Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Arusha, Tanzania
Arrive in Arusha at the Airport where you are welcomed by a driver guide who welcomes you and takes you through a meet and greet session. After the session, he shall transfer you to the hotel for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Home Villa Arusha.
Day 2: Arusha to Kilimanjaro National Park
Breakfast in the morning then transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro National Park for 1 to 2 hours with en-route views of the green terrain, bird species. After a while you shall reach the park at Marangu Gate where you are welcomed and briefed about the hike to the highest point in Africa (Uhuru Peak). After the briefing session, preparing your gear and getting ready for the summit, you shall transfer back to your hotel/ lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Home Villa Arusha.
Day 3: Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
Have breakfast in the morning then transfer for a distance of 8 kms in 4 to 5 hours from the Marangu Gate situated South East of Mountain Kilimanjaro elevating at 1,800 meters (5,906 feet). After clearing with required registration, you shall transfer to the rainforest zone via a steady uphill through dense verdant rainforest watching colobus monkeys, many bird species and other wildlife animals. On your hike, you shall briefly stop at the Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters where you have Dinner and Overnight.
Day 4: Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
Today, have breakfast then embark on distance of 12 kms for a period of 6 to 7 hours through moorland zone. On your way, the terrain landscape changes from dense rainforest to open heath and moorland.
On your hike, the trail becomes steeper and challenging to conquer due to increasing altitude. You view the surrounding valleys as well as the summit at a distance till you reach Horombo Hut at 3,720 meters for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 5: Acclimatization Day at Horombo Hut
Early morning breakfast then take a day to acclimatize before continuing on hike upwards. On your rest day, you have the option to embark on optional hike to the Zebra Rocks that are unique and exceptional to explore and a re located 3 to 4 hours off the Horormbo Hut. This rest day gives you a chance to adjust your body as you prepare for the day of the summit. While here, enjoy views of the Mawenzi Peak (second highest peak along Mountain Kilimanjaro).
Day 6: Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
Breakfast then embark on a distance of 10 kms and 5 to 6 hours into the alpine desert zone. You shall continue on hike through baren terrain with less plants and animals. Along this trek, the hikers get affected by the altitude. Follow the rocky and dry trail as you experience colder temperatures with thinner air on a challenging ascent till you reach the Kibo Hut situated at 4,700 meters where you spend the night and rest before the summit push. Dinner and Overnight at Kibo Hut.
Day 7: Kibo Hut to Summit (Uhuru Peak) and Descend to Horombo Hut
This is the most challenging and rewarding day of your Kilimanjaro climb. You will leave Kibo Hut around midnight, make your way to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa, and then descend back to Horombo Hut. The trek will take approximately 11-14 hours in total, so proper preparation, mental strength, and a steady pace are crucial.
Midnight – Departure from Kibo Hut (4,700m)
The day starts early around midnight then take light breakfast of tea, porridge and snacks then with adequate gear, headlamp, water bottle, snacks. You will start on ascent along Kibo Crater Rim via a winding, steep path across loose scree and rocky terrain. As you gain altitude, breathing gets more challenging to the Gilman's Point as the trail becomes icy.
You should prepare to use crampons if the condition requires it. Getting to Gilman's point, you shall hike for 5 to 7 hours reaching at about 5:30 AM to 7:00 AM depending on pace and breaks/ stops. While here if the weather is clear, you shall have beautiful views of the surrounding glaciers, crater and the peaks of Kilimanjaro. While here, take a short rest, hydrate, and enjoy the stunning sunrise as you continue the trek to Uhuru Peak. The next section of the trek is less steep but still very demanding.
At 6:00 AM, continue on ascent from Gilman’s Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Follow the crater rim towards Uhuru Peak. Proceed on a gradual ascent across the rocky path witnessing the sunrise on a hike for 1 to 2 hours. Upon arrival at the Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meter, you shall celebrate your sense of accomplishment as you stand at the roof of Africa. Take many photos to keep with you the later embark on descent back to Horombo Hut via steep, rocky terrain.
Descend from Gilman’s Point to Kibo Hut and after reaching here, have some snacks and break then continue to Horombo Hut for a period of approximately 5 to 7 hours. You shall reach Horombo Hut in the late afternoon then relax, congratulate yourselves then you shall spend the night at Horombo Hut. Get plenty of sleep to prepare for the final descent to Marangu Gate the following day.
Day 8: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
Today have breakfast then transfer from Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate for a distance of 20 kms for a period of 5 to 6 hours through moorland and rainforest zones. You shall leave from here to Marangu Gate where you receive your certificate for summiting Kilimanjaro. After obtaining these, transfer to Arusha to check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Home Villa Arusha.
Day 8: Flight from Kilimanjaro to Entebbe, Uganda
Breakfast in the morning then embark on journey to the Kilimanjaro International Airport where you board a flight to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. The flight takes a period of 2 hours and on arriving here, our driver guide transfers you to check-in hotel. lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Protea Hotel Entebbe.
Day 9: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park
Early morning breakfast then with your belongings embark on transfer to the vast Kibale Forest National Park known for chimpanzee trekking adventures.
You transfer for a period of 7 hours with scenic views, lunch en-route till you reach the park. Pass via the headquarters for registration and after continue to check-in lodge for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Primates Lodge Kibale.
Day 10: Chimpanzee Trekking in Kibale Forest National Park
Early morning delicious breakfast then transfer to the headquarters for short briefing on conduct around the chimpanzees. On reaching here, you are welcomed by the park rangers who later take you through precise briefing on conduct around the Chimpanzees then later, he shall locate you in groups of 8 with lead park guides who take you to the starting points where you leave from to enter the green forest.
Access the forest following varying tracks from one point to another for a period of 2 to 4 hours depending where the chimpanzees are. After a while following the trails, you shall meet the chimpanzees and in an hour take many photos to keep. After trekking the chimpanzees, you shall transfer back to the headquarters for your certificate then later to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Primates lodge Kibale.
Day 11: Transfer to Queen Elizabeth National Park
After breakfast in the morning embark on transfer to the prominent Queen Elizabeth National Park. You shall transfer for a period of 3 to 4 hours with en-route views of the green terrain, bird species as well as lunch. You shall reach the park in the afternoon then go straight to the Kazinga Channel to enjoy an afternoon boat cruise.
The cruise takes a period of 2 to 3 hours as you get off land. You shall watch Hippos, crocodiles beneath the waters as well as other wildlife animals along the shores breaking thirst. After the boat cruise, return to the shores then to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Bush Lodge.
Day 12: Watch Tree Climbing Lions on Game Drive in Queen Elizabeth
Early morning breakfast then proceed to the park for a game drive in the park's Ishasha sector where you watch the tree climbing lions. As you traverse from one fig tree branch to another, view the tree climbing lions relaxed in the branches. Take many photos to keep about this adventure then continue on Game Drive watching other animals like elephants, antelope, etc. After the Game Drive in the late evening, you shall return to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Ishasha Jungle lodge.
Day 13: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Breakfast in the morning then with your luggage embark on an en-route Game Drive watching wildlife animals wander around their natural vegetation habitat. You then continue on journey to the vast stunning Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in the South West of Uganda and prominently known to offer amazing Gorilla Trekking Safaris to all travelers.
The journey takes a period of 5 to 6 hours with scenic views en-route as well as lunch. After a while, you reach the park and check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Buhoma lodge.
Day 14: Gorilla Trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
Early Morning breakfast then get picked up by a driver at 6:30 am to transfer you to the park headquarters. Here, you meet the other trekkers, rangers and your trekking guide as well as go through orientation and briefing about the rules of the trek, safety guidelines and what to expect. You shall later be assigned to specific Gorilla families to ensure a manageable group size that is led by an experienced ranger-guide and additional trackers who have spent time monitoring the Gorilla families.
You are allocated into groups of 8 to go trek the Gorillas with guides who give you a short introduction to the forest terrain, flora and fauna in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park. The trek is physically challenging, as you follow through dense forest with steep, muddy and slippery paths. Depending on where the Gorillas are, the trek takes you a period of 2 to 6 hours. Sometimes, the gorillas are close to the trailheads, but in other cases, you may need to hike deep into the forest to find them.
The trackers have been following the gorilla groups for several hours before your trek begins, so they will have a sense of where the gorillas are. They often use signals such as broken branches, gathered nests, or footprints to help navigate the dense jungle. You shall follow the information they give you then after a while, you get to meet the Gorillas and stay in their presence for an hour. Take many photos to keep with a camera that has no flash then later proceed to lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Buhoma lodge.
Day 15: Bwindi to Lake Bunyonyi
Breakfast in the morning then transfer from Bwindi Forest National Park to Lake Bunyonyi. The journey takes you a period of 3 to 4 hours with en-route views of green terrain, bird species. After a while, you reach the Lake and engage in various safari activities like canoeing, boat cruises, bird watching etc. After the adventures, transfer to check-in lodge for Dinner and Overnight. Bunyonyi Overland Resort.
Day 16: Lake Bunyonyi to Entebbe
Morning breakfast then with luggage embark on transfer to Kampala or Entebbe a journey that takes you a period of 8 hours. On arrival here, check-in lodge/ hotel for relaxation, Dinner and Overnight. Cassia Lodge Buziga.
Day 17: Departure from Entebbe
Breakfast in the morning then depart from your lodge / hotel to Entebbe International Airport to board your flight back home.
