10-Day Uganda Gorilla Trek & Kilimanjaro Hike

Detailed Uganda Gorilla Trekking & Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Hotel Pick Up and Transfer to the Base of Mount Kilimanjaro, Then Hike to Machame Camp

Start with an early morning pick up from Moshi or Arusha town, then drive to Machame Gate at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. On arrival, register, meet your hiking team, and hire porters if needed. Begin your ascent through different plant zones, with primates and birds along the way.

After 5 to 6 hours of climbing, reach Machame Camp at about 3,000 meters, your first stop for the night, with meals and overnight stay.

Day 2: Transfer from Machame Camp to Shira Camp

After breakfast at Machame Camp, continue the hike through rainforest to Shira Camp, your second stop. Arrive in the afternoon, giving you time to rest and take in views of the glacier on the Kibo cone from the Shira Plateau.

Day 3: Hike to Barranco Camp

After breakfast, hike from Shira Camp through sandy terrain and semi-glacier sections to Barranco Camp. This day includes the Lava Tower at 4,640 meters, the most demanding part of the route, where you may notice faster breathing.

Continue another 700 meters from the Lava Tower to 4,500 meters, where you set up camp at Barranco for dinner and overnight stay, often considered the most scenic camp on the mountain.

Day 4: Continue with Hike to Barafu Camp

This day brings one of the toughest sections of the climb, the Barranco Wall, which involves some rock climbing. After this, continue to Karanga Valley for a lunch break, then hike another 2 to 3 hours to Barafu Camp for dinner and overnight camping.

Day 5: Proceed to Mweka Camp via Uhuru Peak

Wake by midnight to begin the hike in the dark, taking 5 to 7 hours to reach Stella Point before sunrise. From there, continue hiking for another 2 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro at 5,895 meters above sea level.

Descend to Barafu Camp for a hearty lunch, then continue to Mweka Camp for overnight camping and dinner.

Day 6: Descend to Mweka Gate and Drive to Arusha

After breakfast, descend to Mweka Gate, where you receive your completion certificate. Tip your hikers and porters, then take your safari vehicle back to Arusha or Moshi for rest, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 7: Flight to Kigali International Airport and Check In at a Hotel in Kigali City

Take a flight from Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport to Kigali International Airport, then transfer to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon, join a city excursion, then return to your hotel for dinner and overnight stay.

Day 8: Cross Over to Uganda and Drive to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, drive to the Cyanika or Katuna border points for immigration clearance, then continue to the northern or southern sector of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, a drive of about 4 to 5 hours. On arrival, check in at your lodge for lunch, relaxation, dinner, and overnight stay.

Day 9: Trekking the Mountain Gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

After breakfast, drive to the park offices for registration and a briefing on gorilla trekking. Join other trekkers and armed ranger guides for the walk through the forest to find your assigned gorilla group.

Spend an hour with the gorillas, then return to the trailhead for your trekking certificate. The whole process takes 2 to 7 hours, including your time with the gorillas. Return to the lodge for a late lunch, with an option to experience the culture of the Bakiga and Batwa people living near Bwindi, time permitting.

Day 10: Drive Back to Kigali City, Departure

Wake early for breakfast, then leave Bwindi Impenetrable National Park for Kigali City, crossing the border at Katuna or Cyanika. Drop off at your hotel or the airport, marking the end of your 10-day tour.

Book this 10-Day Uganda Gorilla Trek and Kilimanjaro Hike today and combine a summit climb with mountain gorilla encounters in Bwindi.