Itinerary
Day 0: Moshi 815m/670ft/ ARRIVAL
Booked into your hotel in Moshi or Arusha for overnight and briefing from your guide.
Day 1: To Mandara Hut
1700m to 2740m
5500ft to 9000ft
7 km, 4-5 hours
Montane Forest
After breakfast and briefing, drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate (45 minutes), register and commence the climb. Walk through the rainforest to the Mandara encampment located at 9000 ft / 2740 m. A side trip to Maundi Crater is a good way to see the surroundings including Northern Tanzania and Kenya. In the rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, and Colubus monkeys.
Day 2: To Horombo Camp.
OPTIONAL DAY
(Acclimatization Day)
2720m to 3720m
9000ft to 12, IOOft
11 km, 6-8 hours
Heath land
After about I hour, you will leave the glades of the rainforest and follow an ascending path on the open moorlands to the Horombo encampment. Views Of Mawenzi and the summit of Kibo are amazing. Look for giant lobelias and grounsels. You will start to feel the affects of the altitude.
If you wish to extend you trek, here you can spend an extra day resting at Horombo or climbing the small peak of Mawenzi.
Day 3: To Kibo Camp .
3720m to 4720m
12,100ft to 15,400ft
10 km, 6-8 hours
Alpine Desert
Ascending, we now pass the last watering point, walking onto the saddle of Kilimanjaro between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Vegetation begins with upper heath land but then disappears into "moonscape". Dinner, rest, and prepare for summit climb.
Day 4: To Summit and Horombo
4720m to 5895m
(and down to 3700m)
15,400ftt0 19,300ft (and down to 12, 100ft)
4 km up / 14 km down
10-15 hours
Alpine Desert
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), commence the climb to the summit on steep and heavy scree or snow up to Gilman's point located on the crater rim at 18640 ft/ 5861 m (4-7 hours). Continuing, we now ascend to Uhuru Peak, which is the highest point in Africa: 19340 ft/ 5895 m (1-2 hours). Unbelievable views at every turn. Get your picture taken at the summit to show your friends. From here, we now descend, stopping for lunch and a rest at Kibo before continuing on to the Horombo encampment for dinner and a tired but happy overnight (1-2 hours).
This beginning of this climb is done in the dark and requires headlamps or flashlights. It will be very cold until you start descending, so you will need all of your warm layers. This is, by far, the most difficult part of the trek with many switchbacks. "Pole pole" and an optimistic attitude will get you there!
Day 5: To Moshi
3720m to 1879m
12, IOOft to 5500ft
18km, 5-7 hours
After breakfast, A steady descent takes us down through moorland to Mandara Hut (2700m / 8858 ft), the first stopping place at the Marangu route. Continue descending through lovely lush forest on a good path to the National Park gate at Marangu (1830 m / 6004 ft). 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).
A vehicle will meet you at Marangu village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha
DAY 6: MOSHI – TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK
After a breakfast, your drive will be at your hotel ready to take approximate 2-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Giant baobab trees, bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the evening you reach your lodge inside the park.
Dinner and overnight at Marera Lodge
DAY 7: KARATU – SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.
Dinner and overnight at Embalakai Tented Camps
DAY 8: SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK – NGORONGORO CONSERVATION
On your outward journey to the park gate, you will enjoy some more game viewing before you leave the Serengeti National Park in the early afternoon to continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you can also see the Maasai boma with their traditional life. You will be staying at the lodge located on rim of Ngorongoro crater.
Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge
DAY 9: NGORONGORO CRATER – MOSHI
After breakfast you will descend the crater 600m down the crater for game. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – to spotted hyenas, rare warthogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch at hippo pool, you will leave the caldera in the late afternoon you will leave the crater and drive to Arusha town.
Accommodation: MOSHI/ARUSHADAY 1: ARRIVAL IN ZANZIBAR
You will be met by our office representative at the Zanzibar Airport or Harbor to Tausi Hotel which will be arranged for you. The hotel is in the heart of Stone Town. The hotel is bed and breakfast.
DAY 10: STONE TOWN TOUR – NUNGWI BEACH
Morning after breakfast, you will be met by our guide who will guide you to Stone town tour. The Old stone town is part of Zanzibar city which was declared as world heritage side by UNESCO since 2000. With your guide you will walk on the footsteps of old town across the dilapidated building of Zanzibar, exploring the wonderful labyrinths of Zanzibar and most historical sites including the house of wonders (national museums), old fort, old slave market, fruits and fish market, spice market, bazaar, streets, Zanzibar curved door and their roles. Today you will experience local lunch on the street of Stone town.
Hotel: Bed and breakfast.
DAY 11: NGUNGWI BEACH – AIRPORT
Today you will depend on your flight time. If you have a time, you can still enjoy the beach until your perfect time to be picked up. Our drive will pick you on time and head to airport for your flight back ho
Inclusion
Price Include>>National parks gate fee.>>Transport from Moshi to starting point on mountain and return to Moshi>>Hut or campaning fees.>>All 3 meals a day while on mountain.>>Two nights Accommodations in Moshi bed and breakfast, double or triple occupancy.>>Certified, experienced,English-speaking guides for all routes.>>Rescue fees.(required by natinal park)>>First aid kit.>>Cooking equipment, and eating utensils.
Exclusions
Price Exclude>>Extras at the lodges i.e. drinks, telephone, laundry etc.>>International and internal flight>>Tips(guides and porters) – recommended.>>Extra activities.
