24 Days Ultimate East Africa Adventure – Gorilla Trekking, Mount Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania

Day 1: Arrival in Uganda

Arrive at Entebbe International in Kampala Uganda where our operations Manager will meet you outside the arrival hall and usher you into a waiting transfer car that is private for you. You will be transferred to a hotel in Kampala, where you will check in. Overnight at the Lodge.

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 2 Friend Beach Hotel Entebbe

Day 2: Transfer to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park and Batwa Community Trail

After your breakfast at 2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe, you will be met by your Guide who will give a short brief to you. This is a long day drive of approximately 7 hours with a lunch stopover en route. Though long, the drive takes you through different features including tropical rain forests, savannah fields, and the terraced hills of Kigezi famously known as the Switzerland of East Africa. Upon arrival in Bwindi, we shall check in at the lodge and proceed to the Batwa community for the cultural adventure about these forest pygmies. You will spend the rest of the day at leisure as you wait for the next day’s adventure.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Gorilla Mist Camp

Day 3: Gorilla Trekking and transfer to Lake Bunyonyi for Canoe Ride

After an early morning breakfast, head for a briefing where we meet the excellent local guides and trackers who give a talk on the etiquette of gorilla trekking. We then hike into the forest to a spot where gorillas were seen the previous night and track from there. Trekking may take anything between 1 to 6 hours depending on the location of the family and altitudes which is in excess of 7500 feet. The terrain is rough and muddy calling for physical fitness. Although the hike is physically demanding, the beauty of the forest and surrounding scenery make the

trekking worthwhile. It is recommended that you take plenty of water with you on the trek. Cameras and plenty of fast-speed films are recommended. Being a tropical rain forest, it may rain at no notice, hence need to bring with you waterproof clothing, including zip-lock bags for cameras and film. Others to come with include; strong hiking/walking shoes, long pants, gloves, and a raincoat. Later transfer to Lake Bunyonyi.

Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.

Accommodation: Itambira Island Resort

Day 4: Relaxation at the Island / Tour Lake Bunyonyi

Wake up and take your breakfast as you prepare for a day full of fun. The first thing to do is enjoy the beautiful sounds of birds in the morning. There’s an amazing collection of birds including the African harrier, egrets, grey-crowned cranes, hawks, herons, and the white-tailed blue monad among many others. Afterward, we can proceed for optional activities like boat rides or canoeing or Tour of Lake Bunyonyi. If you decide to go for optional activities, you will be taken to visit the beautiful islands where you will get even better views of the lake, surrounding areas, rolling hills, and terraces. Most of the islands are named after the dominant bird species there. One particular island is known as the punishment island. The Bakiga tribe living in the area once had a cruel culture of abandoning all girls who got pregnant before marriage on this particular island. They were left there to die since most couldn’t swim. Most of the girls were eventually rescued by the men who had impregnated them or bachelors who couldn’t pay the bride price required by parents of virgins.

Meal Plan: Breakfast Lunch and Dinner.

Accommodation: Itambira Island Resort

Day 5: Transfer to Kampala via Equator line

After breakfast, start on the long drive back to Entebbe / Kampala with the memory of the great rare mountain Apes. Lunch en route and a stopover at the equator line for experimentation, arriving late in the evening to be dropped at Entebbe International Airport at approximately 6 pm hence you have to book an evening flight! to Nairobi on arrival at Nairobi Airport you will meet our representative who will take you to your hotel for

Meal Plan: Breakfast | Lunch

Accommodation: Trade Mark Hotel

Day 6: Nairobi – Nanyuki – Old Moses camp (Judimier)

Assemble in Nairobi CBD for departure at 7:00 am. We drive to Nanyuki where we shall meet our mountain crew. Stop check for supplies and proceed to Sirimon gate 2600m for registration and payment of park fees. Picnic lunch will be served here. We shall hike for 9km through the tropical rain forest, bamboo belt, and haegenia rosewood to the open moorland to reach our camp Old Moses camp 3300m a.s.l. Dinner and accommodation in the bunkhouse.

Meals: Dinner | Lunch | Breakfast

Accommodation: Old Moses Camp

Day 7: Old Moses camp – Shipton’s camp via Mackinder’s valley

After breakfast, we hike 13km through Mackinder`s valley to Shipton`s camp 4,300m a.s.l. This takes roughly 6-7 hours through rivers and ridges. We pass the new metrological station for eastern Africa. On a clear day, the main peaks can be seen clearly. Lunch is served en route. Dinner and overnight in the bunk house.

Meals: Dinner | Lunch | Breakfast

Accommodation: Shipton Camp

Day 8: Shipton’s camp – Point Lenana – Mackinder’s camp

Wake up at 2:00 am for some hot snacks before the ascent to our main target point Lenana 4985m a.s.l. for sunrise. On a clear day, Kilimanjaro at 320km can be sighted. The panoramic view is unforgettable and this will be recorded by our cameras. We descend to Austrian hut {Top hut} 4750m a.s.l. Further, descend to Teleki Valley, Mackinder`s camp 3,300m a.s.l through American camp and Rangers camp. Hot brunch awaits you at the camp. Here you have the option to walk around the camp or even relax to recover from fatigue and lost sleeping hours. Dinner and overnight in a bunk house.

Meals: Dinner | Lunch | Breakfast

Accommodation: Mackinder’s Camp

Day 9: Mackinder’s camp – Met station camp

After breakfast, we descend through the alpine moorland to the bamboo zone where our camp Met station. It takes 4-5 hours. Hot lunch is served at the camp. Syke monkeys are among wild animals that are sported with ease. Dinner and overnight

Meals: Dinner | Lunch | Breakfast

Accommodation: Met Station Camp

Day 10: Met station – Nairobi

After breakfast descends through the rainforest to Naromoru Park Gate headquarters. We will sign out and bid the crew farewell. We will travel back to Nairobi; the expected time of arrival is 4:30 pm

Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Accommodation: Trade Mark Hotel

Day 11: Transfer from Nairobi to Moshi

Early in the morning, you will be picked up by the Marangu / Impala shuttle and start a long drive of about 5 – 6 hours to Tanzania where you will be dropped at your hotel to relax and get ready for Kilimanjaro trekking on the next day. Overnight at Chanya Lodge.

Meals: Bed & Breakfast

Accommodation: Chanya Lodge

Day 12: Relax at Chanya Lodge

After a long flight, it is time to relax at the base town in Moshi before your hiking and energize yourself for hiking on the next day. Check your hiking equipment and rent some if there is a missing item.

Meals: Bed & Breakfast ACCOMMODATION: Chanya Lodge https://chanyalodge.co.tz/

Day 13: Rongai Gate to First Cave

• Elevation (m): 1950m to 2600m,
• Distance: 8 km,
• Time: 4 hours,

Habitat: Montane Forest.

We will register at Marangu Park Gate and then transfer (approximately 2 1⁄2 hours) to the Rongai trailhead. We will meet our porters before we begin our trek from the Nale Moru village. The small winding path crosses maize fields before climbing gently through a pine forest. The first night’s camp is at First Cave, at about 2600m altitude.

Meals: Lunch | Dinner | Breakfast

Accommodation: First Cave

Day 14: First Cave to Kikelewa Cave

• Elevation (m): 2600m to 3600m,
• Distance: 9km,
• Time: 6 – 7 hours,

Habitat: Moorland.

The trail continues up towards Kibo, passing Second Cave (3450m), and reaching Kikelewa Cave at 3600m. From here the views start to open up and we will see for ourselves how huge a mountain Kilimanjaro really is. We overnight at Third Cave Camp (Kikelewa Cave).

Meals: Lunch | Dinner | Breakfast

Accommodation: Kikelewa Cave

Day 15: Kikelewa Cave to Mawenzi Tarn

• Elevation (m): 3600m to 4330m,
• Distance: 6 km,

• Time: 4 hours,
• Habitat: Moorland.

A short but steep climb up grassy slopes is rewarded by superb all-round views and a tangible sense of wilderness. We leave the vegetation behind shortly before reaching the next camp at Mawenzi Tarn (4330 m), spectacularly situated in a cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi. The afternoon will be free to rest or explore the surrounding area as an aid to acclimatization.

Meals: Lunch | Dinner | Breakfast

Accommodation: Mawenzi Tarn

Day 16: Mawenzi Tarn to Kibo Camp

• Elevation (m): 4330m to 4750m,
• Distance: 4 km,
• Time: 3 hours,
• Habitat: Alpine desert.

We cross the lunar desert of the ‘Saddle’ between Mawenzi and Kibo to reach Kibo campsite (4750m) at the bottom of the Kibo crater wall. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent tomorrow!

Meals: Lunch | Dinner | Breakfast

Accommodation: Kibo Camp

Day 17: Kibo Camp to Summit to Horombo Hut

• Elevation (m): 4750m to 5895m to 3720m,
• Distance: 6 km ascent/16 km descent,
• Time: 6-8 hours ascent/4-5 hours descent
• Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit.

We will rise around 23.30 hours and after some tea and biscuits, we will start our ascent. This is where the going really gets tough. The first section of the trail consists of a rocky path to the Hans Meyer Cave (5150m). We then zigzag up to Gillman’s point (5681m), on the crater rim. This section is very steep with much stone scree and is the most demanding section of the route. From Gillman’s Point, we could encounter snow all the way up to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long we can spend, taking photographs, before we descend back to Kibo Hut and then Horombo where we will stay overnight. Later in the evening, we enjoyed our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Meals: Lunch | Dinner | Breakfast

Accommodation: Horombo Hut

Day 18: Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

• Elevation (m): 3720m to 1980m,
• Distance: 20 km,
• Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland.

After breakfast we continue our descent, passing Mandara Hut, down to the Marangu Gate where you will receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will be suitable (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

Meals: Bed & Breakfast |

Accommodation: Chanya Lodge

Day 19: MOSHI – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, your driver will be waiting at your accommodation, ready to depart for Tarangire National Park in about two hours. The wonder of this natural reserve is enhanced by the enormous baobab trees, the bush savannah, and the periodic marshes. One of the finest sites to see elephants up close is the Tarangire National Park. Additionally, the park is home to buffaloes, zebras, and wildebeests, all of which are always being attentively watched by a variety of predators including lions. Although cheetahs are rarely observed, leopards are occasionally sighted. You may take in the scenery and observe the wildlife from the safari vehicle’s open top. You arrive at your park lodge in the evening.

Overnight at Marera Valley Lodge or Country Lodge.

All meals included.

Day 20: KARATU – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast, you will journey through the cooler highlands into the southern Serengeti, arriving at the park’s plains by lunchtime. This park, which is the biggest in Tanzania, offers a variety of ecosystems and landforms, including marshes, lakes, short-grass plains, and savannahs. Predators are frequently observed in the grassy area, which is dotted with bizarre rock formations called kopjes. The annual migration of wildebeests and zebras across the Serengeti to find new pastures and water is what makes the region renowned.

Overnight at Kati Kati Tented Camp or Acacia Central Camp or Mgunga Tented Camp

Day 21: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK

The Serengeti National Park dedicates the entire day to wildlife watching. Where the migratory herds are will determine which regions, you visit. Predators like lions, leopards (in the acacia trees), and cheetahs usually trail the trekking animals closely. The herds migrate from the northern hills to the southern plains during the brief rainy season in November and December. They move back up north during the lengthier rainy season, which lasts from April to June. The position of the herds may change from year to year because the migration is entirely reliant on the annual rainfalls, but your guide will know where to look for the animals and where to get the greatest views of them.

Overnight at Kati Kati Tented Camp or Acacia Central Camp or Mgunga Tented Camp

Day 22: NGORONGORO CRATER

After breakfast at the camp, we set off for Ngorongoro Conservation crossing the Great Rift Valley on the way with nice scenery to enjoy. After a short stop at the Nabii gate where we will register to access the Conservation area, you will be driven to the Crater rim another brief stop to catch stunning views over the Crater floor and take some pictures. We will then descend onto the Crater floor for game drives for the rest of the day checking in at the lodge in the late afternoon by 6.00 PM. Ngorongoro Crater also called the Eden of Africa is the only place where you can spot the Big Five in one day with very little luck. Being a small area of just about 21 Km across the largest unbroken caldera in the world, it is amazing the number of animals you get to see at very close range in a single day of game drives at the Crater floor. You expect to see elephants, lions, zebras, hyenas, jackals, rhinos, leopards, cheetahs, name it. Picnic lunch will be served at a picnic site at the hippo poolside on the floor of Ngorongoro Crater. Later afternoon you will take off from the crater to Karatu town for Dinner and overnight.

Accommodation: Marera Valley Lodge or Country Lodge

Day 23: LAKE MANYARA – ARUSHA

Early morning breakfast (or carry a packed breakfast & lunch) and descend onto the floor of the Great Rift Valley to Lake Manyara National Park. The name Manyara is a Masai word for the acacia tortillas tree species which the nomadic Masai people use to make hedges to protect their homesteads and livestock. The park is highlighted by lots of these trees and the tree- climbing lions which are often spotted taking afternoon siesta on the branches. Other animals common in this park include impalas, giraffes’ buffaloes, and impalas.

Just at the entrance of this beautiful park is an underground water forest and a perfect habitat for the Blue monkeys, the baboons, bushbucks, and the gigantic elephants sheltering in the sheds from the afternoon sun and devouring the green branches and twigs and herbs. The Hippo pools and at Lake Manyara itself you will get the chance to observe the Hippos and the aquatic birds including the colorful Flamingoes, pelicans, Egyptian geese, cormorants, and many more.

Do game drives until mid-day then drive to Arusha whereby you will have dinner and Overnight at Arusha Planet Lodge. Lunch box included.

Day 24: Departure Day

After Breakfast, check out time is 10.00AM whereby you will stay and relax around the hotel Compound or Have town tour with shopping if you want. Then you will be transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight back Home Depend on your flight time.

• All airport transfers in private car
• Transport to Mount and back to your hotel
• 03 Days Gorilla trekking Safari
• 07 Days private Kilimanjaro Climb / Rongai Route
• 05 Days Sirimon Route Down Narumoru Trek
• Full board during climb including mineral /drinking water
• Professional experienced Kilimanjaro Team with English speaking Mountain guide, porters, and cook
• All gear incl mountain tents, mattresses, – mess tents, chairs, and table
• Pls bring your own sleeping bag
• All wildlife reserve entry fees
• All game drives as mentioned
• 02 x BB at Trade Mark Hotel
• 03 x HB at Chanya Lodge at Moshi (or sim) prior to your climb
• Tourist Development Levy
• Wildlife Management Area Fees
• VAT (18%) by The Government of Tanzania
  

  The Safari package includes

• All airport transfers in private car
• 05 days private safari for 02 persons
• Transport and wildlife drive in modified 4WD Land Cruiser with photographic roof hatch

The price for 3 Days Gorilla trekking + 5 Days Sirimon Route Down Narumoru Trek + 6 Day

Rongai route + 05 Days Northern Tanzania Lodge Safari will be as below

• Services of a professional English-speaking safari guide
• All wildlife reserve entry fees
• All game drives as mentioned
• 3 x 0.5 l mineral water per person per safari day
• 04 x FB at excellent safari lodges / tented camps as per itinerary
• 01 x BB at Arusha Planet Lodge in Arusha
• Tourist Development Levy
• Wildlife Management Area Fees
• VAT (18%) by The Government of Tanzania
  

  The Gorilla Tour in Uganda package includes

• Park fees (For non-residents)
• Gorilla permits (One per person, non-resident)
• All activities (Unless labeled as optional)
• 01 X BB 2 Friends Beach Hotel Entebbe
• All accommodation (Unless listed as upgrade)
• A professional driver/guide
• All transportation (Unless labeled as optional)
• All Taxes/VAT
• Roundtrip airport transfer
• Meals (As specified in the day-by-day section)
• Drinking water (On all days)