This is the holiday you have always dreamt of! A 16 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Kilimanjaro Hiking Safari for Mountain Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National park; Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale forest National Park and Mount. Kilimanjaro hike, via the Machame route, also known as the “whisky route”, with the highest success records and offering some of the most exciting hiking experiences.
Uganda and Tanzania are Africa’s top safari destinations, found in East Africa. Mountain Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa and it takes about 7 days to reach its Uhuru summit.
Other activities include cultural encounters, guided nature walk, birding and a city tour among others. Pick-up at Entebbe international airport and drop off at Arusha, Tanzania.
See detailed itinerary for this 16 Days Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Kilimanjaro Hiking Safari below.
Bwindi Gorilla Trekking & Kilimanjaro Climbing Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Upon landing at Entebbe international airport, our company representative will gladly be on time to welcome you for this amazing 16-day primate and mountaineering experience.
He will brief you about the activities and destinations to be visited, before checking a drive to Kampala for a city tour, where you will visit the national museum to uncover more about the historical attractions and also the Kasubi tombs to learn about the former Buganda kings.
Buganda is one of the main kingdoms in Uganda and a major player in the country’s independence. Thereafter, have lunch in town before heading for dinner and overnight at your hotel.
Day 2: Kampala to Kibale Forest National Park
You will kick start the day with breakfast meal at the lodge, before embarking on a 7-8 hour drive to Kibale forest national park; the primate capital of the world.
Kibale is located in western Uganda, and harbors over 13 Unique primate species; notably the Chimpanzees, Columbus monkeys, and baboons among others; birds, plants, flowers and so forth.
You expect to enjoy amazing views of the breathtaking landscape, tea plantations, towns and rolling hills on your way to the park, with a stopover for lunch and some relaxation.
You will reach Kibale forest in the evening and be welcomed by receptive residents. Check-in to your late in the evening for dinner and a peaceful sleep.
Day 3: Chimp trekking and Isunga cultural encounter
After enjoying a great sleep, wake up for breakfast and thereafter head to the park headquarters for document verification and briefing by the park custodians.
The rangers are well conversant with the jungle and will help you identify the different primate species you come across at the time of meeting the chimps.
Chimpanzees are regarded as man’s closest relative, sharing over 98% DNA.
You will spot them use some rare tactics for eating such as picking ants using grass and small sticks as forks for eating.
Trekking these creatures can last for roughly 1-5 hours, plus an additional hour for returning to the lodge for lunch, followed by a rewarding cultural encounter at Isunga cultural community for an exciting local dance, village walk and stories.
This day ends with dinner and overnight stay.
Day 4: Kibale to Bwindi National Park
After breakfast, you will check out of the lodge for a scenic drive from Kibale Forest National Park to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
It is a drive with a variety of flourishing plantations, the view of mountain backdrops and the different networks of vegetation cover.
At a distance will the misty Bwindi forest show you its face, and with great pleasure will you gently drive to your accommodation for check-in, dinner and a peaceful night of sleep.
Day 5: Gorilla Trekking
From bed to the breakfast table, you will be glad this day came as you head to the park headquarters for registration and the ultimate trekking experience.
At the park headquarters, ranger guides will brief you about the trekking dos and don’ts, assign a maximum of 8 people to a gorilla family and the trekking exercise begins.
Tracking exercise lasts for roughly 1-6 hours depending on how far the apes have moved and your trekking speed, and as well an added hour to take photos, watch them feed and interact.
Relax, before having a lunch break. Gorillas don’t spend nights in a place, thus the reason why the search begins from where they were spotted the previous time, all way through to where they are suspected to be.
You will also encounter several birds, primates and plants on your way from these gentle apes.
Spend entire evening at the lodge, relaxing, enjoying amazing views of the beautiful landscape, flowers, and birds. You have an option to visit the Batwa pygmies before calling it a day with dinner and a peaceful nap.
Day 6: Bwindi impenetrable forest to Arusha, Tanzania
After breakfast, checkout for a transfer to Entebbe International Airport for a flight to Arusha, Tanzania.
The drive lasts for roughly 8-9 hours, with an en-route stopover at the equator for lunch, photography and the equator experiment.
Arrive and fly to Arusha, where our company representative will meet, brief and then take you to the hotel around Arusha; waiting for a transfer to Kilimanjaro the following day.
Day 7: Transfer to Kilimanjaro National Park
At Arusha city, you will enjoy a morning breakfast meal and after a city tour; visiting the different historical attractions, city museums and the local markets.
Thereafter have lunch and drive to Kilimanjaro Mountain National park, traversing the breathtaking landscape and arriving at your lodge late in the afternoon for refreshment, dinner and overnight.
Mountain Kilimanjaro is located in the northern part of Tanzania, bordering Kenya.
Day 8: Machame gate to Machame Campsite (11km 5-7 hours)
At daybreak, you will arrive, be registered and be briefed about the mountain Kilimanjaro national park and the hiking experience.
Mountain Kilimanjaro is the highest stand-alone mountain in the world; with its Uhuru summit covered by snow.
After briefing and getting a porter, you will proceed to Machame campsite while enjoying the montane forest and the mountain backdrop.
It covers an average of 11km distance, at an altitude of 1800m to 3000m. You will enjoy an exciting experience at the campsite. As well as dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Machame camp to Shira Camp (9km 4-6 hours)
Start a new day with a hefty breakfast meal at the Lodge, and proceed with the hike to Shira camp –a 4-6 hour hike at an altitude of about 3850m.
At this stage, the temperature change is felt, while tackling the rocky ridges, and the moorland vegetation. Have an aerial view of the landscape, plantations and vegetation.
Ascend on approximately 9 km, spending roughly 4-6 hours. Connect to the western edge of the mountain, across a river gorge to Shira camp where you will have dinner and have the last meal of the day.
Day 10: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (12km; 6-8 hours)
After breakfast at Shira camp. Continua with the accession, as this day is vital for acclimatization, as you warm-up for the summit hike.
Expect a fever illness and several other altitude effects. From 3850m, you head to the lava tower at 4600m, have a break for lunch, and a rest.
The surrounding area is engulfed with scenic features and rocky valleys.
After your rest turn under the breach through the great Barraco wall to Barraco Camp. Arrive and enjoy amazing views of the sunset rays, creating wonderful photo moments.
The hike covers approximately 12 km and 6-7 hours through a semi-arid area.
Day 11: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (7km; 4-5 hours)
In high spirit, start the day with hefty breakfast meal at your campsite. Thereafter start the journey to Karanga camp, climbing to the great Barranco Wall, then switch to karange camp.
Karange camp seats beneath the Heim and Decken glaciers and also the icefall of Kersten. Traverse the alpine desert; 7 km and 4-hour experience.
Partake of lunch, dinner and overnight at sunset.
Day 12: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (6kms; 3-4 hours)
After breakfast at the lodge and off with the hike, tackling the last bend of the southern circuit.
You will connect to the Mweka circuit, covering about 6 km and a 3-4 hour hike, into a 4600m altitude, through the alpine desert.
At this point, you can watch Kibo and Mawenzi summits, in addition to several other mountain summits, and sceneries. Arrive at Barafu hut and relax, while waiting for the ultimate summit challenge.
Day 13: Barafu camp to the Summit – Mweka Camp (6-7 hours)
Wake up to a heavy breakfast at the lodge at about 00:00hours local time, and then set off for the summit hike.
The purpose of departing this early is to reach before the scorching heat melts the snow at the summit. Uhuru peak is the highest summit in the continent of Africa; covered by snow and positioned between the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers.
The hike is challenging and needs mental and physical endurance, heading northwest to the Stella point.
At the peak of the crater, you will stop to take a breather, relax, while enjoying the beautiful sunrise strike; one sight you might have never seen.
Thereafter if the weather is conducive; you will proceed to the summit at 5732m above sea level, take photos, and enjoy every moment of the success.
Thereafter descend to Mweka camp through the Barafu hut where you will have lunch, before proceeding to Mweka camp at 3100m for refreshment, dinner, and overnight. You cover about 7mtrs and 6-8 hour hike.
Day 14: Mweka Camp to your hotel
Start your day with a yummy breakfast and then continue descending to Mweka trailhead, where you will be rewarded with hiking certificates.
It takes 3-4 hours through an 8km distance. You will be required to use a hiking pole to tackle the mud and wet ground.
The driver-guide will meet and take you to the hotel for lunch, relaxation, dinner, and overnight.
Day 15: Afternoon Mount. Kilimanjaro National Park Tour
A great start to the day with a freshening cup of coffee and further relaxation. After lunch, you will have a guided nature walk in the park, this time to have a look at the different mammals, birds and several other park residents.
It is a 2-3 hour experience before you return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.
Day 16: Departure
Start your day with a relaxed breakfast meal at the lodge and then checkout for a drive to Arusha city, or Kilimanjaro international airport for your flight home. An optional city tour and lunch before the flight time.
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