What is the first thing that you think about when you hear the word Rwanda? For most, I imagine they would associate this tiny African country with the horrible genocide that occurred in 1994. Despite this treacherous past, Rwanda has rebounded to become a modern and progressive African nation. Rwandans are remarkably resilient people and have turned their country into a safe and desirable place to visit. Tourism is still a growing industry in the country, but has a lot to offer including amazing hikes, safari, and of course, gorilla trekking. We travelled to Rwanda in May 2019 and created a complete Rwanda two-week travel itinerary to help you plan an unforgettable trip!
The following list of attractions can be easily covered in two weeks. The schedule is up to you. We would recommend looking at weather conditions and permit availability when deciding what works for you. Our exact Rwanda two week travel itinerary we followed is at the end of this post.
Visit Kigali
Kigali is the biggest and most developed city in Rwanda. This is where most international flights will arrive and is a great place to get your feet wet. See our related post “The Best Of Kigali” for everything you need to know to enjoy your time there. We used Kigali as a home base from which to travel around the country.
See Gorillas in the Wild
A big reason many people come to Rwanda in the first place is to see gorillas in the wild. Although you can see them in Rwanda, we discovered it was significantly less expensive to visit the neighbouring Uganda instead. 
A one day permit to track gorillas in Rwanda is $1500 USD per person, while the same permit costs $600 USD per person in Uganda. Although the price tag for both options may seem steep, we wholeheartedly recommend doing it. Our gorilla trek in Uganda was one of our most memorable travel experiences to date. See our related post, “Gorilla Trekking in Uganda: A Step By Step Guide” for everything you need to know.
Hike a Volcano
Throughout Rwanda, there are many amazing opportunities for hiking. Volcanoes National Park offers a couple of breathtaking volcano hikes (on a side note, Volcanoes National Park also has a number of other activities that one can do such as tracking gorillas or golden monkeys, visiting caves, and more). Read our related post, “All You Need To Know To Hike Mount Bisoke” for complete step by step instructions.
TIP: If visiting Volcanoes National Park, be sure to stop by Crema Café in Ruhengeri (Musanze). They have great food and awesome coffee.
We ended up stopping there on three separate occasions while driving through town. Also, Migano Café is another great spot to have dinner in town if you have time.
See the Twin Lakes
Lake Burera and Lake Ruhondo are often referred to as the twin lakes. They are located between Musanze and the Ugandan border and offer scenic views and excellent opportunities for bird watching and boat rides. When we attempted to drive to the twin lakes, we ended up on quite an adventure through unpaved roads and local villages.
Ultimately, we chose a route that did not give us great views of the lakes. We would recommend driving to Virunga Lodge, which is one of the best vantage points to see the lakes.
Relax at Lake Kivu
Gisenyi is located about 3.5 hours from Kigali by car. It is a great place to relax at one of the many resorts along the water of Lake Kivu. The area is well known for water sports and nice beaches.
Along with some friends, we all stayed at Inzu Lodge, which provided a comfortable “glamping” experience in permanent tents with electricity.
While in Gisenyi, it’s pretty neat to walk to the small and large border crossings with the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is currently one of the world’s most dangerous countries. The small border is comprised of only a gate arm, similar to what you would see at a typical parking lot!
If you are a fan of nightlife, check out the Lakeside Restaurant and Beach Bar, located (you guessed it) right beside the lake. It is a great place to get the night started with some drinks and dancing. If you want more of a club atmosphere, head to Nyanja Nightclub for more dancing. Finally, for a bite to eat, try Calafia Café. Although it caters mostly to expats, it has great food, decent prices and good coffee.
Go on Safari in Akagera National Park
Akagera National Park is located in eastern Rwanda along the border of Tanzania. It takes approximately 2.5 hours by car to reach the entrance (southern gate) from Kigali and about 3 hours from the exit (north gate) back to Kigali. 
The park is home to Africa’s “big five”, the lion, leopard, elephant, rhinoceros, and buffalo. We spent two days in the park and camped overnight. Check out our post, “Self-Drive Safari Guide For Akagera National Park” for everything you need to know to go on safari in Rwanda.
On the drive back to Kigali, be sure to stop by Imigongo Art Centre and Cafe to see some great local art, eat delicious food, and have a perfect cup of coffee!
Our Schedule
Rwanda is a small and is easy to get around the entire country by car. The main highways are paved and the traffic is generally light. During our 14 day (13 night) trip, we adhered to the following schedule:
Rwanda Two Week Travel Itinerary
Day 1: Arrived to Kigali in the evening
Day 2: Kigali
Day 3: Kigali → Ruhengeri
Day 4: Volcanoes National Park (Mt. Bisoke hike) → Gisenyi
Day 5: Gisenyi
Day 6: Gisenyi → Kigali
Day 7: Kigali → Kabale, Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Park)
Day 8: Kabale, Uganda → Kigali
Day 9: Kigali
Day 10: Kigali
Day 11: Kigali → Akagera National Park
Day 12: Akagera National Park → Kigali
Day 13: Kigali
Day 14: Depart Kigali
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This would be a fab experience 🔆