This 10 Days Rwanda Gorillas & Kilimanjaro Hike features 6 days hiking the highest point on the African continent, Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and 4 days in the beautiful hilly Rwanda for a memorable gorilla trekking experience in Volcanoes National Park.
Rwanda Gorillas & Kilimanjaro Hike Highlights
- Day 1: Arusha to Machame Gate – Machame Camp
- Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp
- Day 3: Shira Camp – (Lava Tower) – Barranco Camp
- Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp
- Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Mweka Camp
- Day 6: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate – Arusha / Moshi
- Day 7: Transfer to Kilimanjaro JRO Airport – Flight to Kigali, Rwanda
- Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
- Day 9: Exit to Kigali
- Day 10: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Machame Gate – Machame Camp
Your drive will pick you up from your hotel and drive to Machame Village. Here you will receive your packed lunch and also buy some mineral water. Depart the village for the Machame Gate and venture through the local villages and farms. Upon arrival, head to the park offices for registration, after which you will start your ascent to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
Machame route is quit scenic, so take time to enjoy the vegetation and views around you. The road gets muddy and slippery, so trekking poles are a necessity. You will have a short break to relax and enjoy your lunch. Thereafter, proceed to the Machame camp. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day 2: Machame Camp – Shira Camp
Wake up to a cold morning on the mountain. After breakfast, you will leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path up to a steep, rocky ridge with stunning views. The vegetation transforms as the altitude increases – the trees begin to shrink into the infamous high altitude plants of the Kilimanjaro, the Lobelia Deckenii and the Scenecio Kilimanjari, begin to emerge.
You will have a short break to have your lunch just below the Shira Plateau. Then continue your ascent to reach the Shira Plateau which provides rewarding views of the mountain and Kibo glaciers. In a few hours, you will be at the Shira Camp. Dinner and overnight stay at the camp.
Day 3: Shira Camp – (Lava Tower) – Barranco Camp
Wake up to beautiful views of the Shira plateau. Continue your ascent to the East. This is a vital day for acclimatization so it is important to try to keep up. You will begin by hiking east on the expansive Shira Plateau. Your first milestone is the junction for the Shira and Lemosho Routes. If you are a faster hiker you can take an advantageous detour to the Lava Tower.
Stop for your lunch and a little rest after which you will descend gradually to Barranco camp. Passing through different vegetation zones, you will finally reach the beautiful Barranco Camp. The camp is set in a valley close to the Great Barranco Wall. Dinner and overnight at the camp.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barafu Camp
Wake up to the sight of the great Barranco Wall, your first obstacle for today. Have your breakfast and make your way up this steep but doable climb. Once you reach the top, in about 1-2 hours, you will descend sharply into the greener territories of the Karanga Valley. One more climb and you are at Karanga camp, stop for lunch and a mini break before you continue to Barafu “ice” camp.
Now at Barafu camp, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. You will make the final ascent this same night. Prepare your gear for the final ascent. Early dinner and early to bed to get enough rest. Dinner and overnight at the Barafu Camp.
Day 5: Barafu camp – Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Mweka Camp
Early wakeup call at around 23:30hrs or midnight and after some hot tea and biscuits you set off into the night in a North-West direction and ascend through heavy scree towards the Stella Point. Have a very short stop at this point and then ascend to the very summit, Uhuru Peak 5,895 m (19,341 ft.). Normally encountering snow all the way.
Once at Uhuru Peak, the time spent at the summit depends on the weather conditions. Enjoy your greatest accomplishment in these 6 days. Time to descend the Kilimanjaro. Descend straight to Mweka Camp with a lunch break and a brief rest stop at Barafu Camp. Pack your gears and other property and set off to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 6: Mweka camp – Mweka Gate – Arusha / Moshi
Final day at the mountain. After your breakfast, you will continue your descent to the Mweka Park Gate. At the gate you will sign and receive your summit certificate and then our company representative will drive you to Mweka Village for lunch and after drive you to your hotel in Arusha / Moshi for more celebrations, well-deserved showers, mouthwatering meals and ample rest. Dinner and overnight stay at your hotel.
Day 7: Transfer to Kilimanjaro JRO Airport – Flight to Kigali, Rwanda
No need to wake up so early today, you deserve an extra hour of sleep after conquering the nighty Kilimanjaro Mountain. After your breakfast, your driver will pick you up and drive you to the JRO airport in Kilimanjaro to catch your flight to Rwanda, the land of a thousand hills. You can stop for some shopping of any essentials you might need then continue to the airport.
You will be welcomed by your driver / guide at the airport in Kigali, who will later drive you to Volcanoes National Park to check in at your hotel / lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Gorilla Trekking in Volcanoes National Park
After breakfast, drive to the park’s head offices for a briefing on gorilla trekking and allocation of a gorilla family group, after which you will embark on the trek. You will be accompanied by ranger guides allocated to your group as you enter the forest to track down the mountain gorillas of Volcanoes National Park.
On finally finding the gorillas, you will be allowed an hour of close encounter with them, standing at the recommended distance as you take photos and learn about their behaviors. Retreat back to the start point, where you will be handed your trekking certificates and after drive back to your hotel for lunch and relaxation. Later in the evening, you will visit Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village for a community and cultural experience. Time permitting.
Day 9: Exit to Kigali
Check out after your breakfast and prepare for your road trip to Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda for a beautiful city tour. Visit the Kigali Genocide Memorial Center, a place of remembrance and historical learning, museums and art centers. Drive to your hotel for check in and have your lunch. Spend the rest of the day at leisure enjoy the hotels available amenities.
Day 10: Departure
Wake up early in the morning, have your breakfast, go do some final souvenir shopping and after your drive will drop you at the airport for your flight back home.
