This 10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla safari brings you to the highest peak of the tallest mountain in Africa standing at 5895m above sea level. Mountain Kilimanjaro is the longest single-standing mountain in the world. Although there are 6 routes for hiking the mountain Kilimanjaro, which are; the Shira (Londorossi) route, Lemosho route, Machame route, Umbwe route, Maranggu route, and Rongai route.
All these routes come from different points at the foot of the mountain and meet the summit circuit. This 10-day Mount Kilimanjaro and gorilla safari will take you through the Machame route which is the easiest and busiest Kilimanjaro route to the highest peak Uhuru and the gorilla safari will take you to Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda, home of the mountain gorillas as well as the golden monkeys.
Experienced hikers can summit this mountain in 6 days though it is recommended that your time for this trek is 7 days as this extra day contributes largely to the success of the hike. Once you return to the foot of the mountain after successfully summiting it, you will be awarded a certificate for successfully summiting Kilimanjaro.
Itinerary overview-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
Day 1: Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro
Day 2: Marangu gate to Mandara Hut
Third day: Mandara Hut to Horrombo Hut
Day 4: Horrombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Day 5: Kibo Hut to summit to Horrombo Hut
Sixth day: Horrombo Hut to Marangu
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park
nineth day: Gorilla trekking
Day 10: Departure
Detailed Itinerary-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
Day 1: Pick up from Arusha and transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro
Gorilla at Volcanoes National Park
A knowledgeable English-speaking driver guide will pick you up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer you to your hotel near Mount Kilimanjaro where you will rest for the night as you await the hike. Later in the evening, you will gather for a pre-hiking briefing after which you will be provided with the camping equipment. You will return to your hotel in the evening for dinner and then take your rest for the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort
Day 2: Marangu gate to Mandara Hut(2700m)
The hotel will provide you with breakfast, and a packed lunch, then the driver guide will pick you up and drop you off at the Marangu park gate for a briefing before you enter the park. This hike will begin with a walk through the tropical rainforests and end with your arrival at the Mandara Hut. This hike will take between 5-6 hours. At the Mandara hut, you will have dinner and a night’s rest.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Mandara Hut
Day 3: Mandara Hut to Horrombo Hut(3720m)
You will have a nourishing breakfast in the morning and with a packed lunch you will begin this 4–6-hour steep hike ascending through the forest as it gives way to the clear weather of the moorland where you will have a great view of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Arrival at the Horrombo will be in the afternoon where you will enjoy relaxation and magnificent views. In the evening, dinner will be provided before you take your rest for the day.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Horrombo Hut
Day 4: Horrombo Hut to Kibo Hut (4700m)
After breakfast, you will continue with the hike ascending the mountain gradually towards the lunar desert of the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. This will take between 6-7 hours and wind up at the Kibo Hut. You will then enjoy the rest of the day relaxing in preparation for the final ascent and summiting of the mountain. At this point, you will have dinner and a short rest before proceeding with the hike.
Meal plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Kibo Hut
Day 5: Kibo Hut to summit then return to Horrombo Hut
Arise before midnight and start a steep climb over loose volcanic slopes. This will be a slow and steady hike that takes you to Gillman’s crater. Upon arrival at this spot, you will rest for a few minutes to enjoy the beautiful sunrise over Mawenzi.
In case you are still feeling enthusiastic, you can take the 3-hour round trip from here along the crater rim of Uhuru, which is the highest peak of the Kilimanjaro Mountain hence the highest peak in Africa. After a while at the peak, you will descend to Kibo Hut where you will stop for some refreshment before continuing to the Horrombo Hut where you will spend the night. This will take you between 13-15 hours of walking.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Horrombo Hut
Day 6: Horrombo Hut to Marangu-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
After breakfast, you will pick up a packed lunch and then proceed on your hike down the mountain past Mandara to Marangu. Here, successful climbers will receive summit certificates. At the foot of the mountain, you will meet your driver guide who will take you back to the hotel. Later in the evening, dinner will be provided at the hotel, and then you will enjoy your rest for the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Kilimanjaro Mountain Resort
Day 7: Transfer to Kigali-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
After a restful night, you will be provided with a nutritious breakfast after which you will check out of the lodge and then with your driver guide embark on a scenic drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will catch your flight to Kigali. Upon arrival in Kigali, your destination driver guide will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel where you will spend the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Five to Five Hotel
Day 8: Transfer to Volcanoes National Park-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
The hotel will provide you with breakfast in the morning. After this, you will head out for a short city tour of Kigali during which you will visit the Kigali genocide museum and the local Kimironko market. There will be a lunch stop at one of the local restaurants in Kigali after which you will proceed to Kingi as you enjoy the beautiful landscape view en route. Upon arrival, you will check into your lodge, have dinner, and then take your rest for the night.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Da Vinci Gorilla Lodge
Day 9: Gorilla trekking-10 days Kilimanjaro & Gorilla
Breakfast will be provided as early as 6:00 am such that by 6:45 am you are at the park headquarters ready for briefing. Once at the park headquarters, you will be welcomed with a cup of locally manufactured Rwanda coffee and as the briefing goes on, the driver guide will choose for you your gorilla family depending on your needs.
After briefing, your driver guide will drop you off at the starting point where the trekking will begin. In your group of 8 and with your ranger guide, you will penetrate the forest in search of the gorilla family assigned to you. This will take you between 4-8 hours and once you find them you will be allowed 1 hour of observing them.
After this, you will return to the starting point where you will meet the driver guide and return to your lodge for an evening of relaxation and dinner.
Meal plan: Breakfast, lunch, and Dinner
Day 10: Departure
After a proper night’s rest, a delicious breakfast will be provided after which you will check out of the lodge and embark on your journey to Kigali where you will take your flight to your next destination.
Inclusions
Ground Transportation
Accommodation
Meals
Hiking equipment
Gorilla permit
All activities mentioned
Bottled water
Exclusions
Laundry
Tips
Extra activities
Cigarettes and drinks
Visas and International flights
