We take to adventure in Kilimanjaro Mountain where you will reach the highest peak in Africa as you enjoy the different attractive viewing points. Mount. Kilimanjaro is located in Tanzania and it stands at 5,895 meters above sea level.
Also during this safari, you will head to Volcanoes national park in North Eastern Rwanda to trek the endangered 8n their natural environment. This 10 Days Volcanoes N/Park & Kilimanjaro adventure is the most adventurous and it requires one to be physically fit to conquer challenging hikes. The safari will begin in Arusha, Tanzania and end in Kigali, Rwanda.
Day 1: Pick up from the airport and transfer to Machame Gate
Arrive at the airport and your driver guide will be ready waiting for you. He will brief you about the tour and at this time, you can purchase some materials you may use while on this safari. While at the airport, you can exchange foreign currency to Tanzanian shillings. Transfer to Machame gate where you will spend this first night.
Day 2: Machame gate to Shira Camp
At this point, you will have breakfast and pack in the bag your packed lunch and then head to the briefing point. Acquires some materials you may use while on the trek that you might not have come with. Also, hire some potters in case you are interested to carry your luggage, get cooks to help you prepare food and boil water, and secure the guide to guide you while on the hike.
After beginning the hike begins as you pass through the rainforest but remember you need to have gears hike strong hiking boots since the trail is slippery. The hike takes about 5 to 6 hours to reach Shira camp that stands at 12,500ft and this is where you will camp for a night.
Day 3: Shira camp to Barranco camp
Wake up and enjoy breakfast in the wild and after starting the hike to Barranco camp taking between 6 to 8 hours. Enjoy the scenic views as you pass through the Shira plateau, Kibo peak and lava Tower hence crossing to Barranco camp that stands at a height of 13,000ft. As you approach Lava Tower, you will have a view of Mount. Kilimanjaro in front and Mount. Meru at the back.
Lunch will be served at lava Tower and for those who like taking photos this hike is the best in case the weather is favorable. Spend a night camping at Barranco camp.
Day 4: Barranco camp to Karanga camp
Wake up a bit early at around 05:00hours and take breakfast which will be followed by a climb. The Barranco wall can be climbed in 1-2 hours and you are again to proceed with the hike after maneuvering with a challenging climb at Barranco wall. Pass through the alpine desert and get a view of the Tanzania alpine as you find your way to Karanga camp where you will spend your night.
Day 5: Karanga camp to Barafu camp
Be served with an early morning tea or coffee and then start the hike heading to Barafu camp. Barafu means Ice in the Kiswahili language. This means that at this point you can feel your body icing due to coldness. You will have a great view of Mwanza and Kibo peaks as you cross the Mweka trail.
Spend the night at Barafu camp and this means that you need to sleep early before its dark and early morning wake up to head to the summit.
Day 6: Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and descend to Mweka hut
Wake up early at around 00:00hours and take breakfast, you start the climb through ice and find your way to the highest peak in Africa that stands at 5895m above sea level. The sunrise will find you at this point and enjoy photos.
You are advised to spend less time at the summit since the conditions are not favorable due to a lot of coldness. After descending to Barafu camp and pick your entire luggage and again proceed with a descent to Mweka camp where you will spend a night.
Day 7: Mweka camp to Moshi drive to Arusha
You will descend more after breakfast and head to Moshi which is at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and here; you will leave all the hired materials and again meet the driver guide who will drive to Arusha City where you will spend a night.
Day 8: Fly to Kigali and transfer to PNV
You will have a relaxed breakfast and maybe have a short city tour in Arusha and then afterwards fly to Kigali city in Rwanda. This country is known as the land of a thousand hills and this is because the country has a beautiful hill that is seen while in this country.
On arrival at the airport, you will meet and greet the driver guide who will take you to Volcanoes national park which is home to endangered mountain gorillas and golden monkeys. The park has other attractions like Dian Fossey Graveyard, Dian was a female primatologist researcher who was murdered after saving a big number of gorillas from poaching.
The park also is home to over 300 bird species such as Lagden’s Bush-shrike, African Green Broadbill, and Kivu Ground Thrush among others. Also, there are other mammals in the park such as Forest elephants, buffaloes, bush pigs, giant forest hogs, duikers, spotted hyenas among others. The drive to this park takes about 3 hours from Kigali international Airport and upon your arrival, you will check in the safari lodge booked.
Day 9: Gorilla trekking in Volcanoes National Park
Wake up and have your breakfast followed by a drive to the park offices where you will first go through a briefing exercise before entering the forest to search these endangered species. During the briefing time, a lot will be covered such as crosschecking gorilla permits, telling you all the required information about the park and its habitats, the dos and don’ts while trekking, assignment of the group to trek in with among others.
After, head to the forest and start the search, you will have to walk and hike for some good time to get close to these endangered species. When you come to a face to face with these gorillas, you take photos, learn their behaviors as the silverback which is the head of the family practice its leadership skills and you will spend only an hour with them.
After the trek, head back to the park offices but remember, the trek can take 3-5 hours depending on where you located these apes. Thereafter, the driver guide will take you back to the lodge and relax for the rest of your evening while packing for the next day departure.
Day 10: Transfer to Kigali and departure
Have breakfast and then take a 3 hours’ drive to Kigali city. You have a chance to take a city walk before your departure where you will visit places like the local markets, Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre and the Presidential Palace Museum. After you will be dropped at the airport and this will be the end of your safari.
