from 0 review
14 Day Tour
Specific Tour
15 people
English
Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa (5,896m), and the highest free-standing mountain in the world. While this adventure is all about the journey and hiking/camping your way to the summit, standing on the ‘roof of Africa’ is an exhilarating feeling and a memory that will remain with you for the rest of your life. We will spend 7 days trekking on the Machame route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. We also spend an extra day trekking to allow for better acclimatization and significantly reduce the chances of altitude sickness. However, missing out on the opportunity to witness the captivating animals, breathtaking landscapes, and untamed wilderness of the African bush would be a regrettable decision after coming all the way to East Africa. That’s why we venture deep into the wilderness and dedicate the second half of the adventure to game drives and camping in Serengeti National Park.
More about the Kilimanjaro Climb: The Machame route showcases a variety of landscapes that undergo changes, occasionally granting us the opportunity to catch glimpses of African wildlife in the lower regions. Our trek commences amidst lush forests and scrublands, gradually ascending towards the breathtaking alpine tundra where the majestic summit of Kilimanjaro reveals itself. On the sixth day, we embark on our summit ascent, first reaching Gilman’s Point on the crater rim and then proceeding onward to Uhuru Peak, the pinnacle of Africa. While the majority of the Kilimanjaro climb occurs during daylight hours, the summit endeavor commences before midnight to ensure we reach the summit at sunrise. Our aim is to reach the summit of Kilimanjaro during a full moon. Scaling the mountain on a clear, moonlit night is an indelible experience, as the glaciers sometimes glisten in the moon’s radiant light, accompanying us as we inch closer to the summit. Although the brightness of a full moon can affect sleep and diminish star visibility, attempting the summit during this phase can make the climb somewhat easier. Remarkably, you may not even need to activate your headlamp, as the luminous moonlight provides splendid views of Kibo from most of the overnight camps. Bearing this in mind, embarking on a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro coinciding with a full moon not only enhances the overall experience but also exposes us to an awe-inspiring spectacle that is truly unforgettable.
More about the Serengeti Safari:
Following our successful ascent of Kilimanjaro, our journey takes us deep into the heart of the African bush, traversing the rugged terrain in 4×4 vehicles accompanied by an experienced safari guide. During this leg of the trip, we will partake in multiple game drives, immersing ourselves in the untamed wilderness and setting up camp at secluded sites where wildlife roams freely. Serengeti National Park, renowned for its expansive and dynamic landscapes, boasts vast herds of wildebeest, gazelles, and zebras, creating the world’s only mass animal migrations. Moreover, it serves as a habitat for an array of captivating creatures, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, hyenas, and much more. In essence, Serengeti NP stands as the ultimate destination for a wildlife safari, offering an unparalleled opportunity to witness the untamed beauty of African landscapes. This segment of the trip is truly enchanting, where we gather around campfires and drift off to sleep serenaded by the symphony of the wild. Additionally, we venture into the remarkable Ngorongoro Crater, embarking on one of the most extraordinary safaris found on our planet. Furthermore, we pay a visit to Olduvai Gorge, fondly referred to as the “Cradle of Mankind,” as it is believed to be the site where the remains of the earliest human beings to walk the Earth were discovered.
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a private transfer will take you to your guesthouse in Moshi. After settling in, we will get together for a pre-climb briefing, equipment checks as we prepare for departure the next morning.
After breakfast at the lodge transfer straight to the machame gate for regsitration. The climb starts from Machame Gate (1,800m/ 6,000ft) and after passing through banana and coffee farms at Machame village, the path follows a ridge through dense montane forest. This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and also the zone from where 96 % of the water on Kilimanjaro originates. On sunny days, and especially in the dry season, this section is lush and beautiful; it can also be a muddy experience, particularly if it has rained recently! We have lunch at ‘Halfway clearing a small opening in the trees and continue climbing steadily. The gradient becomes gentler as the forest slowly merges into giant heather close to the next camp near the ruins of Machame Hut (3,000 m/ 9,900ft.). We may get our first look at the glaciated dome of Kibo if the evening clouds permit. Approx 6-8 hours walking. Distance 11km.
A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semi-circular cliff known as Picnic Rock. There are sometimes great views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here, and it is a good rest point too! The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau. We then camp near Shira Hut (3,840 m/ 12,600ft) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro. Close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of Shira Plateau, and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds. Approx 4-6 hours walking, Distance 5km.
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch at Lava Tower (4,550 m/15,200ft.), we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m/ 13000ft.) which is sheltered by towering cliffs and blessed with extensive views of the plains far below. Approx 5-7 hours walking, Distance 10km.
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Ice fields. We camp at Karanga (4,000 m/ 13,100ft.), the last water point, in a steep valley. The afternoon can be spent resting or exploring the valley to help acclimatization. Approx 4 hours walking, Distance 5km.
After hiking out of Karanga Valley, the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the campsite at Barafu (4600 m/ 15,300ft.). The remainder of this day is spent resting in preparation for our final ascent before a very early night. Approx 3-4 hours walking, Distance 4km.
We will start our ascent by torchlight at about 12 midnight so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m/ 18900ft.), in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the 1 hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft.), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,100 m/ 10,100ft.) at the edge of Mweka Forest. Approx 11-15 hours walking, Distance 13km.
A sustained descent through lush forest with heavy undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m/ 5500ft.) Approx 4-6 hours walking, Distance 10km. After signing out at the gate, we drive back to our guesthouse in Moshi.
After your safari briefing, we leave the guesthouse in Moshi Town and drive on Tarmac Road 130km to Lake Manyara National Park. The lake occupies a large portion of the park, and the forest starts just when you cross the park gate along the base of the Great Rift Valley. Lake Manyara is home to the famous tree climbing lions as well as buffalo, giraffe,hippo, baboons, flamingo, ostrich, geese and so many more. After a picnic lunch, we take off for an afternoon game drive and then drive to lodge for our dinner and overnight stay at a local lodge. We will sleep in ‘real beds’ on this evening in order to help prepare everyone for another few days of camping in the National Parks.
After breakfast head 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. We settle in for the night and enjoy dinner at PIMBI CAMPISITE.
After breakfast enjoy 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. We also stop at the Visitor Center, close to the Serengeti Seronera Lodge and there are some interesting wildlife displays here. After more game drives in search of ‘the Big 5’, we then return to PIMBI CAMSPITE for another night of camping.
After breakfast, depart to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. We stopover at Olduvai Gorge along the way which boasts history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here that the anthropologists, Dr. Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of “Nutcracker Man” and “Handy Man” both very significant links in the chain of human evolution. We enjoy dinner and overnight stay at SIMBA CAMPSITE on the crater rim.
After an early breakfast, we will descend over 600 meters into the crater to view wildlife. Supported by a year round water supply, the Ngorongoro conservation Area supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo and giant African elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators, which include lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and the ever-elusive leopard, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot. We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater. We then drive back to Moshi for a last-night celebratory dinner.
Transfer to JRO Airport and Fly back Home
