12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda

These 12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda,  will take you from the highest peak of the tallest free standing mountain in Africa, Kilimanjaro Mountain where you will hike this mountain through the Machame route, also referred to as the Whiskey route on a 7-days’ hike to the Uhuru peak. It will also take you across the beautiful scenery in Uganda to the impenetrable forests of Bwindi renowned for having almost half the total population of the world’s most endangered species, the mountain gorillas.

While in Uganda, you will also come across the indigenous Batwa pygmies that live near the forests of Bwindi and learn about their way of life and take part in their daily activities such as making a fire using sticks.

Itinerary of 12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda 

  • Day 1: Transfer to 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 Uganda, Entebbe International Airport
  • Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park
  • Day 10: Gorilla trekking
  • Day 11: Nature walk and Batwa community experience
  • Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport and Departure

Detailed Itineraryv of 12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda 

Day 1: Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport

On the  first day  of 12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda , Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will meet a representative from our company who will drive you from the airport to your lodge in Kilimanjaro national park where you will spend the rest of the day relaxing and stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort

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

This morning, arise for an early morning breakfast at the lodge then your driver guide will pick you and transfer you to the Machame gate where you will register, meet your local guides, and porters and begin your 7 days Kilimanjaro mountain hike. Today’s hike will take you between 4 to 5 hours then you will be at the Machame camp where you will have dinner and stay the night. Carry with you a packed lunch and water from the hotel for this day.

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

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

Enjoy a morning breakfast at the camp then pick up a packed lunch for the day and continue on your second day of ascend. This will be a 4 or 5 hours hike to Shira camp through the savanna plains with a stopover for a picnic lunch en route.

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

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

Breakfast will be served in the morning and a packed lunch provided before you leave the Shira camp and proceed on a hike through the semi-glacier and sand areas to the Barranco camp. This hike will take you between 3 to 4 hours with a lunch stopover along the trail.  Dinner will be provided at the Barranco camp before you can take your day’s rest.

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

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

Wake up to breakfast at the camp after which you will pick up your lunch for the day and continue with your hike to the Barafu camp. This hike will take you between 4 to 5 hours. Since this is the final day of ascend, you will need an early rest so that you are able to arise before midnight for the final ascend to Uhuru peak.

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

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

On this day, you will wake up at midnight, have a light breakfast and begin your final hike to Uhuru peak. It will take you between 5 to 6 hours to reach the Stella point from where you will hike for about more 45 minutes then summit Uhuru peak. This hike starts early so as to enable summiting Uhuru before sunrise when the glacier starts melting.

From Uhuru, you will descend via Gilman’s point to Mweka camp for a short rest then continue down to the Mweka hut for the night.

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

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

After a morning breakfast at the Mweka hut, you will then proceed on your final descend down to the Mweka Gate where you will meet driver guide and drive to the hotel where you will stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort

Day 8: Transfer to Uganda, Entebbe International Airport

The hotel will provide you with breakfast early morning then your driver guide will pick you up and take you to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will catch your flight to Uganda. Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will meet your destination driver guide who will welcome you to Uganda, give you a short briefing about the destination, and then transfer you to your hotel in Entebbe where you will stay the night.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Entebbe Forest Lodge

Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

Early morning, the hotel will serve you a delicious breakfast after which you will check out of the lodge and with your driver guide embark on a long scenic drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National park in western Uganda. You will have a stopover in Mbarara for a lunch en route. On arrival in Bwindi, you will check into your lodge, freshen up and then settle down for dinner before taking your rest for the day.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  • Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Lodge

Day 10: Gorilla trekking

Today is the day for the ultimate gorilla experience. Wake up very early in the morning for breakfast at the lodge then pick up a packed lunch for the day. After you will head out and meet your driver guide who will take you to the park headquarters. On arrival at the park headquarters, you will be welcomed with a few minutes of cultural music entertainment then briefing will commence.

After briefing you will be grouped into 8, and each group assigned a gorilla family to visit. The driver guide will then drop you off at the starting point and in your group of 8 you will penetrate the forest in search of the gorilla family assigned to you.

This will take you between 4 to 6 hours and once you locate the gorillas you will be allowed 1hour of observing them. After this you will return to the starting point where you will meet your driver guide and drive back to the lodge. You will spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing at the lodge.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Lodge

Day 11: Nature walk and Batwa community experience

After a proper night’s rest, enjoy a nourishing breakfast at the lodge then you will head out with your driver guide for the Batwa community experience. The Batwa pygmies are an indigenous tribe that initially lived in the Impenetrable forests of Bwindi before they were pushed out due to gorilla conservation programs. On this visit, you will interact with the Batwa people, learn about their way of life and hear their life stories.

After this, you will return to the lodge for a hot lunch. After lunch, you can opt to either spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing at the lodge or embark on a nature walk through one of the trails in Bwindi National Park. Dinner will be served in the evening at the lodge upon your return.

  • Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
  • Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Lodge

Day 12: Transfer to Entebbe International Airport and Departure

On the  last  Day  of 12 Days Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and  Gorilla Trekking in Uganda, In the morning, the lodge will provide you with breakfast then after this you freshen up, check out and embark on yet another scenic drive back to Entebbe International Airport with a lunch stopover en route in Masaka. Once in Kampala, the driver guide will drop you off at Entebbe International Airport where you will catch your flight to the next destination.

Trip inclusions

  • -Fuel
  • -4×4 safari vehicle
  • -Professional English speaking driver guide
  • -Accommodation
  • -Meals
  • -Mount Kilimanjaro hike
  • -Gorilla permit
  • -Drinks

Trip exclusions

  • -Flights and Visas
  • -Laundry
  • -Extra activities
  • -Hiking gears
  • -Drink
  • -Cigarettes