15 days Tanzania safari and Kilimanjaro hike is a tour which will start in Moshi town and you will engage in a 7 days hike on Mount Kilimanjaro along the Machame route.
After your hike on Mount Kilimanjaro, you will engage in a wildlife safari across the safari parks in the northern part of Tanzania such as Tarangire National Park, Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro crater and also Lake Manyara National Park. The safari will end with drop off in Arusha town.
Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and be greeted by our guide. Your then drive to your hotel in Moshi where you will spend the night as you prepare for your hike on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Meals: D
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. 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 the 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.
On the 8th day of your 15 days Tanzania safari and Kilimanjaro hikeAfter 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 hotel in Moshi.
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Moshi and you will be driven to Tarangire National Park which is also found in the northern part of Tanzania. Tarangire national park is known for having large herds of elephants as well as ancient baobab trees.
You will check in at your lodge in Tarangire national park as you prepare for lunch and also an afternoon game drive. During your game drive in the national park, you will see wildlife species such as gazelles, impalas, zebras, waterbucks among others as well as the various bird species which this national park is known for. You will enjoy watching the sunset in the wilderness of the national park and your guide will drive you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
After breakfast at your lodge, you will proceed for a morning game viewing experience in Tarangire National Park. During your morning game drive the national Park you will search for various wildlife species such as elephants, zebras, hartebeest, waterbucks, gazelles, Oryx and others.
You will have another game drive in the afternoon to experience the wilderness of the national park and to look for other wildlife species while enjoying the beautiful scenery. You will return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Tarangire Roika lodge.
Breakfast will be served at your lodge as you prepare for your transfer to Ngorongoro conservation area. The Ngorongoro conservation area has various wildlife species and also the world’s largest in active volcanic caldera known as Ngorongoro crater which was formed as a result of collapse of the volcano.
After having your lunch you will descend into the crater and you will visit Lake Magadi which is found in the center of the crater. You will also search for various wildlife species such as elephants, rhinos, buffalos, lions, leopards, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras as well as flamingos along the shores of Lake Magadi. As you enjoy the beautiful scenery of Ngorongoro, your guide will drive you to your lodge for dinner and overnight.
On the 12th day of your 15 days Tanzania safari and Kilimanjaro hike, After breakfast at your lodge, your guide will drive you to Serengeti national park which is also located in the northern part of Tanzania. You will enjoy seeing wildlife species such as the big 5 during your safari in the national park.
You will have lunch after checking in your lodge in the national park. You will also engage in an evening game to see wildlife species such as zebras, lions, buffalos, elephants, giraffes, elands, impalas, antelopes among others.
You will start your day with breakfast at your lodge in Serengeti national park as you prepare for your morning game drive. You will also enjoy seeing a variety of wildlife species which are very active during the morning and can be seen grazing around the national park.
After your morning game drive, you will have lunch and later engage in another game drive and enjoy looking out for wildlife species grazing in the open savannah of Serengeti national park like elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, impalas, gazelles, buffalos, elands, antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos among others. You will have dinner and overnight at your lodge.
After breakfast, your guide will drive you to Lake Manyara national park. Lake Manyara national park is known for its tree climbing lions and another unique feature about this national park is that about two thirds of the national park is covered by water. You will also enjoy views of the rift valley escarpment during your safari in the national park.
After check in at your lodge in Lake Manyara national park, you will have your lunch and later engage in a game drive and search for wildlife species such as giraffes, elephants, impalas, hippos among others. You will have dinner and spend the night at your preferred lodge.
On the 15th day of your 15 days Tanzania safari and Kilimanjaro hike, After having breakfast, your guide will drive you to Arusha and drop you off at the airport or your hotel in Arusha which will mark the end of your Tanzania safari.
