Climbing Kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania:

Climbing Kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania: Trekking company for climbing Kilimanjaro and Tanzania safaris. Our Kilimanjaro guides have been assisting adventures from all over the world to climb Kilimanjaro for nearly three decades.

February should be ok weather-wise. The long rains should not begin until the middle of March, but it can, and does rain on Kili at any time of the year (particularly on the SE slopes and anywhere above 4000 meters).

Your guides will probably take you for a short walk along the track you will take to Barafu to help with the acclimatization process of climb high sleep low.

Machame is the rate the most scenic of all the walks – but can be a bit muddy at the start and is often more than a bit crowded particularly from Shira Camp to Barafu.

Look back at extensive on Kili (back in May – Advice – do the most amount of training.  Walking carrying a 10 kg pack on your last weeks.  Ensure that your boots are well broken in if you feel the cold get a 3-4 season sleeping bag and if you get cold hands then a separate pair of inner liner gloves and double layer mittens rather than separate fingers. Oh, and socks – have at least 3 pairs of thick (4 or 5 if you have them) and 2 pairs of thin – that is you should be wearing two pairs at any one time -it helps stop the blisters.

 

14 Days Remarkable Camping Safari and Kilimanjaro Trekking

In this 14 days tour, you will visit Lake Manyara, Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro Crater, Tarangire National Park, and Kilimanjaro Trekking Machame Route. Your accommodation will be in budget camping sites during your safari (most of the campsites are inside the National Parks except Lake Manyara and Tarangire)
These are excellent sites for wildlife viewing. Beyond the heralded migration of wildebeest and zebra, the Serengeti is best known for its big predators, including cheetah and Leopard, as well as large pride of Lions and clans of Hyenas. Other commonly seen animals include gazelle, buffalo, giraffe, topi, hartebeest, ostrich, and jackal, but it is the full diversity of wildlife and habitats that you will truly find amazing.

Day 1: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park

After your safari briefing, leave from the hotel in Arusha Town and drive on Tarmac Road 130km to Lake Manyara National Park. The lake occupies a large portion of the park, the forest starts just when you cross the park gate along the base of the Great Rift Valley and the hot springs are located to the west of the park. The park is home to the famous tree-climbing lion as well as buffalo, giraffe, hippo, baboons, flamingo, ostrich, geese and so many more. After your picnic lunch, take off for an afternoon game drive. In the late afternoon, drive to camp for dinner and your overnight stays Fanaka campsite.

Day 2: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast heads towards the Serengeti National Park by way of the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation area. Leaving the highlands behind, you descend into the heart of wild Africa; into the Serengeti National Park with its endless plains rolling in the distance as far as the eye can see. Head to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park.
The Seronera River provides a valuable water source to this area of the park and attracts wildlife well-represented of most of the Serengeti s species. Arrive in time to enjoy lunch and then head out for an afternoon game drive. Dinner and your overnight stay at the Seronera Camp.

Day 3: Serengeti National Park

After breakfast enjoys an early morning game drive along the Sogore River circuit, which loops into the plains south of the Seronera River. This is a good location for spotting lion, gazelle, topi, ostrich, and cheetah. The Visitor Center, close to the Serengeti Seronera Lodge and public campsites, is well worth a visit after this morning game drive. This nicely designed center offers some interesting wildlife displays as well as a gift shop where you can purchase information leaflets and maps of the area.
In the afternoon, follow the Kopjes circuit going counterclockwise around the Maasai Kopjes. On this tour, you have the chance to view more lion and some formidably large cobra.
Dinner and your overnight stay at the Seronera Camp.

Day 4: Serengeti Plain – Ngorongoro Crater

After breakfast, depart to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Stopover at Olduvai Gorge which boasts a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here that the anthropologists, Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of “Nutcracker Man” and “Handy Man” both very significant links in the chain of human evolution.
Arrive at the lodge in time for lunch and then descend over 600m into the crater to view the wildlife for a half-day safari tour. Dinner and your overnight stay at Ngorongoro Simba Campsite

Day 5: Ngorongoro Crater – Tarangire National Park

After breakfast depart for the Tarangire National Park. The park runs along the Tarangire River and is mainly made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. Its natural vegetation consists mainly of Acacia woodland, giant African Baobab trees, and huge swamp areas. Both the river and the swamps act like a magnet for the local wildlife during the Tanzania dry season.
The Tarangire National Park is home to three rare species of animals, the Greater Kudu, the Fringed-eared Oryx and the Ashy Starlings.
After a picnic lunch, head out for an afternoon game drive.
Dinner and your overnight stay in the Tarangire National Park, Tarangire Campsite.

Day 6: Tarangire National Park – Arusha

Enjoy a final game drive before breakfast. Return to camp for breakfast and then transfer back to Arusha where you we book a hotel for you for overnight stay. This is there your tour will end.

Day 8 :Machame climb on Mount Kilimanjaro.

The seven day Machame variation is the ideal schedule for this route. On the 7 day Machame route, the trek from Barranco to Barafu is broken up into two days, allowing for a short day just prior to the summit attempt. This is important because summit day begins very early, around midnight, so climbers are sleep deprived going into the toughest day on the mountain. By having a short day beforehand, climbers can be better rested.
The 7 day Machame route is highly recommended and used by most prominent Kilimanjaro operators.

DAY 8:

  • Machame Gate to Machame Camp
  • -Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
  • Distance: 11 km
  • Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

DAY 9

  • Machame Camp to Shira Camp
  • Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
  • Distance: 5 km
  • Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
  • Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

DAY 10:

  • Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
  • Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
  • Distance: 10 km
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
  • Habitat: Semi Desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight.

Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

DAY 11:

  • Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
  • Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
  • Distance: 5 km
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

DAY 12:

  • Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
  • Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
  • Distance: 4 km
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

DAY 13:

  • Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
  • Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
  • Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
  • Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
  • Habitat: Arctic

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers for Climbing kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), 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 may encounter snow all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

DAY 14 Climbing kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania

  • Mweka Camp to Moshi
  • Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
  • Distance: 10 km
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Arusha.
At the last day, we will drop you off at the airport

Included Climbing Kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania

  • The government imposed an increase in park fees and/or taxes
  • Park fees (for non-residents)
  • All activities (unless labeled as optional)
  • Meals (as specified in the day by day section)
  • Drinking water (on all days)
  • All accommodation (unless listed as upgrade)
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • Camping equipment
  • Sleeping bag
  • A professional driver/guide
  • All transportation (unless labeled as optional)
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Arrival accommodation at Sun bright rented lodge before start

Excluded Climbing Kilimanjaro and Safari in Tanzania

  • International flights (from/to home)
  • Tips (tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)