Overview.
During this 12 Days Kilimanjaro hike & Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari, explore these two countries, Uganda and Tanzania. Hike mount. Kilimanjaro to reach the highest peak in Africa at Uhuru and then fly to Uganda’s Bwindi national park to trek the endangered mountain gorillas in their natural environment.
The 12 Days Kilimanjaro hike & Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari also includes a visit to Lake Bunyonyi and taking a boat cruise to enable you to visit different islands including the famed Bwana Island, punishment island, Leprosy Island and other well-known islands. You’ll also engage in a short city tour within Kampala where you may spot local people vending local and fresh foods, historical worship centers, art galleries, museums and much more.
Detailed itinerary.
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania and transfer to a hotel in Moshi town.
Arrive in Tanzania using Kilimanjaro international airport and then your driver guide will pick you up, take you through the briefing session, and after head to Moshi or Arusha town where you will relax at your place of accommodation.
Day 2: Drive to Machame gate and hike to Machame camp.
Check out of the hotel and head to Machame gate, at this point, you will be able to sign in the park visitors’ book, acquire all the hiking gear that you might have missed out but important for use while on the hike, hire some potters and cooks, go through specific rules and regulations about the hike and much more.
The hike will start through the rainforest and the trail will lead you to Machame camp after covering a distance of 11km that will take about 5 to 7 hours hike.
Day 3: Hike from Machame Camp to Shira camp.
Leave Machame camp which stands at 3000m above sea level, within a montane forest and pass through the vast valleys leading to the rocky surface. The trails will be a bit tiresome since it is steeper here than the previous days. Proceed straight to the Shira camp, a distance of 9km taking about 4 to 6 hours hike.
Day 4: Climb to Barranco camp from Shira camp.
This is the most challenging day when you will be hiking to Barancco camp in the semi-desert environment. The hike will take about 6 to 7 hours covering a distance of 12km. Pass via the lava tower. Barranco is located in the beautiful valley which provides amazing views of the sunset and sunrise which are a great time for photography.
Day 5: Hike to Barafu camp.
Another challenging moment will begin after a cup of tea where you will be able to warm your body. Hike to Barafu – the freezing point; Barafu is a Swahili word which means ice. The trail will take you through Barancco wall and then past Katanga valley and this is a point where you will have lunch picnic break. Proceed to reach Barafu camp where you will spend a night.
Day 6: Hike to Uhuru peak and sleep at Mweka camp.
On this day, wake up as early as 00:00hours and begin your hike at around 01:00hours to reach the highest peak by morning. Enjoy the best of your day as the hike takes about 5 to 6 hours but the challenge becomes tough as you take a hike to the highest point in Africa and this will require more hours. Then you will descend back to Mweka camp where you will be able to spend a night.
Day 7: Descend to Mweka gate and drive to Moshi town.
Descend further to Mweka gate after morning breakfast. You will hand over all the hired pieces of equipment and then sign out. You will therefore transfer to Moshi town in the evening and enjoy an optional massage session at a nearby parlor. Check in your place of accommodation as you prepare to fly out the following day to the pearl of Africa for another great gorilla trekking adventure.
Day 8: Flight to Entebbe and take a short Kampala city tour.
Leave Tanzania on this day and head to another beautiful country, Uganda after breakfast by boarding a regional flight to Entebbe International Airport. On arrival, the tour representative will welcome you and take you through a briefing about the itinerary and the country at large.
You will be driven straight to Kampala and this will be followed by a short city tour where you will get to see different city-based attractions like the Uganda museum, Old Kampala / Gaddafi mosque, art galleries, local daily markets like Nakasero, Busega, Wandegeya and Kalerwe among others. Check-in at a hotel and be served dinner.
Day 9: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park.
Transfer to the home of almost half of the endangered mountain gorilla population, where you will be able to trek big apes the next morning. This park is also home to interesting biodiversity ranging from flora, birds and fauna, plus insects, butterflies among others.
The journey to this national park passes through different districts and each is amazing, like at Kayabwe, at a spot where the Uganda equator passes, coffee gardens and much more, in Mbarara, you get to see cattle farms, banana plantations and in Kanungu, you will enjoy the terraced landscaping in the beautiful hills. You will have enroute lunch in Mbarara but you will check in the lodge late evening since the journey can take 9 to 10 hours.
Day 10: Gorilla trekking experience.
This experience will begin from the park offices and starts with a briefing at the ranger station which is so important and it will grant you an opportunity for a smooth trek. The dos and don’ts will be well explained, including not making noise, no use of flashlight cameras, keeping a distance of about 8m to 10m from these apes, not littering the park premises, using proper dress code among others. Trekking will begin as you will be led by the park game ranger to start the search, the forest is impenetrable and you will long-sleeved shirt and trousers.
Trekking will take about 3 to 5 hours and this will depend on the location of a specific gorilla family trekked. An hour is granted where you will have amazing time while in the presence of these gorillas. After the experience, you will head to the lodge and relax.
Day 11: Transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.
Head to Lake Bunyonyi on this day where you will be able to explore the deepest lake in Uganda and the second deepest in Africa after Lake Tanganyika. Explore the beauty that is dotted within 29 islands.
You will thereafter head for a boat cruise to visit historical islands such as the punishment island, Leprosy Island, and many others. Relax at one of the booked resorts as you have a great view of the lake.
Day 12: Travel back to Kampala and departure.
Have an early morning breakfast at the resort and then depart to Kampala passing through Mbarara. You will have an early lunch at the equator which will be followed by a short photo break and after head to Kampala.
You will be dropped off at the airport in Entebbe and this will be the end of the 12 Days Kilimanjaro hike & Bwindi Gorilla Trekking Safari.
