12 Days Kilimanjaro and Safari

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Mount Kilimanjaro Climb and Tanzania Safari

With this 12 days best of Tanzania safari, it really isn’t easy to pick the most special places in a country so special as Tanzania, but we think we’ve come pretty close in this tour. Not only will you experience some of the best game viewing in Africa at the Serengeti and Ngorongoro Conservation Area, but you will also have authentic cultural encounters with the Hadzabe Bushmen of Lake Eyasi and the fishermen of Lake Victoria, take in the stunning landscapes of Tarangire and Manyara, and even take an exhilarating river hike to cascading waterfalls and natural swimming pools.

Full Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania + -

Arrive in Moshi on board a Shuttle bus or pickup from Kilimanjaro Airport – transfer to a hotel for an overnight stay

Day 2: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m + -

Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 18 km's | Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village.

Day 3: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m) + -

Hiking time: 6 hours | Distance: About 9 km's | Habitat: Moorland
You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers.

Day 4: Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m) + -

Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Semi desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely, the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatization benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner

Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp (4550m) + -

Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 13 km's | Habitat: Alpine desert
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.

Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m) - Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m) + -

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak | 7/8 hours to descend to Mweka | Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent | Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.

Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m) + -

Hiking time: 3 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

Day 8 : Moshi – Lake Manyara National park + -

Depart Moshi in the morning for Lake Manyara. Afternoon game drive , dinner and overnight at campsite

Day 9 : Serengeti National Park + -

After breakfast depart for Serengeti passing through Olduvai Gorge, the site of Leakey’s family discovery of fossils of human and animal ancestors dating back to almost two million years. Meals and overnight at campsite

Day 10 : Serengeti + -

Full day in Serengeti plains in search for wild game you might have missed the previous game drive. Morning and afternoon game drives. Meals and overnight at Serengeti campsite

Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater + -

After breakfast a 4wheel drive vehicle will take you 2000ft down to the crater, enjoy picnic lunch at the crater, ascend back to campsite for dinner and overnight.

Day 12 : Moshi - Nairobi/Zanzibar + -

Breakfast then drive to Moshi town – Board an afternoon shuttle bus to Kilimanjaro International Airport – Drop off at the airport to board your home bound flight. Could opt for an extension of a beach safari at the Zanzibar Island.

  • Transfer from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
  • Machame route trek
  • Full board accommodation whilst on the trek.
  • Accommodations at in Moshi for 2 nights on bed and breakfast
  • Full accommodation in camps on the mountain as per the itinerary
  • Full board accommodations in a twin/single as detailed in the itinerary
  • All park entrance fees to include government taxes
  • Service of an English speaking professional Mountain guide on the mountain, porters and skilled cook
  • Treated water on the trek
  • Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
  • Ground transport on safari in a comfortable 4×4 safari land cruiser
  • Complementary bottled water on safari – I lire per person per day
  • Crater tour services (Game drive and crater fees)
  • All camping gear for camping trips except a sleeping bag
  • Group maximum of 12 climbers for personalized service
  • Laundry, tips, sleeping bags (thermal ones which can withstand unto -10 degrees Celcius), beverages/drinks and climbing gears

  • Emergency Oxygen, available on request at $200 per group (MUST BE REQUESTED IN ADVANCE)

  • International flights and taxes

  • Traveler’s insurance and medical evacuation insurance

  • Passports and visas

  • Items of a personal nature and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary

Best Time for Tanzania Safaris?

You can visit Tanzania all year round but the best months are the dry-season months of July – October when the parks are dry and wildlife viewing is clear, easy and action packed. Read more

How Much Does a Safari Cost?

Cost for safaris in Tanzania depends with the number of people, number of days visiting Tanzania and the type of accommodation on the safari (luxury, midrange and budget options ). Read more