Ethiopia & Kilimanjaro Trek

Exclusive new itinerary combining stunning mountain panoramas, rare wildlife and Africa's tallest peak, this trekking holiday incorporates two of Africa's biggest hitters; Ethiopia's Simien Mountains & Tanzania's Kilimanjaro. The first week is spent trekking and acclimatising in the rarely visited Simien National Park before flying to Tanzania to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Tailor-made Adventure 16 days

'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for two people sharing.

Flights are typically an additional £1,250 per person economy class from London

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…We were really happy with the service we got from Tourdust which can be best described as friendly, efficient and expert.....

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Highlights

  • Breath-taking 4 day acclimatisation trek in the Simien Mountains
  • Climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's tallest peak
  • All transfers and accommodation included
Ethiopa's Simien Mountains offer some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on the planet and, compared with many trekking destinations, are relatively untouched. As well as offering some rare wildlife sightings such as Gelada Baboons, Walia Ibex and Ethiopian wolves, the Simien Mountains National Park,sitting at 3,500m, is the perfect place to acclimatise for the Kilimanjaro ascent. We recommend the four day Simien Mountain trek, which includes three nights camping at altitudes above 3,000m and maximum day time altitude of over 4,400m. The route follows the course of the plateau edge offering breathtaking view after breathtaking view. Highlights include the terrifying 500m drop of the Genbar Falls, the raised promontory of Imet Gogo with 360 degree views and summiting Buahit at 4,430m.

In contrast to the Simien Mountains, Kilimanjaro rises, in isolation, out of the African plains to the majestic height of 5,895m. There are several routes up Kili and Machame recently overtook Marangu (Coca-Cola route) as the most popular. Starting at Machame Gate, the trek passes through striking rainforest, mountain desert and afro-alpine terrain before tackling the summit via Stella Point. The Machame route offers great scenery, arguably the best altitude acclimatisation of any and is available all year round. There are no huts on the Machame route; evenings are spent at the designated camp sites.

This trip can be tailored to your exact requirements. We can offer a choice of routes up to the Kilimanjaro Summit and we can also arrange a post climb safari or beach break. Please contact us for more information.

Practicalities

Getting there

Ethiopia’s national airline, Ethiopian Airlines, is arguably one of the best in Africa. International services are reliable with good seat pitch, whilst domestic flights are serviced by a new fleet of twin props. Ethiopian flies direct to Addis Ababa (ADD) from London, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome in Europe. The flight takes around 8 hours. Great deals can be had if you book your international flight direct with Ethiopian with your domestic Ethiopian flights – you will need to call them to get these fares.

Price includes

Price Includes:
- Pick up and transfers to and from all airports in Ethiopia and Tanzania
- A night’s accommodation both before and after your Kilimanjaro Climb*
- All climb costs, salaries, food, fees, etc (excluding tips) for Kilimanjaro Climb
- All transfers to Kilimanjaro Mountain and back to your Arusha Hotel
- All Accommodation in Ethiopia
- All climb costs, salaries, food, fees, camping, etc. (excluding tips) in Simien Mountains**
- Breakfast in Addis Ababa and Gondar Hotels
- Return transfers from Gondar to the Simien Mountains

Price Excludes:
- All Flights (including internal flights in Ethiopia)
- Flights or overland transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha town if approaching from Nairobi
- Visas
- Tips to Mountain Staff (guideline approx $200-250 per person for the whole crew)
- Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha
- Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard in Arusha
- Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks etc...
- Any food costs not stipulated in the itinerary

- *Accommodation is on B&B basis in our standard range hotels, ie either at the Outpost Lodge, Arusha Naaz Hotel, or Le Jacaranda. If you wish to upgrade to either a mid-range or luxury option a surcharge is payable.
- **if you wish to upgrade to Simien Mountain Lodge instead of camping, there will be a surcharge

When is best?

Simien Mountains:
The Ethiopian Tourist Board proudly promotes their slogan “13 months of sunshine” to anyone who will listen, but they are not far off the mark. The rainy season in the North is in July and August, which can cause difficulties occasionally when attempting to trek in the Simien Mountains. The best time to visit the North is in Autumn, after the rains when the mountains are full of lush green and the views are not impeded by haze.

Kilimanjaro:
There are no black-out dates on Kilimanjaro and you can pretty much trek any time of the year. Most people do avoid the rainy season (April, May and November) for good reason but these months aren’t without their advantages. The remainder of the year is all fair game:
*****December – March is typically dry, with clear skies (great views) but colder with a higher chance of snow on the mountain. The 2 weeks around Christmas and New Year can be the busiest of the year on Kilimanjaro.
** April – May suffer from the long rains. Expect to encounter rain, cloud and mist as you climb Kilimanjaro. Trails will be muddy and only the Machame and Marangu gates are accessible. The upside though is a mountain devoid of crowds with beautiful snow cover on the peak.
**** June – October is dry but the months of July and August tend to be busy (coinciding with the Western school holidays). June is a great month to trek, whilst October is similarly quiet it can suffer from low lying cloud cover (which effects your views of the scenery around Kilimanjaro).
** November is the short rain season. As with the long rains from April to May, expect to encounter rain, cloud and mist as you climb. Trails will be muddy and only the Machame and Marangu gates are accessible. The upside though is a mountain devoid of crowds with beautiful snow cover on the peak.

Is it for me?

Any Kilimanjaro climber should aim to do some practice trekking before they go. This itinerary gives keen trekkers an opportunity to do some prior walking, in a beautiful yet challenging setting, before they tackle the Kilimanjaro ascent. Although it is quite a demanding trip, due to the amount of trekking that is undertaken, it is a challenge for those looking to push themselves and perhaps be a little more adventurous. As this trip can be tailored, there is the opportunity for less-experienced trekkers to have a more relaxing time in the Simien Mountains.

For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware

Speak to a specialist

Our customers agree - a conversation with an expert makes for a better trip. Call us now or request a call back out of hours.

Call 0203 291 2907 9am and 6pm GMT Monday to Friday

Or weekday evenings or Saturdays

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What customers are saying after travelling with Tourdust

Average Rating

based on 538 reviews

(5.00/5)

  • We had an extraordinary time. It was magical and we couldn't hav asked or hoped for more. Thank you both so much for all of your time and assistance.

    MissingEmma M reviewing Best of Botswana for Families on 18 November 2024

  • We had an amazing experience - absolutely loved it.
    Mohamed and Said were great and very patient especially with me going downhill - was quite nervous about the scree slopes and paths.

    Will be a trip we remember forever

    MissingMaritta B reviewing Atlas Valleys & Villages Trek - Value on 11 November 2024

  • Trip was great and all the arrangements were excellent so thank you for all the help!

    Drivers and transfers were all good - on time and very good service on each trip.

    Accommodation was lovely - Douar Samra was amazing (weather could have been better but lovely regardless). Riad in Marrakesh was also great!

    All in all a great trip and we loved the variety of the mountains, Marrakesh and the coast.

    Thanks you once again!

    MissingHardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024

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Alternative Itineraries

Our itineraries are carefully designed by our experienced travel designers based on years of experience and customer feedback. For a custom itinerary tailored to you, please enquire giving as much detail as possible on your brief.

Kilimanjaro & Beach

A holiday of two halves; summit the challenging but majestic Kilimanjaro before relaxing on the white Zanzibar beaches at a laid back beach lodge.

Tailor-made Adventure 2 weeks

From £2,848 per person

Kilimanjaro Machame Route

Climb Kilimanjaro via the Machame route (6 days) with one of the most experienced teams on the mountain.

Small Group 6 days

From £1,788 per person

Kilimanjaro Rongai Route

Climb Kilimanjaro via the exclusive Rongai route, with fewer crowds and the best summit success chances.

Small Group 1 week

From £2,298 per person

Decisions...

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