10 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro and Gorillas In Rwanda

10 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro and Gorillas In Rwanda, these days in Tanzania and Rwanda will take you from the snow-capped peak of the tallest free standing mountain in Tanzania and across the border to the busy streets of Rwanda’s capital Kigali then to the magnificent Volcanoes national park in the Virunga Conservation Area, one of the homes to the gentle yet highly endangered mountain gorillas of Africa and the golden monkeys.

Itinerary overview of  10 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro and Gorillas In Rwanda 

  • Day 1: Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport
  • Day 2: Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame camp (3000m)
  • Day 3: Machame camp (3000m) to Shira camp (3800m)
  • Day 4: Shira (3800m) to Barranco camp (3950m)
  • Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) to Barafu camp (4600m)
  • Day 6: Barafu (4600m) to Uhuru peak (5895m) to Mweka camp (3100m)
  • Day 7: Mweka (3100m) to Mweka Gate then transfer to Arusha
  • Day 8: Transfer to Kigali and drive to Volcanoes National park
  • Day 9: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 10: Transfer to Kigali and departure

Detailed Itinerary of 10 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro and Gorillas In Rwanda 

Day 1: Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport

On the First Day of 10 Days Climbing Kilimanjaro and Gorillas In Rwanda, Once you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will meet our company representative who will pick you up and take you to the hotel near mountain Kilimanjaro where you will stay the night ahead of the next day’s hike. Dinner will be provided at the lodge.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Day 2: Machame Gate (1800m) to Machame camp (3000m)

Early morning, the lodge will provide you with a breakfast and a packed lunch then your driver guide will pick you up and take you to the Machame Gate. On arrival at the gate, you will register for the hike, pick up a hiking permit, meet the porters and the local hiking guides then you will embark on the first day of the Kilimanjaro Hike.

This hike will take you through the montane forest, looping up into the mossy jungle and after about 5-7 hours of hiking you will be at the Machame Hut where dinner will be served and you will stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Overnight at Machame camp

Day 3: Machame camp (3000m) to Shira camp (3800m)

In the morning, you will have a breakfast at the camp, pick up a lunch for the day then head out for today’s hike. Today’s hike will continue through the montane forest and slowly advance into the moorlands. This hike takes between 4-6 hours and offers you spectacular views of the Kibo peak.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Overnight at Shira camp

Day 4: Shira (3800m) to Barranco camp (3950m)

You will have a breakfast at the camp then continue on another hike. From this point until you summit Uhuru peak, you will need to take on this hike one step at a time to allow your body acclimatize to the changing altitude. This hike will last between 6-8 hours with a stopover at the Lava tower for a lunch break after which you will continue to the Barranco camp where you will stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Overnight at Barranco Camp

Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) to Barafu camp (4600m)

Early morning, wake up, clean up and settle down for breakfast then head out for another day of ascending Kilimanjaro. Today is the last day of the hike before the summit day. This hike will last between 3 to 4 hours taking you up the steep Barranco wall then up and down several ridges and valleys. You will hike past the Karanga camp after which you will finally be at the Barafu camp. On this day, you will have an early dinner and then rest for a few hours in preparation for the summit hike which will begin at midnight.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Overnight at Barafu camp

Day 6: Barafu (4600m) to Uhuru peak (5895m) to Mweka camp (3100m)

After a snack at around 10:30pm, you will set off for the Uhuru peak at midnight with headlamps slowly under the moonlight up to the Stella point from where you will have to hike for about 1 more hour before summiting Uhuru.

After summiting, you will spend a few minutes on the Uhuru peak then descend back to the Mweka camp where you will have dinner then stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Overnight at Mweka camp

Day 7: Mweka (3100m) to Mweka Gate then transfer to Arusha

This the final day of descend. Just like the other days, you will wake up to a breakfast after which you will begin your hike to the base of the mountain. This hike will take you through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate. You will arrive at the base of the mountain just in time for lunch after which you will bid farewell to your hiking crew and meet your driver guide who will drive you back to your hotel where you will relax and stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Ngare Sero Mountain Lodge

Day 8: Transfer to Kigali and drive to Volcanoes National park

After a restful evening, the lodge will provide you with a tasty breakfast after which your driver guide will pick you up and drop you off at Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will take your flight to Kigali.

On arrival in Kigali, you will meet your new destination driver guide who will take you around Rwanda. After a short interaction with the guide, you will then aboard your safari vehicle and embark on a 2-hours journey to Kingi. Since you will arrive in time for lunch, you will check into the hotel then settle down for a hot meal. After lunch you will spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 9: Gorilla trekking

Very early in the morning, arise and get ready for the mountain gorilla visit. The lodge will provide you with a breakfast at as early as 6:00am and at 6:15am you will set off with your driver guide for the Volcanoes National Park headquarters. Once at the park headquarters, you will be welcomed with a hot cup of local Rwanda coffee then briefing will commence.

After the briefing, you will be grouped into 8 and each group assigned a gorilla family to visit. Your driver guide will then take you to the starting point where you will meet the other members of your group and proceed to search for the gorilla family assigned to you.

This search will take between 4 to 5 hours and once you find the gorilla family, you will be allowed 1 hour with them then you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and return to the lodge.

Lunch will be served at the lodge on arrival then you can either spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge or you can opt for a visit to the gorilla guardian village where you will get a deep insight into the culture of Rwanda. Later in the evening, dinner will be served at the lodge before you can take your rest for the day.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Five Volcanoes Boutique Hotel

Day 10: Transfer to Kigali and departure

In the morning breakfast will be served at the lodge after which you will clean up and check out of the accommodation. You will then meet your driver guide and begin yet another scenic drive through the hilly landscape of Rwanda to the city of Kigali. Once in Kigali, you will stop by the Kimironko local market where you can purchase some local merchandise before the driver guide can drop you off at Kigali International Airport from where you will catch your flight to the next destination.

Trip inclusions

  • -4×4 safari vehicle
  • -Fuel
  • -An experienced driver guide
  • -Accommodation
  • -Kilimanjaro hike
  • -Meals
  • -Gorilla permit
  • -All activities mentioned
  • -Bottled water

Trip exclusions

  • -International flights and Visas
  • -Laundry
  • -Hiking gears
  • -Extra activities
  • -Drinks
  • -Cigarettes