








2 Days Akagera National Park Safari and Boat Ride Adventure
The 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari and Boat Ride Adventure is an excellent choice for travelers who want to experience Rwanda’s savannah wildlife and the beauty of its wetlands in a short timeframe. This 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari takes you to the eastern part of Rwanda, home to the country’s only Big Five national park, offering a striking contrast to the misty rainforests of Volcanoes and Nyungwe. With just two days, the 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari gives you the chance to enjoy guided game drives and a relaxing boat ride on Lake Ihema, creating a perfect balance of land and water safari experiences.
This short itinerary is designed to maximize wildlife encounters, making the 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari ideal for spotting elephants, giraffes, buffalo, zebras, antelopes, and predators like lions and leopards. Akagera is also home to rhinos, completing the Big Five experience. The boat ride on Lake Ihema is another highlight of the 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari, offering sightings of hippos, crocodiles, and abundant birdlife—perfect for photographers and birdwatchers.
Perfect for weekend getaways, business travelers, or anyone with limited time, the 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari delivers the best of Akagera in just two days. Comfortable lodges, professional guiding, and private transfers ensure a seamless, rewarding, and memorable adventure.
Day 1: Transfer from Kigali – Game Drive – Boat Ride on Lake Ihema
- Pickup from Kigali hotel or airport by your driver-guide.
- Drive 2.5 hours to Akagera National Park, passing through scenic Rwandan countryside.
- Begin a morning game drive upon arrival, exploring the park’s savannah, woodlands, and rolling hills. Expect sightings of giraffes, zebras, buffalo, elephants, and various antelope species.
- Check in at your lodge and enjoy lunch.
- In the afternoon, head to Lake Ihema for a memorable boat ride. Spot hippos, crocodiles, and numerous water birds such as kingfishers, fish eagles, and herons.
- Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Full Game Drive – Return to Kigali
- Early breakfast at the lodge before setting off on a sunrise game drive. This is the best time to spot predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas while they are still active.
- Continue exploring different sectors of the park, searching for rhinos and other wildlife you may have missed.
- Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park before beginning your journey back to Kigali.
- Arrive in Kigali in the evening for drop-off at your hotel or Kigali International Airport.
End of 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari and Boat Ride Adventure
Tour Inclusions of 2 Days Akagera National Park Safari and Boat Ride Adventure
- Transport in a private 4×4 safari vehicle
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- Park entrance fees
- Boat ride on Lake Ihema
- Accommodation inside or near Akagera (budget, mid-range, or luxury options)
- Meals as per the itinerary
- Bottled water throughout the safari
Tour Exclusions
- International flights
- Visa fees
- Tips and personal expenses
- Travel insurance
- Optional activities not listed
Starting from US $ 1,250 per person
Discounted prices per person as the number of people rises.
| No of People | Up To | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | $ 1250 |
| 2 | – | $ 880 |
| 3 | – | $ 650 |
| 4 | – | $ 570 |
| 5 | – | $ 500 |
| 6 | – | $ 460 |
| 7+ | – | $ 400 |
Posted on Tripadvisor patty eVerified 100% recommended I was originally in Tanzania for a safari but decided to add the gorilla trek at the end of my trip because the flight was too long to fly to Africa from California again at my age. I booked through Viator. From the beginning, communication with Universal Adventures was positive. They were prompt to answer any questions. And a few days before the excursion, they sent me my driver's name and WhatsApp number. His name is Christian.We communicated through WhatsApp, and he was very prompt to reply back. He was early to pick me up at 4:30am. I had another person in the car. The car was clean. Its a long drive to the meeting place. We stopped for breakfast pastries at a local shop( they take credit cards and had a clean breakfast. We then drove to the meeting place where we met up with our group. There they had hot drinks like coffees, lattes, teas, etc. We then had to drive to the beginning of the mountain. It was a long drive as the roads are not paved. My group was assigned the Isimbi gorilla family and our guide was Jolie. My porter was Adolf. I was the least active one in the group but the crew never made me feel bad. After what I thought was a 4 hr hike (it was really 1 hr and 26 minutes) we found our gorilla family. We had plenty of time to take pictures with them. After we were done, Christian took us to a rooftop restaurant. The food was delicious! I recommend this excursion 100%. The company is awesome and very professional.Posted on Tripadvisor Juliet KVerified Gorilla Experience in Rwanda! Easy ride, the trip was one in a life time experience. The driver (Christian) was very nice and kind and made the trip smooth! Everything was great.Posted on Tripadvisor zoe457Verified Amazing experience seeing the gorillas of Rwanda! Amazing experience seeing the gorillas. Dodos picked me up in Kigali and was very helpful through the whole process. He even had cold drinks when I finished the gorilla trekking. Highly recommend!Posted on Tripadvisor Trevor BVerified Great way to see Kigali! Our guide Christian was knowledgeable and kind. He showed us all the highlights including the moving Genocide Memorial. His personal stories and insights into Rwandan society were invaluable. It was truly a pleasure to spend the day with him in Kigali.Posted on Tripadvisor Destination709424Verified Gorilla Trekking Me and my partner have always dreamed of doing gorilla trekking so when Christian helped this come to life it was surreal! As tourists we felt incredibly safe and welcomed with Christian he was super knowledgable and happy to share lots of description and reasoning with all our questions to help us learn and understand the culture. We also did a cultural village visit, Golden Monkey Trek, Diane Fossey Museum and women’s centre. All suggested and planned with Christian from Universal Ventures Rawanda. Any requests we had were never too much for Christian he was always happy to help. I would 110% recommend Christian to all my friends and family who I know want to come to Rawanda. Thankyou for making our dreams come true!Posted on Tripadvisor Geti LVerified 100% would recommend Amazing team and guide. I didn’t have to think about anything since they planned everything from airport pick up till drop off. Best value for buck but also great attitude and support. Got permission to visit the Pablo family thanks to our guide!Posted on Tripadvisor Yanis RVerified Thanks Kim for that wonderful day Kim was my guide for my experience with the gorillas. He made the day so comfortable. Everything was perfect! We also had many conversations about everything. I definitely recommend traveling with him!!Posted on Tripadvisor Aglaia OVerified Amazing Rwanda gorilla trek! Playful babies, calm silverback, great guides. Book permits well in advance. My gorilla trekking experience in Rwanda was absolutely incredible. We found the gorillas within about an hour of hiking, and seeing them up close was unforgettable. The baby gorillas were especially playful and entertaining to watch, constantly moving around and interacting with each other. In contrast, the silverback was calm, quiet, and completely self-focused — somehow both powerful and peaceful at the same time. The gorillas were not scary at all, and we never felt threatened during the experience. The guides were fantastic: experienced, knowledgeable, and very entertaining throughout the trek. One of our guides even shared stories about crossing paths with Dian Fossey, which made the experience feel even more special and connected to Rwanda’s conservation history. One important tip: make sure to secure your trekking permit well in advance, as spots are limited and can sell out quickly. A truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would highly recommend.Posted on Tripadvisor MARCELLE EVerified Gorilles Kigali Nous avons choisis la parcours long mais ca valait le coup. Nous en avons pris pleins les yeux les guides étaient top le trajet depuis Kigali pas trop long avec le chauffeur de l'agence , NEZA qui a vraiment été super du début à la fin . Il nous été d’une grande aide.le responsable de l’agence et était super et disponible il nous a aidé pour toutes les démarches.Posted on Tripadvisor Teresa BVerified The trek was perfect! We saw a beautiful family of gorillas including two Silverbacks! The best experience of my life! Seeing gorillas in their natural habitat was incredible! A truly serene experience. The tour was well planned and could not have been more perfect. The entire team guided with professionalism and love. My porter, Jacqueline, was wonderful and took great care of me. My personal guide/driver, Kim, was a delight! I learned much about Rwanda from him on the drive. I was surprised he greeted me with champagne toast! The day could not have been better.
