you?Book the All-Inclusive option with the boat if you want the full park experience in one day—the boat adds a different vantage on the wildlife and the lake itself. Choose the pop-up roof vehicle if photography is your priority; the fixed-roof car is lighter and costs less. The shared safari option keeps the cost down if you're comfortable with other travelers; a private vehicle gives you the whole day and the guide's attention to yourself.