On this trip we combine an ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro with a safari in Tanzania’s two most famous wildlife parks. First we trek to Uhuru Peak (5895m), the highest point in Africa, following the quiet Lemosho route. Then we go on safari in the great gamelands of the Serengeti National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater in search of the ‘big five’.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:
Join tour Moshi
Arrive Moshi and check-in at our hotel.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Dinner
Day 2:
Drive to Londorossi Gate; trek to the Lemosho Glades
After a drive through farmland and plantations we reach the Londorossi National Park Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro. We continue from there to the Lemosho roadhead which is where we begin our trek up the mountain. We will climb steadily through the lush forest of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp (2840m). Porters will assist throughout the trek carrying all of our luggage. You only need carry what you will need for the day – waterproofs, extra fleece, sunhat, a camera, 3 litres of water and a packed lunch. About 3-4 hours hrs walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3:
Walk to Shira Camp
Today will assist with acclimatisation. We are able to explore the grassy moorland and heather with volcanic rock formations of the plateau. Our camp for today is at Shira One Camp (3500m) rewarding us with views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds, and a definite sense of wilderness when the afternoon mists come in. We do gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are relatively steep. About 7hrs walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4:
Walk to Moir Hut
Today we have the chance to view the Northern icefields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. The terrain during our steady climb will change from the moorland of the Shira Plateau to the broad upland desert beneath the Lent Hills with great panoramic views. Our camp will be close to Moir Hut (4175m). You can opt for a more strenuous walk to the lower part of the Lent Hills group (4300m) after lunch which is strongly recommended, or rest and relax around the camp in this remote corner of Kilimanjaro.(Approx 5 hrs walking)
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5:
Trek to the Lava Tower
This morning we have a gentle ascent with great panoramic views, walking on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the western breach until we reach the Lava Tower (4640m) where we camp this evening. This afternoon there is an optional more strenuous walk on the rocky slopes of the western breach, with superb views of hanging glaciers at Arrow Glacier (4830m). This is highly recommended for acclimatisation and views. We can then return to enjoy the fabulous sunset (weather permitting) from our campsite. About 3-4 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6:
Trek to Karanga
Today we have a steep descent into the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960m) which is sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below. We then climb the Barranco Wall which leads to an undulating trail on the south eastern side of Kibo providing us with great views of the Southern Icefields, if we are fortunate with the weather. The terrain ranges from volcanic scree to pockets of lush vegetation. An ascent takes us to our camp at Karanga (4035m) the last water point on the approach to Barafu. Karanga means peanut and this relates to the shape of the Karanga valley. This afternoon you have time to rest and take in the views. About 6-8 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7:
Trek to Barafu Camp
This morning we have a steep climb out of the Karanga Valley following an easy path on compacted scree constantly gaining altitude with good views, until we reach our camp at Barafu (4640m). This afternoon we rest in preparation for the final ascent, after a very early night! About 3-4 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8:
Walk to Summit; descend to Millennium Camp
Today we begin our ascent to the summit at 5895m. It is a strenuous and long day, particularly with the high altitude and extreme cold, so we will make a midnight start. At this time, the snow and scree are still frozen and we aim to be down before the top layer of scree becomes wet and slippery. Our path zigzags up the scree and after passing Rebmann Glacier, we reach Stella Point (5750m) on the crater rim. Although at times you may be able to walk for only 10 paces before you have to stop and rest, there is no doubt that it is all worth it when you reach the top. From Stella Point, you may continue around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 5895m. Then we descend, down the scree to Barafu camp for a rest and then down to the Millennium camp (3790m). About 12-14 hours walking.
Overnight Basic Camping (C)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9:
Walk to Mweka Gate; drive to Arusha
After a good rest, we pass through the rainforest enjoying the increasing warmth and richness of the mountain air. From Mweka gate (1630m) we will continue by road to Moshi where we will have a well earned lunch. We wil then drive to Arusha where we stay overnight. Approx. 4-6 hours walking.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10:
Full day drive to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge
Today we head for the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania’s oldest and largest park and without doubt one of the most renowned wildlife areas in Africa. We travel via Mto Wa Mbu, which in Swahili, this means the “river of mosquitoes” or “mosquito creek”. At the turn of the 20th century, when this part of Africa was wild and untamed, Mto wa Mbu was a settlement in no-mans land in the war between the Maasai and the Wambulu. Since then it has seen much in the way of change. Under both German and British control, the area above and below the escarpment, was settled by both colonialists and other Tanzanian tribes and is considered a very rich farming area. Mto wa Mbu, pronounced “umto wambu”, is a small town located halfway between Arusha and the Crater and lies at the foot of the Great Rift Valley Escarpment . As we ascend higher, we will have stunning views of Lake Manyara National Park below us and the fertile highlands before us. We travel to the Olduvai Gorge, where in 1959 anthropologists Dr and Mrs Leakey discovered the remains of an almost intact human skull named ‘Nutcracker Man’. We also visit the Olduvai Gorge visitor centre and museum. We travel via the Ngorongoro Conservation Area en route to the Naabi Gate, where we enter the vast gamelands of the Serengeti. Covering an area almost 15,000 square km, its name is derived from the Maasai language and means ‘the endless plains’. It is on these plains that we focus our attention on for the next two days as we take early morning and late afternoon game drives, in search of Africa’s ‘big 5’. Once we enter the Serengeti we will make our way towards our camp for the evening, at Seronera in the centre of the park, keeping a close eye out for game as we go. During the migration season from December to March the territory between Seronera and Naabi is teeming with game as vast herds of wildebeest, gazelle and zebra make their way across the plains, attracting the large populations of predators that the park is renowned for.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11:
In Serengeti National Park; game drives
Our itinerary today is very much determined by local conditions and the movements of the game. We intend to spend the morning and the afternoon driving through the park in search of wildlife, but our routing is very flexible. The density of large predators in the park beggars belief, with some eight thousand spotted hyenas and an estimated three thousand lions alone calling this home. Cheetah are also often seen in family units on the semi-arid plains plains – which teem with thousands of Grant’s and Thompson’s gazelles, zebra and the wildebeest – a carnivore’s giant smorgasboard. The park is not only rich in game though. The birds of the Serengeti are equally numerous with some 520 species being recorded here! The Serengeti is also home to some 34 species of raptors, so bird watchers should be more than catered for during our time here.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12:
To Ngorongoro Conservation area; optional Maasai Boma visit
This morning we leave the Serengeti and head towards the equally famous and richly populated Ngorongoro Conservation Area. En route we may have the opportunity to visit a Maasai Boma to gain a greater understanding of their lifestyle and culture. Then we continue south east, to the huge bowl-like crater of Ngorongoro. An almost circular depression of a long extinct volcano with a diameter of 19 kilometres and without doubt one of Africa’s most spectacular backdrops. We continue this afternoon to the small town of Karatu.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13:
Half day game viewing in Crater.
From our base at Karatu we head to the upper rim of the Ngorongoro Crater, driving down a steep track that drops 600m to the grassy plain, lake and marshes of the basin floor below. This winding track, restricted to small 4WD vehicles, leads us out onto a rich tapestry of Africa. This is game viewing at its best. Among the animals to watch out for are elephant, lion, cheetah, buffalo and rhino. The perennial marshes teem with birdlife, including flamingos, ibis and egrets. The crater itself, technically classed as a caldera, owes its existence to the violent fracturing of the Rift Valley over a period of some 2.5 million years. At one time, a volcano occupied this spot, eventually becoming extinct and collapsing into the empty magma chamber beneath it leaving only the gigantic natural basin behind.
Overnight Standard Camping (C+)
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14:
Drive to Arusha
We drive back to Arusha this morning passing through the lush oasis town of Mto Wa Mbu, a pot of cultural diversity. Social experiments back in the 1960s have left their mark on the town with some 50 different tribes being represented. Continuing through Makuyuni we arrive in Arusha where the tour ends.
Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch
