15 days in Rwanda Itinerary

A vacation in Kigali, Rwanda's capital city and economic hub, lets you experience the very heart of a landlocked country from a pleasant, safe, and organized base point.

Spend the 12th (Sat) wandering through the wild on a nature and wildlife tour. Spend the 13th (Sun) spotting exotic species with a safari tour. There's lots more to do: examine the collection at Kigali Genocide Memorial, take in the exciting artwork at Choose Kigali Art Gallery, contemplate the long history of Ntarama Church, and explore the galleries of Inema Arts Centre.

For traveler tips, ratings, maps, and other tourist information, read our Kigali trip itinerary tool.

Ottawa, Canada to Kigali is an approximately 26.5-hour combination of train, bus, and flight. The time zone changes from Eastern Standard Time (EST) to Central Africa Time (CAT), which is usually a 7 hour difference. Expect much warmer temperatures when traveling from Ottawa in November; daily highs in Kigali reach 30°C and lows reach 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 15th (Tue) early enough to drive to Butare.

Butare is a city in the Southern Province of Rwanda and capital of Huye district. Kick off your visit on the 16th (Wed): take in the architecture and atmosphere at Butare catholic Cathedral and then see the interesting displays at Murambi Genocide Memorial Center. Here are some ideas for day two: contemplate the long history of The Royal Palace, get engrossed in the history at King's Palace Museum, and then see the interesting displays at Ethnographic Museum of Rwanda.

To see more things to do, photos, traveler tips, and other tourist information, refer to the Butare day trip website.

You can drive from Kigali to Butare in 3 hours. Alternatively, you can do a combination of bus and car. November in Butare sees daily highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C at night. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 17th (Thu) early enough to drive to Kibuye.

Kibuye is a city in Karongi District, and the headquarters of the Western Province in Rwanda.LocationThe city lies on the eastern shores of Lake Kivu, between Gisenyi and Cyangugu, approximately 135km, by road, west of Kigali, the capital and largest city in the country. Kick off your visit on the 18th (Fri): cast your line with Kivu boat tours, then explore the activities along Lake Kivu, and then get curious at Museum of Environment. Here are some ideas for day two: admire the sheer force of Les Chutes de Ndaba and then don't miss a visit to Bisesero Genocide Memorial.

To find ratings, traveler tips, where to stay, and other tourist information, refer to the Kibuye trip builder.

You can drive from Butare to Kibuye in 3.5 hours. Expect little chillier weather when traveling from Butare in November: highs in Kibuye hover around 27°C, while lows dip to 20°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Sat) early enough to drive to Ruhengeri.

Most tourism in Ruhengeri revolves around the famous national park, which shelters mountain gorillas of the volcanic Virunga range.

Spend the 20th (Sun) exploring nature at Volcanoes National Park. There's still lots to do: steep yourself in history at Iby'iwacu Cultural Village, stop by Umuzabibu Mwiza - Home to Handspun Hope, paddle through the water with a kayaking and canoeing tour, and make a trip to Karisoke Research Center - Dian Fossey Camp.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, refer to the Ruhengeri day trip app.

You can drive from Kibuye to Ruhengeri in 3 hours. Traveling from Kibuye in November, you can expect nighttime temperatures to be slightly colder in Ruhengeri, with lows of 15°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 22nd (Tue) early enough to travel back home.