Climb Kilimanjaro and Rwanda Gorilla Tracking 12 days GS 036F

Climb Kilimanjaro and Rwanda Gorilla Tracking is the best ten days experience tour Combines Mount Kilimanjaro trekking in Tanzania and Gorilla tracking in Rwanda, Mount Kilimanjaro being the Africa's highest peak 5895m. Ascend though Machame route and descend through Mweka route, there are no huts for accommodation along this routes, instead, camping sites and toilets are available, with wonderful scenery and fine weather which does not bring tiresome to climbers though fitness is required. At the end of your climb, you will recognize that you have refreshed mind, heart and the spirit. Physically you will experience quick recovering.

Trip Info

You will enjoy and experience nature, wildlife, habit and habitat of the fauna and flora in the natural areas, also peoples and culture. Availability 100% SURE, Book NOW!

Minimum Rate Per Adult: US$ 4994.

Departing From: ............. Arusha

Duration:............... ....... ..12 Days / 11 Nights

Departure Time:..... .... .... .0830 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)

Departures: ... ... ... ... ... ..Mondays

Minimum Persons Required: 2

Best Time: ... ... ... ... ... ... .All round the year

Detailed Tour Itinerary

Monday
Day 1: Arrival Day:
- Arrive JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) - At arrive hours 2050hrs, meet and assist at the Airport and transfer to Kia Lidge for dinner and overnight booked on half board basis, FB

Tuesday
DAY 2: MACHAME GATE {1800m} - MACHAME CAMP {3000m}
-In the morning at 0900hrs pick up from hotel and arrive some minutes to the Machame Gate, introduction to your guide and porters. Registration is done and thereafter start climb {Trekking} with picnic lunch through rain forest for approximately 4 to 5 hrs where you arrive to the Machame camp. Later afternoon walk up to a little higher altitude is done for acclimatization. Return to Machame camp for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday
DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP (3000m)-SHIRA CAMP (3800m)
-After breakfast, start climb through short Savannah forest and other vegetation for approximately 4 to 5hrs, with picnic lunch en route before arriving in the afternoon at the Shira camp for dinner and overnight.

Thursday
DAY 4:SHIRA (3800m)- BARANCO camp(3950m)
-After breakfast a slow walk through semi glacier and sandy areas with picnic lunch 3 to 4 hrs before arriving at the Baranco camp for dinner and overnight.

Friday
DAY 5: BARRANCO (3950m) - BARAFU camp (4600m)
-After breakfast, with picnic lunch enroute climb through glaciers for approximately 4 to 5 hours before arriving the Barafu camp for dinner and overnight.

Saturday
DAY-6: BARAFU (4600m)-UHURU-PEAK (5895m)-MWEKA camp (3100m)
-An early wake up call around 01.00hrs for preparation and light breakfast before starting final ascent to the summit i.e. either the Stella Point reached in approximately 5 to 6 hrs and a further ascent to the Uhuru Peak reached in another approx 45minutes. After signing and short rest at Barafu camp descend via the Gilman’s Point down to Mweka camp for an hours rest with light breakfast then descent down for dinner and overnight at Mweka hut.

Sunday
DAY 7: MWEKA (3100m)-MWEKA GATE - Arusha
-After breakfast, final descent to Mweka gate, thereafter say Goodbye to your Guide/ Porters and connect a private transfer to Kia Lodge. Afternoon rest and relax at leisure in the lodge, overnight booked on BB.

Monday
DAY 8: Transfer to the AIRPORT JRO - Kigali Rwanda
- This day at transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for a flight to Rwanda.

Flight details: JRO-KGL WB 102 DEP 16:00 ARR 17:00. On arrival at Kanombe International Airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight Mille Collines Hotel. B/D(Breakfast+dinner)

Tuesday
Day 9: Kigali - Ruhengeri-Kinigi
After breakfast, have a city tour. Visit the city centre, the souvenir shops and the genocide memorials of Gisozi. Lunch on your own at a city restaurant. In the afternoon drive to Ruhengeri and finally Kinigi the base of Gorilla Tracking. This 2Hrs drive takes you through the beautifully terraced hilly countryside of Rwanda to Ruhengeri the base of trekking and gorilla tracking. Brief stopovers are provided on the way for photography. O/ night Gorilla Nest (B/L/D)

Wednesday
Day10: Gorillas in the mist day 1
- An early morning breakfast is followed by a drive to Kinigi park headquarters for group, guide allocation and briefing. This is followed by a drive to the trailheads where hiking and trekking up the hills to the bamboo zone begins. Hiking, trekking and tracking gorillas may take 2-3 hours. Sight and stay with the Gorillas for one hour. Descend to your hotel for lunch. In the afternoon visit Gisenyi on the Lake Kivu. Return to Gorilla Nest for O/Night (B/L/D) (This tour of Lake Kivu is only possible if guests finish tracking on time).

Thursday
Day 11: Gorilla Tracking
- After breakfast, trek up the mountain for another memorable experience with the gorillas. Return to the base Ruehengeri for lunch. In the afternoon drive to Kigali On the way visit lakes Burela and Ruhondo if time allows. Overnight Mille Collines Hotel B (Breakfast Only)

Friday
Day 12: Kigali-Kilimanjaro
- After breakfast transfer to the airport to catch your Rwandair Flight to Arusha.

Depart Rwanda Flight Details: KGL-JRO WB 103 DEP 11:00 ARR 14:00, End of Gofan Safaris Services

Package Includes:

Machame rates include:
- Airport transfers as shown in the plan
- Full board accommodation on climbs
- A night before and after the climb
- All park entry fees, hut fees, rescue fees, Guide and porter's fees.
- Knowledgeable Mountain Guide and porters on climbs.
-Transport to and from the mountain gates.
- Salaries for the crew
- Cook and all kitchen utensils on climbs.
- Excellent vehicle for transfers
- English speaking mountain guide

The Gorilla price includes the following
- Accommodation cost pp sharing
- All Meals at Gorilla Nest Hotel; Breakfast only at
Mille Collines-Meals as indicated-B-Breakfast; L-Lunch; D-Dinner
- Transportation on 4WD fully fuelled and chauffeured
- Driver's allowance
- 2 Gorilla permits per person
- Park Entrance fee
- Use of ranger guides while tracking
- Complementary tour of Lake Kivu on day 2 if you finish tracking on time.
- All government taxes
- Flight From JRO-RWANDA-JRO (round trip by Rwanda Air )
- Complimentary tour of Genocide memorial of Gisozi the last day if time allows.
- Plenty of mineral water during your tour.
- Evacuation cover- this is an evacuation cover by AAR for 2 weeks in East Africa.
This is not travel insurance and one is advised to get a comprehensive travel cover.

Package Excludes:

Machame rates exclude:
- Mountain Gears, visa, travel insurance and Int. flight
- Hard and soft drinks and recommended tips for the crew and others not in the itinerary

Gorilla Tracking does not include the following
- Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry, Internet etc.
- International flight
- Departure tax
- Tips to drivers (highly recommended)
- Visa, Travel Insurance (we can help arrange of them)

GORILLA TRACKING REQUIREMENTS

Please bring the following for tracking gorillas.
- Hiking boots- ankle level boots are ok but make sure it is something handy.
- Gloves
- A warm cardigan
- Thick trousers and a long sleeved top are ideal for tracking.
- Rain Coat
- Video- filming is allowed in the parks though not outside the park
- Water proof container for their cameras
- A pair of binoculars if you are a keen bird watcher.
- If you prefer wearing a hat, a baseball cap is recommended.

Encounter with the gorillas Submissiveness

When you encounter the gorillas always remember to be submissive
- Do not look at them straight in the face rather give a sideways glance.
- Do not stand over them-crouch instead, stay in a tight group
- Speak in whispers
- Do not use flash photography

Gorillas are wild
Most visitors might be tempted to think that the gorillas are tame. On the contrary, our gorillas are wild and they should not be provoked in any way. The ORTPN does not take any responsibility for any injury sustained by wild animals in their habitats, hence
- Keep your flight distance about 7 metres from them and bear in mind that gorillas have freedom of way
- Do not feed the gorillas
- Do not entice them to get into contact with you in any way.
- Do not eat in the vicinity of the gorillas

Environmental Consciousness
- Do not litter the park
- Always burry your faecal

Health of the Gorillas
There are currently approximately 700 mountain gorillas in the wild. Thus these animals are classified as endangered species. To avoid transmitting human diseases to them,
- Avoid tracking if you suffer from contagious disease. In case you develop a sever case of flu, your money will be fully refunded if you make this known in advance.
However if you attempt to track and fail for whatever reason, or if the guides discover that you cannot track due to disease, you do not qualify for any refund.
- Do not sneeze towards them
- Do not spit in the forest or defecate carelessly. If you need to the guides will help you with a matchet to dig a hole to bury your waste.
- Do not track if under age- Only 15 years and above can track.

Hiking, trekking and Tracking gorillas- the facts
How hard should one prepare for gorilla tracking in Rwanda? The facts below will help you to answer this question.
- Tracking takes place at altitudes of 3000 metres-this means that moderate/ average physical fitness is what is necessary and not athletic fitness.
- Tracking gorillas is conducted by patient, qualified and knowledgeable ranger guides with wide experience in natural history with particular attention to gorilla behaviour
- Trekking hiking and tracking is conducted at a moderate pace with plenty of stops for resting, fielding questions further briefs etc. Competitive hiking is discouraged as the aim of the guides, porters and rangers is for all the group members to make it to the gorillas and back to the base. Believe it or not, the slowest hiker/ trekker will determine the pace of the trek.

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