Combining climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda makes for an epic East African adventure that blends high-altitude challenge with rare wildlife encounters.

Here an itinerary for you:

 

MACHAME ROUTE

The Machame Route remains one of the most popular routes on Mount Kilimanjaro, and with beautiful pathways leading through equatorial jungles, alpine deserts, and glacial valleys, it is the perfect choice for those who want to experience the many eco-systems that Africa’s highest mountain has to offer.

 

While it is possible to climb the Machame Route over six days, we strongly recommend the seven-day option to allow for acclimatisation. During your summit, you’ll be overnight at Machame, Shira, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu, and Mweka Camps, and enjoy a mix of gradual inclines, demanding trails, and moon-like landscapes. The views along the Machame Route are simply spectacular and worth the journey alone. Every day brings something new, while every step brings you closer to your goal.

 

All Kilimanjaro Company Expeditions include pre-and-post climb accommodation and airport transfers. The only extras you need to budget for are dinner/drinks at the hotel in Moshi and tips for your mountain crew. You'll find further information about this in our Kilimanjaro Essential Information Booklet below.

 

MACHAME ROUTE ITINERARY DAY 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO

At Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After checking in to your hotel, you will have a few hours to relax before meeting with your guide for a briefing.

Overnight: Kibo View Farm on a full-board basis

Meals Included: None

 

DAY 2: MOSHI – MACHAME GATE- MACHAME CAMP

After breakfast at the hotel, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the Machame Gate, where you will begin your expedition to the Roof of Africa. After completing registration and collecting your snack pack, you will begin your ascent through the equatorial rainforest to Machame Camp. Lunch will be served on the route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Machame Gate to Machame Camp Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft Elevation (m): 1,645m to 2,865m Distance: 11 km / 6.8 miles

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Equatorial Rainforest

Overnight: Camping Machame Camp Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP

Your day will start with a bowl of warm water for washing. Afterwards, you will pack up your sleeping bag and head to the mess tent for a delicious hot breakfast. After refreshing your daypack with freshly filtered water, snacks, and essential kit such as your hat, raingear, and camera, you will head off on the relatively steep Shira trail towards Shira Camp. Today is a demanding day, but one that holds untold rewards in terms of scenery. On a clear day, you’ll catch your first glimpse of Uhuru Peak. Lunch will be served on the route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Machame Camp to Shira Camp Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft Elevation (m): 2,865m to 3,810m Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Moorland

Hiking Time: Approximately 5- 6 hours Overnight: Camping Shira Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP

You may have heard the phrase ‘climb high and sleep low’ and today you will do exactly that. An important day for acclimatisation, you will hike from Shira Camp to the impressive formation of Lava Tower at 15,000ft or 4,572m, before descending to Barranco Camp at 13,000ft or 3,965m, through a magnificent canyon. The giant lobelia on this part of the route is thought to be hundreds of years old, and well worth a photo stop. Lunch will be served on the route.

DAILY INFORMATION

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft

Elevation (m): 3,810m to 3,965m Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Semi Desert

Overnight: Camping Barranco Camp Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP

The Barranco Wall instils fear in many climbers, but it is not as bad as it looks. After a hot breakfast in the mess tent, you’ll be ready to tackle this imposing wall of rock, which takes approximately two hours to mount. At the top, you’ll be treated to spectacular vistas, before making your way across the glacial valleys to Karanga Camp. With an elevation gain of just 100ft or 30m, today is another important day for acclimatisation. Lunch will be served on the route or in camp.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft Elevation (m): 3,965m to 3,995m Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Karanga Camp Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 6: KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP

After breakfast today, you’ll make your final push for Barafu Base Camp at 15,300ft or 4,665m above sea level. While the trek to camp is steep in some parts, you’ll arrive just after midday, and after lunch, you will have plenty of time to rest and prepare for the summit night ahead.

Dinner will be served early today, before you head to your tent for some much-needed R&R. At midnight, your journey to Uhuru Peak will begin.

DAILY INFORMATION

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft Elevation (m): 3,995m to 4,665m Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Barafu Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 7: BARAFU CAMP- SUMMIT – MWEKA CAMP

The day you have been planning for and dreaming about has finally arrived. At midnight, you will enjoy a warm drink before departing base camp for Stella Point, your first port of call on the way to Uhuru Peak. It’s going to be along and demanding night, but your goal lies just 6 – 7 hours away, so take things steady, follow the instructions of your guide, and slowly but surely, you will reach 19,345ft or 5,895m – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro!

After taking those photos that you will cherish for a lifetime, you will make your descent back to Barafu Camp for lunch. After a short rest, you’ll descend further to Mweka Camp, where you will spend your last night on the mountain.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft) Elevation (m): 4,665m to 5,895m (and down to 3,050m) Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles ascent / 12 km / 7.5 miles descent Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent Overnight: Camping Mweka Camp

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 8: MWEKA CAMP- MOSHI

Enjoy a final mountainside breakfast before descending to Mweka Gate, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy some quality time with your guides, chefs, and porters, and give them their well-deserved tips. After collecting your certificate, you will transfer to your hotel in Moshi for a much-needed shower and ice-cold Kilimanjaro beer. DAILY INFORMATION

Mweka Camp to Moshi Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft

Elevation (m): 3,050m to 1,645m Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Equatorial Rainforest

Overnight: Kibo View Farm on a full-board basis

 

DAY 9: MOSHI

Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your afternoon flight to Kigali.

DEPART JRO 15:30 – ARRIVE KIGALI 17:55

In Kigali, your driver will wait for you.

Overnight: Governors Residence Triple Deluxe (or similar)

Meals Included: Breakfast

 

DAY 10: KIGALI – LAKE MUTANDA

After breakfast today, you will visit the Genocide Museum and enjoy a Kigali City Tour before heading to the border, where you will cross from Rwanda to Uganda. After completing the necessary immigration documents, you will continue to lodge on the banks of Lake Mutanda.

Overnight: Chameleon Hill

Meals Included: Full board

 

DAY 11: GORILLA TREKKING BWINDI IMPENETRABLE NATIONAL PARK

Tracking endangered Mountain Gorillas remains one of the undisputed highlights of any visit to Africa. Meeting these gentle giants deep in the bamboo and rainforest can only be described as an emotionally overwhelming and awe-inspiring experience, and today, you get to do just that!

After breakfast, you’ll depart for the National Park, where you’ll meet your guide and begin your once-in-a-lifetime experience trekking through the rainforest in search of the world’s last remaining mountain gorillas. Afterwards, you’ll return to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Overnight: Chameleon Hill

Meals Included: Full board

 

DAY 12: DEPARTURE

After a final breakfast overlooking Lake Mutanda, your driver will collect you and transfer you back to Kigali Airport for your return flight home. ***End of Services***

 

TOUR PRICE: from £4,330.00 GBP per person

 

INCLUDED

 

Mount Kilimanjaro Portion:

·         2-nights hotel accommodation at the Kibo View Farm on a full-board basis

·         All Airport Transfers in Tanzania

·         Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro National Park

·         All climbing permits and National Park Entry Fees

·         4 seasons mountain tents

·         Double-layered mattresses

·         All essential camping equipment (except sleeping bags for hygiene reasons)

·         A complete team of Tanzanian Mountain Guides, Cooks and Porters

·         KPAP approved salaries for mountain crew

·         Breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the mountain including tea, coffee, and hot chocolate

·         Katadyn filtered water throughout the trek

·         Safety Equipment such as hyperbaric chamber / oxygen bottles

·         Supplemental summit oxygen and pulse oximeter

·         Portage of two bags (max weight 15 kilos) per person

·         Luggage storage at hotel in Moshi

·         International flight from Kilimanjaro Airport to Kigali

 

Mountain Gorilla Portion:

·         1 night Governors Residence on bed & breakfast

·         Kigali Airport pick up to Governors Residence

·         2 nights Chameleon Hill on full-board

·         Genocide and city tour in Kigali

·         Return transfer Kigali to Chameleon Hill

·         1 Gorilla permit per person

·         Transfer return tracking in Bwindi National Park (Rushaga gate)

 

NOT INCLUDED

 

·         International flights to Kilimanjaro / from Kigali

·         Visas for Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda

·         Obligatory Travel / Medical Insurance: Your insurance should cover you for trekking up to 6,000 meters – without                                        ropes/crampons. Emergency mountain rescue is included in your climb, but your own medical insurance must cover all medical,            transport, accommodation, and repatriation costs once you reach the base of the mountain.

·         Evacuation transport and hotel accommodation is not included for non-emergency reasons (i.e., should you decide you do not                wish to continue with the climb, or you feel too ill to continue).

·         Tips for Mountain Guides and Porters

·         Tips for Safari Guides and Drivers

·         Clothing and personal trekking equipment / sleeping bag / inflatable mattress

·         Meals and drinks at the hotel in Moshi (other than breakfast)

·         Personal items such as, but not limited to, excess/overweight baggage, telephone and internet charges, laundry, optional                          excursions and activities, medical expenses, and anything else not listed as included above.