12-DAY ITINERARY
KILIMANJARO & SAFARI
"Kilimanjaro summit, wild safari adventure."
This itinerary takes you on an eight-day adventure to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa. You’ll trek through diverse terrain, from lush rainforests to alpine deserts, and reach the summit of Uhuru Peak. After the climb, embark on a 4-day safari adventure to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara national Park. Witness breathtaking landscapes and exotic wildlife on this unforgettable journey.
Day 1:
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day. Accommodation at Kili wonders hotel, Sal salinero hotel or Pink flamingo boutique hotel
Day 2: Lemosho Glades (2385m) to Big Tree Camp (2780m)
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.
Day 3: Big Tree Camp (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)
Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there is often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.
Day 4: Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3900m)
Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Shira 2 Camp (3900m) to Barranco Camp (3960m)
Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.
Day 6: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
Day 7: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.
Day 8 : Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Day 9: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a hot welcome shower. Accommodation at Kiliwonders hotel, Sal salinero hotel or Pink flamingo boutique hotel
Day 10: Moshi to Lake Manyara National Park
Today after breakfast you will leave the hotel for a tour to Lake Manyara National Park, one of the smallest but most diverse parks in Tanzania. The shallow and alkaline Lake Manyara covers a large area of the park and it is the seasonal home to thousands of flamingos – an awesome (pink) sight. However more than 500 other bird species are also found here as well as some wonderful mammals. Troops of monkeys live in the forests, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests on the grassy plains and elephants and lions in the acacia woodlands. After an intensive game drive and a picnic lunch, you will leave the park to Karatu/Ngorongoro by the late afternoon or early evening.
Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater
After an early start you will make your way to the crater of Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The exotic beauty and the varieties of games living here are some of the opportunities that no traveler want to lose on a visit to Tanzania. This is a massive Carter of about 600 m. deep and its width is approximately 20Km. A few of the varieties of animals it hosts include the “Big Five” – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – to Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles and mountain reedbucks. Even you can spot the hyenas and the more than 500 bird species in the region has justifiably made it a paradise for the bird lovers. You would be served the lunch on the crater and in the late of the afternoon you have to travel back to Karatu/Tarangire, where you will overnight at the lodge.
Day 12: Tarangire National Park to Arusha
After breakfast, you will leave the highlands and continue to Tarangire National Park which is notably marked for its features such as the huge baobab trees, the perennial Tarangire River and seasonal swamps that is home to the largest elephant herds in northern Tanzania. You would be picked up from your hotel early after your breakfast and head for this park with our experienced guide. In the famous Tarangire River, the
only source of water in the region, you would have the opportunity to find a lot of African games that include elephants, giraffes, bushbucks, hartebeests, dik-diks, waterbucks, warthog’s reedbucks, buffaloes, zebras and even the lions. While Leopards are seen every once in a while, cheetahs are rarely spotted. This would be the most fabulous experience for you to view the games through the open roof of our jeep. After the game drive you have to leave the park in the late afternoon and drive to Arusha. With prior arrangement, we can drop you off at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) after the safari or book additional lodging. Clients can make any flight departing after 7:00pm from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO).