Combining gorilla trekking in Uganda with Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking expedition 

There are so many ways of combining gorilla trekking with a Kilimanjaro hike, and you can decide to start with gorilla trekking in Uganda and end with climbing Mt Kilimanjaro and vice versa. You can easily connect to Tanzania from the Entebbe International Airport in Uganda to Kilimanjaro International Airport using the different airlines that connect the two countries. Combining the two safaris is one of the best ways to enjoy a safari in both countries. 

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Mountain gorillas are an endangered species that can be trekked in both Mgahinga and Bwindi Impenetrable National Parks. The only other places you can trek Mountain gorillas are Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda and Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mount Kilimanjaro is one of the highest mountains in the world and the highest point on the African continent. Every tourist should try a combination of the two.

Gorilla trekking in Uganda

Trekking gorillas in Uganda is one of the top safari activities carried out in the country in two destinations: Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Mgahinga National Park. Bwindi has four gorilla trekking sectors: the Buhoma, Ruhija, Nkuringo, and Rushaga sectors. Bwindi also has about 24 habituated gorilla families, and you will need a gorilla permit to participate in the trek. The gorilla habituation experience in Bwindi is carried out in the Rushaga sector, and with this, you get to spend 4 hours with the gorillas. Mgahinga National Park is also a gorilla trekking destination in southwestern Uganda and home to the Nyakagezi gorilla family. 

To participate in the gorilla trekking exercise in Uganda, you need to have at least purchased a gorilla permit, a legal document issued by the Uganda Wildlife Authority that will give you access to the endangered Mountain gorillas. Gorilla permits are sold out first and need to be booked in advance. When you decide to go gorilla trekking in Uganda, there are rules and regulations that you need to follow. These include you need to be at least 12 years old to trek gorillas, you will not be allowed to track gorillas if you are sick, feeding, eating, and drinking is prohibited, you have to keep a distance of 7 meters from the gorillas, and avoid touching the gorillas among others.

How to book a gorilla permit in Uganda

Gorilla permits need to be secured as early as possible, at least 3 to 6 months, to confirm your gorilla safari in Uganda. These can be purchased by contacting us with the dates that you wish to trek gorillas, and we will check for the permits available on the said dates. When we confirm that the permits are available, we ask for more details like passport number, the number of permits to be purchased, and a copy of the passport. The next step is to send you an invoice for the payments to be made. After we confirm the payment has been made, we purchase the permits and send a copy as proof of purchase.

A gorilla permit in Uganda is currently $800 for foreign non-residents, $700 for foreign residents, $500 for African citizens, and UGX 300,000 for East African citizens. Uganda also offers gorilla habituation in Rushaga, and the cost is $1000 for foreign residents, $1500 for foreign non-residents, $1000 for African citizens, and UGX 750 000 for East African citizens.

Mount Kilimanjaro hike

When planning a Kilimanjaro hike, this is one of the frequently asked questions, and some of the factors that need to be considered when deciding the best route are the success rate, acclimatization, how busy the road is, accommodation options, and difficulty on the summit night. Mount Kilimanjaro is a dormant volcano that rises to 5895 meters above sea level and is the highest mountain on the African continent. Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania and has three dormant volcanic peaks, including Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the best outdoor safari activity to be combined with gorilla trekking.

Planning a Kilimanjaro hike is easy if you have the correct information, especially regarding the routes to use, the best time to go, what to wear, and the physical fitness of the hikers. Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is not easy, and you need to be physically fit to reach the peak. Mount Kilimanjaro has five climatic zones, and all hikers have to go through all these to reach the peak; however, some don’t make it due to sickness.

What is the best route to use when hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro?

Mount Kilimanjaro has seven established trek routes: the Umbwe route, the Northern Circuit route, the Shira route, the Rongai route, the Marangu route, the Lemosho route, and the Machame route. Each route offers a different, challenging hike, and you need to learn more about them before choosing the best one. All the routes lead to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on the African continent. Below is a summary of the different trek routes and what to expect.

The Lemosho route: This is a good route to use when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, and it has a high success rate. It has a better acclimatization rate, where hikers climb high and sleep low, increasing their chances of getting to the Uhuru peak. It is a remote trek route that offers great views of the western part of Kilimanjaro and has fully catered camping along the way.

The Umbwe route: This is one of the rarely used trek routes because it has poor acclimatization and a steep route with an extremely low success rate. It has a rapid descent, is extremely remote and quiet, especially for the first two days, and offers full-catered camping.

The Marangu route (Coca-Cola route) is the shortest route to the Kili summit, giving you less chance of acclimatization. It has a lower success rate and is less scenic since you use the same route for ascent and descent. Unlike others, it is the only route along Kilimanjaro with dormitory-style accommodation, unlike others for camping.

The Machame route (Whiskey route)This is one of the most used trek routes along Kilimanjaro and is a highly recommended trek route. It has a high success rate and allows better acclimatization for trekkers with a high and sleep-low scene; the ascent and descent are done via different routes; it offers beautiful scenery and fully catered camping.

The Shira route: The Shira route is not recommended because it has a higher starting point and does not offer proper acclimatization to trekkers. It has fully catered camping and one of the least-used hike routes.

The Rongai route: This is the only route that approaches the Kilimanjaro summit from the north and offers some of the best wilderness experiences while hiking up Kilimanjaro. However, it is one of the hardest routes to use, especially towards the summit, offers less acclimatization, and has catered camping.

How much is a combined gorilla trek in Uganda with a Mt Kilimanjaro hike?

Several factors affect the cost of combined gorilla trekking in Uganda and hiking up Mount Kilimanjaro, and these include the following:

The number of days spent on a safari: Safaris are an adventure that everyone should go on, and the first thing to consider is the number of days that you spend on a given safari. The number of days usually depends on your traveling budget. The more days you spend on the safari, the higher the cost; fewer days mean a lower price.

The size of the trek group: A solo combined safari is more expensive because all expenses are on one person, which is not the case with large groups, where you can share the expenses of transport, gas/fuel, and accommodation with the people in the group.

Accommodation choice: The type of accommodation facilities you choose on your gorilla safari greatly affects the cost of the combined gorilla trek in Uganda and the Mt Kilimanjaro hike safari. Three categories of accommodation facilities are used when trekking gorillas: basic, mid-range, and luxury. When booking lodges on your gorilla safari, ensure they are close to the national parks or located within the trekking sectors in Bwindi. The type of accommodation chosen greatly affects the cost of the combined safari.

When it comes to accommodation during a hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro, only the Marangu trek trail has dormitory-like facilities, and the rest of the routes have catered camping until you get to the Uluru peak.

What to pack for the combined gorilla and Mt Kilimanjaro hike safari

You might be wondering what you need to pack and wear for your combined safari, and that is why we have compiled a list of what to bring for your safari. These include:

• Strong waterproof hiking boots
• A warm sweater, scarves, and jackets for the cold weather and when getting to the Uhuru peak.
• Long trousers, at least two pairs, but make sure they are not jeans.
• Long-sleeved shirts
• A pair of binoculars
• A camera and long-lasting batteries
• Refillable water bottle
• Gardening gloves
• Insect repellent
• A waterproof raincoat
• Snacks
• A sunhat and sunglasses
• A day backpack
• First Aid kit

When to go for a combined gorilla safari in Uganda and Mt Kilimanjaro trek 

The combined safari can be carried out throughout the year, but the best time is during the dry season, which runs from December to February and June to September. The dry season makes it easier to trek gorillas and climb Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Where to stay in

Bwindi and Mgahinga: Accommodations used when gorilla trekking in Mgahinga include Mount Gahinga Lodge, Mgahinga Rest Camp, Amajambere Iwacu Community Camp, Mutanda Lake Resort, Kisoro Tourist Hotel, Lake Mulehe Safari Lodge, 3 Ways Gorilla Resort, Sky Blue, Mucha Hotel, Montana Guest House, Landmark Guest House, and Mubano Hotel, among others.

The accommodations you can use when gorilla trekking in Bwindi include Buhoma Community Rest Camp, Buhoma Lodge, Engagi Lodge, Silverback Lodge, Gorilla Resort, Lake Kitandara Camp, Clouds Mountain Gorilla Lodge, Chameleon Hill Lodge, Nshongi Camp, Jungle View Lodge, Gorilla Friends Lodge, Ruhija Gorilla Resort, Trekkers Tavern cottages, Gorilla Safari Lodge and Wagtail Eco-Safari camp among others.

Kilimanjaro: Besides the lodges and hotels located a few minutes and hours away from the mountain, you have only two options when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. If you are using the Marangu route, dormitory-like huts are found along the road, and all hikers are expected to use them because camping is prohibited along this route. You might see a few campers, but these used a different route (Rongai and not Marangu), so don’t be tempted to pitch your tent. The huts can sleep between four to twenty people.

If you are using any other routes, your accommodation will be in tents set up by the porters along each stop in the designated campsites. All in all, you have the huts along the Marangu route and designated campsites where you can pitch your tent everywhere else.

The different zones on Mount Kilimanjaro include the Cultivation zone, Rainforest zone, Heath and Moorland, Highland and Alpine Desert, and the Arctic summit zone, which is the coldest and has snow.

Contact us for more information about a combined gorilla trekking safari in Uganda with a Mt. Kilimanjaro hiking expedition. Our staff is ready to answer any questions about the combined safari and what to expect during it.