On this 12-day Kilimanjaro Hike and Rubondo Island Adventure, you will visit Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Africa’s largest island national park, Rubondo Island National Park.
12-Day Kilimanjaro & Rubondo Island Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arusha to Moshi Town
- Days 2–8: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro – Machame Route
- Day 9: Rest Day in Moshi Town
- Day 10: Transfer to Rubondo Island National Park via Mwanza
- Day 11: Explore Rubondo Island National Park
- Day 12: Rubondo Island National Park to Mwanza City
Detailed 12-Day Kilimanjaro & Rubondo Island Tour Itinerary
Day 1: Arusha to Moshi Town
Arrive at Arusha Airport and meet your driver guide, who will transfer you to Moshi town, located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Check in at your hotel for the night.
Use this evening to prepare for the hike and get enough rest before starting your adventure to conquer Africa’s tallest mountain.
Days 2–8: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro – Machame Route
Mount Kilimanjaro has several routes leading to the summit at Uhuru Peak. For this safari, you will use the Machame Route, which is known for its high success rate and good acclimatization conditions.
The 7-day hike begins at Machame Gate and ascends through the Machame Route, descending through the Mweka Route. The climb ends at Mweka Gate.
You will spend nights at the following camps: Machame Camp, Shira Camp 2, Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp, Barafu Camp, and Mweka Camp.
On day 7, you will reach Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, and celebrate your great achievement before descending.
On day 8, your guide will meet you at the base of the mountain and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi town, where you can enjoy a warm shower, relax, and celebrate your successful climb.
Day 9: Rest Day in Moshi Town
This is your recovery day. Spend the day relaxing and recharging after the hike. You can also visit local shops to buy souvenirs or restock small items like snacks or camera batteries for the remaining days of your trip.
Day 10: Transfer to Rubondo Island National Park via Mwanza
After breakfast, your driver guide will transfer you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your domestic flight to Mwanza city.
On arrival, you will drive to Kasenda village, where you will take a speedboat across Lake Victoria to Rubondo Island National Park.
Upon reaching the island, check in at your accommodation for the night, either at the TANAPA Bandas or Rubondo Island Camp.
Day 11: Explore Rubondo Island National Park
Rubondo Island National Park is one of Tanzania’s least-visited destinations, offering a peaceful and private safari experience.
Activities include game drives, forest walks, bird watching, chimpanzee trekking, fishing, canoeing, and boat safaris.
Wildlife on the island includes elephants, giraffes, hippos, bushbucks, sitatungas, warthogs, otters, crocodiles, mongooses, black-and-white colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, and vervet monkeys.
The island also has a rich bird population, butterflies, and colorful flowers such as jasmines and orchids.
Day 12: Rubondo Island National Park to Mwanza City
After breakfast, take a boat transfer from Rubondo Island to the mainland and drive to Mwanza city.
This marks the end of your 12-day Kilimanjaro hiking and Rubondo Island adventure, filled with unforgettable memories of Tanzania’s mountains and wildlife.
