Combining Gorilla trekking in Rwanda with Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking expedition

When one talks about combining gorilla trekking in Rwanda and the Mt Kilimanjaro hike expedition, tourists tend to have a lot of questions especially how long the safari can take, what to expect, what is needed for the combined safari, when to go, and how to get to the different destinations. The safari can take about 10 safari days depending on other activities that you wish to engage in and the hike route used when hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Getting to the two destinations which are Mount Kilimanjaro and Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda has been made easy and you can either use road or air transport to connect between the two countries. You can easily connect to Kigali International Airport from Kilimanjaro International Airport and vice versa or connect using the land borders.

In this article, we are going to discuss how to combine the two safari destinations, what to expect on the combined safari, what to pack, and the dos and don’ts of the combined safari.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda

This is one of the top safari activities carried out in Rwanda, and Volcanoes National Park is the only safari destination where gorilla trekking takes place. Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is located in the northwestern part of the country in the Virunga region with over 400 Mountain gorillas. The national park is home to 12 habituated gorilla families and to be able to participate in the trekking exercise, you will need to purchase a gorilla trekking permit and this will give you an hour with the primates.

The gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is the property of the Rwanda Development Board and is issued to all age trekking tourists intending to participate in the exercise. We can easily help you purchase the gorilla trekking permit from the RDB, and all you have to do is get in touch with us with all the details that are needed, like your passport number, a copy of the passport to prove that you are above 15 years, the dates of trekking and the number of permits that you wish to purchase. After contacting us and confirming that the permits are available on the dates you wish to trek, you will be required to make payments and once we confirm the payment has been made, we will proceed and make the purchase on your behalf and as proof of purchase, a copy of the purchased permit will be sent to you.

Gorilla permits must be purchased at least six months before the trek date for proper planning and to avoid last-minute inconveniences. The Rwanda Development Board issues 96 gorilla permits per day, and since they are always in high demand in the dry and wet seasons, you have to purchase them in advance to participate in the exercise.

The gorilla trekking permit in Rwanda is expensive, but the money collected is used to protect and conserve the endangered mountain gorillas. The permit cost for tourists and foreign non-residents is $1500 per person, $500 for foreign residents/African nationals, and $200 for East African residents.

Gorilla trekking in Rwanda comes with trekking rules and regulations that help in protecting the gorillas and all trekkers are to follow the rules. Some of the trekking rules and regulations include the following:

• The trekking age in Rwanda is 15 years and above
• All sick tourists will not be allowed to trek Mountain gorillas
• Your mouth has to be covered when you sneeze or cough when with the gorillas, and you also have to turn away.
• Groups of 8 are to trek a gorilla family per day and not more.
• Keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas when you locate them
• Never feed the Mountain gorillas
• Your flash has to be turned off at all times when taking photos of the gorillas.
• The national park has to be kept clean at all times and avoid littering
• Use/dig a hole (30cm) deep to use as a toilet and cover it up properly so as not to infect the Mountain gorillas.
• Loud noise disrupts the Mountain gorillas, so if possible, avoid it and communicate in low tones.
• Always keep with the trekking group and do not wander off because the park has other wildlife.
• Spotting Mountain gorillas in Rwanda is a must with about a 98% chance because of the arrangements and proper organization of the exercise.

Mount Kilimanjaro hike expedition

The highest mountain in Africa is one of the best places on the African continent to go hiking for all adrenaline junkies. Planning a Mountain Kilimanjaro hike with a gorilla trekking safari is one of the best safaris one can organize. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest point on the African continent and can be visited all year round, but the best time is during the dry season when the hike routes are easily accessible. Located in Tanzania, this dormant volcano is at a height of 5895 meters and has three volcanic peaks including Kibo, Shira, and Mawenzi. The national park also has different climatic zones including the cultivation zone, Rainforest zone, heath and moorland, Highland and Alpine Desert, and Arctic Zone. All the different zones give you a different experience worth experiencing.

Mount Kilimanjaro has seven hike routes that are frequently used to reach the peak. These include the Lemosho route, Marangu route, Northern Circuit route, Umbwe route, Rongai route, Machame route, and Shira route.

When planning a Mount Kilimanjaro hike, there are a few things that you need to consider to have a good experience, and some of these include the best route to use when trekking, physical fitness, and when to go for the hike. The routes along Mount Kilimanjaro include:

The Machame route: The Machame route, also known as the whiskey route, is the most commonly used route along Mount Kilimanjaro. It has a high success rate, offers camping as accommodation, and offers trekkers better acclimatization.

Lemosho route: The Machame route has a high success rate and offers good acclimatization to all hikers. Acclimatization is when you climb high and sleep low to get used to climatic zone changes. The route offers good views of western Kilimanjaro and camping services to the trekkers. It is a good route to use when hiking to the Uhuru peak. 

Marangu route: Also known as the Coca-Cola route, this is the shortest hike route along Mount Kilimanjaro to the peak. It might be the shortest but not the best route to use when hiking up the mountain, and this is mainly because it has a low success rate and offers less acclimatization. It is also the only route that has dormitory-like accommodation that hikers share.

Umbwe route: The rarely used Umbwe route has a steep slope that makes it hard to hike up the mountain and it also offers poor acclimatization for the trekkers. It is remote, has camping, and has a rapid descent.

Rongai route: This route approaches the Kilimanjaro summit from the north. It is considered to be the hardest route to climb up the mountain and offers less acclimatization to hikers.

The Shira: This route is not recommended because it has an extremely high starting point, a lower success rate, and poor acclimatization.

The northern circuit route: This is considered to be the best hike route along Mount Kilimanjaro offering hikers a 360-degree view with beautiful scenery. It approaches the peak from the west, offers proper acclimatization to hikers with the climb high and sleep low policy, and has a high success rate.

The cost of the combined gorilla trek in Rwanda and Mt Kilimanjaro hike

There are several costs that affect the cost of the combined safari and we have listed several factors which include:

Season of travel: There are two seasons of travel for gorilla trekking and hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, and these are the dry and wet seasons. Both seasons are good for travel, and the dry season, also referred to as the peak season, is the best time for the combined safari. However, it is also the most expensive time because of the hike in costs with the influx of tourists. The wet/low season is a cheaper and much more affordable time to plan and travel for the combined safari.

Size of the safari group: You can either travel in groups or take solo safaris, depending on your preference. But note that small groups pay more for the combined safari compared to large groups of tourists traveling together who share costs, hence reducing the cost of the combined safari.

The number of days: These also play an important role in the cost of the combined safari. You will spend more if you spend more days on your safari, and the cost can be low or significantly reduced if you spend fewer days on your safari.

Accommodation: The type of accommodation you choose will determine the cost of the safari. Accommodation is categorized into three: budget, midrange, and luxury accommodation facilities and your budget will determine the type you choose. 

When to go for the combined gorilla trek in Rwanda and Mt Kilimanjaro hike safari

The best time to go for the combined gorilla safari is during the dry season. The dry season is from December to February and June to September and the main reason why it is the best is because the trek routes in Volcanoes National Park are easier to use and the gorillas can easily be spotted due to the thinning of the vegetation. It is also easier to hike up Mountain Kilimanjaro during the dry season. The wet season is also a good time to travel for gorilla trekking especially if you are on a budget because the government offers permit discounts during this period. The wet season is from March to May and October to November and is not a good time to hike Mt Kilimanjaro.

What to pack for the combined gorilla trek in Rwanda and Mt Kilimanjaro safari 

The packing list for the gorilla safari and hike on Kilimanjaro is similar, and below are some of the things that you will need to pack for the safari.

• Warm and thick clothes for the cold weather and hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro due to the different climatic zones.
• Strong hiking boots are recommended for hiking through the national park, tracking gorillas, and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The boots should fit well, be knee-length, waterproof, and sturdy.
• Thick socks are used to keep warm, garden gloves are used for gorilla trekking, and warm gloves are used during the Kilimanjaro hike.
• A walking stick is availed when you need it. It will help you easily trek through the forest and hike up the Mountain.
• Adjustable gaiters to keep the dust and mud off of your trousers.
• Waterproof rain jacket. The rain jacket will keep you safe from the rain that is experienced all year round. 
• Insect repellent
• A waterproof day backpack.
• Foldable and refillable water bottle
• Sunglasses and a sunhat
• Snacks, especially energy bars.
• Binoculars
• A camera and camera equipment including lenses, memory, batteries, portable adapters, and a waterproof water bag.
• Sunscreen
• First aid kit
• Trousers are not jeans because they will slow you down when they get wet.

Where should I go first during the combined Rwanda gorilla and Kilimanjaro safari?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions when planning a combined safari, but with our experience, we advise our clients to start with a destination that they are comfortable with because they will still have the best safari experience. You can start with the Kilimanjaro hike and connect to Rwanda for the gorilla trekking experience or vice versa.

Get in touch with us for more information about the combined safari of gorilla trekking in Rwanda and a Kilimanjaro hike expedition. We shall gladly help you plan and organize one. We also organize other combined safaris, which you can check out on our website.