INFORMATION
This tour is aimed to accommodate clients with an average time who would like to have full of adventure and safari. In this tour, you will climb Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa over 6 days on the scenic Machame Route and 5 days of the best safari destinations: Serengeti, Tarangire, and Ngorongoro Crater. You will enjoy a price discount if you book this tour and enjoy the best of Africa in a combined package.
ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN TANZANIA
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
- Driving distance: 55 km/miles,
- Driving Time: 1hour
- Habitat: Cultivated zone
- Hotel: Bed and Breakfast
DAY 2: MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP
The drive start from Moshi to Machame gate by passing through the Machame village which is located on the slope of mountain Kilimanjaro. After gate formalities and permits we start the hiking to the sense rain forest until we reach to Machame camp.
- Distance: 11km/7miles,
- Hiking Time: 5-7hours,
- Eleven: 5,380ft to 9,350ft or,
- Habitat: Rain Forest.
DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAVE CAMP
Our route continues on up through the forest until we reach the steep ascent onto the Shira Plateau, where there are rewarding views of the mountain. Looking back, you will be able to see Mt Meru rising high above Arusha town in the distance.
- Distance: 5km/3miles,
- Hiking Time: 5-6hours,
- Eleven: 9,350ft to 12,500ft or,
- Habitat: Heath.
DAY 4: SHIRA CAVE CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARANCO CAMP
Walking now on high moorland, the landscape changes the entire character of the trek. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and finally reach camp The day has been spent at altitude (up to 4600m), but we have followed the mountaineering code of ‘walk high, sleep low’ to aid your body’s acclimatization to altitude.
- Distance: 10km/6miles,
- Hiking Time: 6-8hours,
- Eleven:12,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,044
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
DAY 5: BARANCO CAMP – BARAFU CAMP
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.
- Distance: 9km/5miles,
- Hiking Time: 8-10hours,
- Eleven:13,044 ft to 15,331 ft
- Vegetation: Alpine Desert
DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP – UHURU – MILLENNIUM CAMP
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.
- Distance: 5km/3miles and 7km/4mile
- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours and 2-4 hours
- Eleven: 15,331 ft to 19,341ft and 12,434 ft
- Vegetation: Arctic to Heath
DAY 7: MILLENNIUM CAMP – MWEKA GATE
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 welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hotel.
- Distance: 12km/7miles,
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours,
- Eleven:12,434 ft – 5,380 ft
- Vegetation: Rain forest
DAY 8: ARUSHA – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
After a breakfast, your drive will be at your hotel ready to take approximate 2-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Giant baobab trees, bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the evening you reach your lodge inside the park.
Dinner and overnight at Marera Lodge
DAY 9: KARATU – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.
Dinner and overnight at Embalakai Tented Camps.
DAY 10: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The entire day is dedicated to game viewing in the Serengeti National Park. The areas that you visit will depend upon where the migrating herds are. Predators usually follow closely behind the trekking animals and include lions, leopards (in the acacia trees) and cheetahs. During the short rainy season in November and December the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up north. As the migration is completely dependent on the yearly rainfalls, the location of the herds may vary from one year to another although, your guide will know where to locate the animals and where to see them best.
Dinner and overnight at Embalakai tented camp.
DAY 11: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – NGORONGORO CONSERVATION
On your outward journey to the park gate, you will enjoy some more game viewing before you leave the Serengeti National Park in the early afternoon to continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you will see the very native Maasai tribe with their pure traditional life. You will overnight at lodge located on the ridge of Ngorongoro rim.
Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge
DAY 12: NGORONGORO CRATER – ARUSHA
After breakfast you will descend the crater 600m down the crater for game. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – to spotted hyenas, rare warthogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch at hippo pool, you will leave the caldera in the late afternoon you will leave the crater and drive to Arusha town.
Accommodation: The Bay Leaf Arusha (bed and breakfast)
DAY 13: DEPART TANZANIA
This day left for your next destination. Either fly to Zanzibar or fly back home. Our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at your time.