The safari takes you to Bwindi national park in Uganda and treks the endangered mountain gorillas and heads to the towering Kilimanjaro Mountain, the highest mountain in Africa with three volcanic cones – Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. The hike to this mountain takes 6 days, in northern Tanzania.
The hike rewards you with different attractions, beautiful scenery among others. The safari takes you through Rwanda which is the nearby arrival point to Bwindi forest and you will have a chance to explore part of it during a city tour and again explore Arusha city in Tanzania.
Day 1: Pick up and transfer to Bwindi from Kigali – Rwanda
On the arrival, you will receive a warm welcome by our tour representative who will take you through an initial briefing about the itinerary and then transfer to Bwindi, a journey that covers 3 hours of drive from Kigali city. The safari takes you to the home of mountain gorillas and while here you will have a chance to explore the remaining species in the Virunga Mountains where the park is located.
This park is listed under the world heritage sites, because of its unique species including birds that cannot be spotted anywhere else. On your arrival in the pearl of Africa, you will check in your accommodation facility.
Day 2: Gorilla trekking adventure and Batwa community Tour
Head to the park offices for briefing, this is a great exercise where you will be able to know more about the impenetrable forest and its habitats, cross-checking and verifying the gorilla permits, giving instructions like not feeding wild animals, keeping quiet while in the forest, among others. Thereafter you will head into the forest with assistance of the park ranger guide, and start the search of these primates. Trekking time depends on how far you have walked searching for our beautiful cousins and after you will have an hour in their presence while enjoying their unique behaviors, movements and characters.
Thereafter head back to the offices and meet your driver guide who will drive back to the lodge for lunch after 4-5 hours in the forest. Immediately after lunch, embark on an exciting activity of visiting the Batwa community and learn as you discover this unique culture in Africa. Traditional music and dances, meal tasting, learning about the different herbs, making fire using two pieces of dry wood and so much more will be enjoyed. After head back to the lodge for your dinner
Day 3: Transfer to Kigali, city tour and fly to Kilimanjaro Airport in Tanzania
Have breakfast in the morning and transfer to Kigali Rwanda. In reaching take park in visiting the city where places like the genocide memorial site, the presidential Palace museum and local markets will be visited a lot will be learnt. After being dropped at the airport where you will fly to Tanzania. Meet and greet our tour representative at the airport who will take you to the booked Hotel.
Day 4: Kilimanjaro, Machame Gate to machame camp
In the morning after breakfast, guide will drive and take you to Machame Gate which will be the starting point to hike the tallest mountain in Africa. On reaching this point, you will register and an option of hiring potters, higher some materials you may use and you dint come with them, get a park ranger and then start the hike with packed lunch that you will enjoy while hiking in the wild.
The hikes take about 5 hours to reach Machame Camp, the beautiful hike through the forest is so rewarding and then another walk around Machame camp is a great one as well.
Day 5: Machame camp to Shira camp
Start a day with breakfast and then continue hiking through the Savannah forest, crossing a small valley and up to a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather as you leave the forested areas behind. While on Shira camp, Mount Meru, the second-highest mountain in Tanzania and Shira plateau can be seen in the distance. Spend a night here to relax your joints as you prepare for the next day hike.
Day 6: Shira camp to Baraco camp
Wake up early on this sixth day of your 10 days gorilla and Kilimanjaro adventure safari and take breakfast at Shira camp and proceed with a hike as you try to trace the highest peak of Kilimanjaro – Uhuru.
The trail passes through the sandy trails and glaciers and at this point you will start experiencing the coldness as you approach Baraco camp, you will are required to walk at a slow pace since you can even fall because the ground is too soft. Reach Baraco camp where you will spend a night and d8neer will be served.
Day 7: Baraco to Barafu camp
Continues with a hike to Barafu Camp and literally, Barafu is a Kiswahili word that means Ice. The hike takes about 5 hours on reaching Barafu camp, you can view the summit at different angles. At this point, you will feel some freezing of the body and more warmers are required at this point and even a campfire will be sent to you. Spend a night camping at Barafu camp as you prepare to complete the hike the next day.
Day 8: Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and descend to Mweka camp
Leave your luggage at Barafu camp and hike to the summit Uhuru peak, the hike begins early in the morning at around midnight to make it the sunrise find you already at the peak to give you the best view.
Enjoy the summit and take photos and after the trek back to Barafu camp and get your belongings and descend more to Mweka camp where you will spend a night. Remember you will not spend much time at the summit since the conditions are not favorable, as the saying goes “the higher you go the cooler it becomes.
Day 9: Mweka camp – Mweka gate and transfer to Arusha
In the morning proceed with the descend that will take you to Mweka gate where you will leave all the hired materials, the potters if any, and again meet the tour guide driver who will make a transfer to Arusha where you will spend a night in a booked hotel.
Day 10: Arusha City tour and departure
Take a short city tour in Arusha as you wait for the scheduled flight and you will visit areas like Arusha museum, Uhuru Monument, Arusha City bus terminal, Central market and Maasai market among others. After lunch, our driver tour guide will drop you at the airport which will be the end of your safari.
