Whether you seek the thrill of summiting Africa’s highest peak or the wonder of witnessing wildlife in their natural element, our 15 days Kilimanjaro Hike and Wildlife Safari Experience offers the ultimate fusion of adventure, exploration, and discovery in one of the world’s most captivating destinations. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey that will leave you with memories to last a lifetime.
Embark on a journey to the roof of Africa, where the majestic Kilimanjaro stands tall as the highest peak on the continent. This iconic mountain offers adventurers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conquer its summit and witness breath-taking vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see. After conquering Kilimanjaro, immerse yourself in the rich biodiversity of Tanzania with a thrilling Wildlife Safari Experience. Explore vast savannas, dense forests, and shimmering lakes teeming with a dazzling array of wildlife. From the iconic “Big Five” to elusive predators and colorful birdlife, every moment on safari is filled with the possibility of encountering nature’s most magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.
Itinerary summary
DAY 1: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JRO)
DAY 2: MOSHI TO MACHAME GATE (1490m) TO MACHAME CAMP (2980)
DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP (2980m) – SHIRA CAMP (3840m)
DAY 4: SHIRA (3840m) – LAVA TOWER (4630m) – BARRANCO CAMP (3950m)
DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3950m) – KARANGA CAMP (4550m)
DAY 6: KARANGA VALLEY TO BARAFU CAMP
DAY 7: SUMMIT ATTEMPT TO MWEKA CAMP
DAY 8: MWEKA CAMP (3100m) – MWEKA GATE (1980) to ARUSHA
DAY 9: ARUSHA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK FOR GAME DRIVES
DAY 10: TARANGIRE TO SERENGETI VIA NGORONGORO WITH CULTURAL TOUR ON THE WAY
DAY 11: FULL DAY GAME DRIVES IN SERENGETI
DAY 12: EN ROUTE GAME DRIVES TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
DAY 13: GAME DRIVES INSIDE THE NGORONGORO CRATER TO KARATU
DAY 14: WALKING CULTURAL TOUR WITH HADZABE TRIBE THEN DRIVE BACK TO ARUSHA
DAY 15: AIRPORT DEPARTURE
Detailed Itinerary of our 15 Days Kilimanjaro Hike and Wildlife Safari Experience.
Day 1: ARRIVAL AT KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (JRO)
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be warmly greeted by your driver-guide, after short introduction you will be offered bottles of mineral water followed by a private transfer to your Hotel/Lodge in Arusha for dinner and overnight. Depending on your arrival time, you will have good opportunity to explore the lodges/hotels surroundings.
Meals: Dinner and breakfast
Day 2: MOSHI TO MACHAME GATE (1490m) TO MACHAME CAMP (2980m)
Today after breakfast, leave the hotel and drive to Machame gate. After paper work at the gate, start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very foggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon. Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have your tent set up on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can drop to freezing at this Machame campsite. Be prepared for this.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: MACHAME CAMP (2980m) – SHIRA CAMP (3840m)
You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast climb an hour or so to the top of the forest. Next there will be a 2-hour gentle uphill 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. This will be a view of the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, and then serve dinner. The night at this exposed camp will be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: SHIRA (3840m) – LAVA TOWER (4630m ) – BARRANCO CAMP (3950m)
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding the “Lava Tower” where you reach an altitude of 4630m after a 5-hour walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). This will be the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point where some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability, and headaches. After lunch you descend almost 680m to the Barranco camping. As this camping area is lower than the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, you will experience acclimation benefits. This is a proven method to help climbers adjust to the altitude of Kilimanjaro. The 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 could provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp site.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5: BARRANCO CAMP (3950m) – KARANGA CAMP (4550m)
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall, you will proceed to make your way up this awesome looking obstacle. Hikers find that in the end this normally turns out easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley crossing the last water point over intervening ridges and valleys and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, Overnight at Karanga Valley Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6: KARANGA VALLEY TO BARAFU CAMP
After breakfast at the Karanga valley camp, you will walk a ridge and enter a cold desert for about 4 hours and then reach the Barafu Hut. Crews will collect water from the last water stop at Karanga Valley in morning, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” as it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents as this is a dangerous area. The summit is now 1345m above you, and you will make the final ascent tonight. Prepare your equipment, ski stick, and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. Make sure and replace the batteries in your headlamp and camera and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing, it would be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed around 7 PM and try to get some good. Try not to sleep more than 5 hours.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7: SUMMIT ATTEMPT TO MWEKA CAMP
You will rise around 11:30 PM and have some hot tea and biscuits before 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 the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trip. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will witness in your lifetime (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow to Uhuru Peak (2-hour ascent). The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment as this is a day to remember for the rest of your life.
The walk back to Barafu from the summit will take about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest. You will then collect the rest of your gear before heading down to Mweka Camp (3100m). This route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared. Drinking water, soft drinks, chocolate, and beer is available from the camp office if you so desire.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8: MWEKA CAMP (3100m) – MWEKA GATE (1980M) TO ARUSHA
After Hot breakfast from in Mweka Campsite you will start walking slowly towards the mountain gate the walk takes about 3hours to get to the Mweka campsite where our driver will pick you and transfer you to your hotel in Arusha dinner, and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Day 9: ARUSHA TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK FOR GAME DRIVES
After breakfast at your hotel, your driver-guide with his safari vehicle on the ground, will pick you up and embark to Tarangire national park for game drives and game viewings. Tarangire is Tanzania’s third largest national park and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population. Majestic baobab trees are also an interesting feature of the park, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. Your game drives may reveal lions, giraffes, wildebeest, elephants, Zebras, wildebeests and much more. Lunchboxes shall be served to you by your driver guide at the picnic site inside the park with some rest before proceeding with game drives. Later after amazing hours of exploration, you will exit the park and drive to your lodge for dinner, and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 10: TARANGIRE TO SERENGETI VIA NGORONGORO WITH CULTURAL TOUR ON THE WAY
In the morning and after breakfast, leave your lodge for a drive to Serengeti national park via the “eighth wonder of the world”, popular Known as the Ngorongoro. Your driver guide shall be stopping in some if the beautiful views overlooking the crater for viewing and sightseeing. Later, you will visit one of the Maasai boma for an amazing Maasai Cultural tour before entering the Serengeti through the Naabi hill gate. Lunch at the picnic point followed by a game drive en route to your Lodge with a great chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. Dinner and overnight at the Camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 11: FULL GAME DRIVES IN SERENGETI
We are completely flexible with your preferences and this day will be organized according to your wishes. Your guide will discuss with you the best timing for you, including the game drives and the wake-up time. For example, you may opt to do a morning game drive, return to the camp for lunch and relaxation and finish with an afternoon game drive, or you could do a full day game drive with picnic lunches. The Serengeti Park derived its name from Maasai Language meaning endless plain. This massive plain (14763sq km) is home to many animals including Lions, Elephants, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Zebra, Leopard, and Cheetah, baboon, warthogs, Hyena plus lots of bird life. In many cases migration is taking place around Serengeti and at that particular time millions of wildebeest and zebra are mingling together followed by predators. Our professional guide will lead you into the right path making sure you have the best time to enjoy these great phenomena. Dinner and overnight at lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 12: EN ROUTE GAME DRIVES TO NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
Every day is a new day in Serengeti with different amazing series of events. After breakfast, you will leave the camp with your packed lunches for another memorable day towards the Ngorongoro conservation area. On this day still, you will have a great opportunity to explore the Serengeti ecosystem with the great possibility to spot any other animals that you did not see in your first days. Lunchboxes shall be served to you at the picnic point followed by a further game drive to the famous Ngorongoro conservation area for Dinner and Overnight at the Camp.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 13: GAME DRIVES INSIDE THE NGORONGORO CRATER TO KARATU
Early in morning and after breakfast, leave the Camp/lodge with your packed lunches ready for another exciting day. Today your expert safari guide will lead you into the Ngorongoro crater for a wonderful game drive. The Ngoro Ngoro crater is the 8th wonder of the Natural World, spreading over 102 sq. miles and has 2.000 ft high walls, making it virtually a Noah’s ark like, it is inhabited by almost every species of wildlife that is indigenous to East Africa including the rare and endangered black rhinos, other animals that can be revealed on your game drives are Elands, Lions, Waterbucks, Wildebeests, Hyenas, jackals, African Elephants, Buffaloes, Secretive leopards, Cheetahs, hippos and many more alongside hundreds of bird species eg. Maasai Ostrich, Kori bustard, Ibis, Starlings etc. Lunchboxes shall be served to you at the picnic point inside the crater. Later ascend the crater walls and drive further to Karatu for dinner, and overnight at your lodge.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Day 14: WALKING CULTURAL TOUR WITH HADZABE TRIBE THEN DRIVE BACK TO ARUSHA
Just after breakfast, you will drive to Lake Eyasi for an authentic cultural tour with the Hadzabe people. The hadzabe are an indigenous ethnic group of people found in central rift valley in Lake Eyasi. They are among very few tribes in Tanzania that still live their natural and primitive life. The Hadzabe are not closely related to any of the tribes in Tanzania but their life style resembles the Bushmen of Kalahari. Hadzabe mostly depend on traditional hunting and wild fruits gathering for their daily living. Their history and traditional way of life is authentic amazing to learn, explore and experience theoretically and practically. Hadzabe are kind hearted and welcoming people, ready to share their valued history, culture, taboos, traditions and customs. Everything will be naturally locally organized just to give you a genuine feelings and image of the ever-lived African ancestors. Later after amazing hours’ drive back to Arusha for an Overnight at your hotel/lodge.
Day 15: AIRPORT DEPARTURE
Morning at leisure until departure time, transfer to the Airport for your flight back home.
What is included in the 15 days Kilimanjaro Hike and Wildlife Safari Experience?
Items that are included in the cost of tour price. Request a Quote
- All airport Transfers in private vehicle
- All mountain, and wildlife entry fees
- 03 nights’ accommodation (HB) before and after the trekking and safari
- All special Camping fees during the mountain trekking, and safari
- All meals and accommodation as per itinerary
- Camping facilities tents, table, chairs, mess tent during the mountain trekking
- Rescue fees during trekking, and Flying doctor evacuation service during safari
- Mountain Guides salaries
- Mountain Porters’ salaries
- Mountain Cook salary
- Transfers to and from the mountain gate
- Clean water daily during mountain trekking, and safari
What is not included in our 15 days Kilimanjaro Hike and Wildlife Safari Experience?
Items that are not included:
- International, and Local flight tickets
- Visa, and Travel Insurance
- Medical costs after being evacuated.
- Personal trekking gears
- Items of Personal Nature
- Drinks, beverages, and alcoholics drinks at the Hotel, Lodge or Tented Camp
- Tipping for mountain crew, and safari driver-guide (USD 10-20 per person per day)