The ultimate trek and wildlife adventure; climb Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, and then head off on safari in the Ngorongoro Crater & Serengeti National Park.
Tailor-made Adventure 2 weeks
'From Price' is the average price per person for ground arrangements for two people sharing.
Flights are typically an additional $822 per person economy class from London
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Designed for those with adventurous tastes, this holiday combines a trek to the top of the tallest Mountain in Africa and an activity filled safari. After your achievement of climbing one of the Kilimanjaro routes, we will whisk you off to some of the classic highlights of Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti. Offering a mix of game drives, cycling and walking, we also include a private guide and safari vehicle.
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 reaching the summit via Stella Point. The Machame route offers great scenery, arguably the best altitude acclimatisation of any, and is available all year round. This trek includes airport transfers and a night’s accommodation either end of the trek in Arusha.
After the intensity of your mountain experience, you will then head off on safari, exploring some of Tanzania's premier wildlife spots. Your first stop is Lake Manyara, a national park centred on a shallow alkaline lake with superb birdlife (including pelican and flamingo) and good populations of lion, elephant, buffalo and giraffe. Your base here will be in a camp at the base of a waterfall on the banks of the Endabash River. Although dry for most of the year, the waterfall forms the only lake for miles, providing superb wildlife viewing (including buffalo, elephant and lion). We use this as a base for game drives in Lake Manyara itself and in Ngorongoro Crater. The Crater is an incredible natural amphitheatre which supports 25,000 large mammals and a large population of predators (including lion). Whilst at the Manyara Camp, we balance the game drives with some gentle mountain biking through forest and lake shore areas around the farming village of Mto Wa Mbu.
The second half of your safari is in the renowned Serengeti National Park. The Serengeti covers a vast area continuous with the Masai Mara in Kenya and is famous for its spectacular annual migration of huge numbers of Wildebeest, Zebra and Thomson’s Gazelle. During your stay here you will go on a series of game drives with your guide, enjoy a guided walking safari with qualified walking guide and armed National Park ranger and have plenty of time to relax around your safari camp in between. To save on the long journey back, we fly from a small local airstrip in the Serengeti back to Arusha for your International flight home
NOTE: This itinerary is based on 6 day Advantage Machame Route to the Kilimanjaro Summit. We offer a variety of routes to the top, so if you would like to attempt a different route, please contact us via e-mail: help@tourdust.com or telephone: 0203 291 2907.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport
Day 2: Hotel – Machame Gate (1828M) – Machame Camp (3020M)
Day 3: Machame Camp (3020M) – Shira Camp (3847M)
Day 4: Shira Camp (3847M) – Lava Tower (4642M) - Barranco Camp (3984M)
Day 5: Barranco Camp (3984M) – Barafu Camp (4681M)
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4681M) – Stella Point (5725M) - Summit (5895M) – Mweka Camp (3090M)
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3090M) – Mweka Gate (1,641M)
Day 8: Depart for Lake Manyara
Day 9: Lake Manyara
Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater
Day 11: Serengeti National Park
Day 12: Serengeti National Park
Day 13: Serengeti National Park
Day 14: Return Home
Extended Itinerary
DAY 1: Arrive Kilimanjaro International Airport
Arrive at Kilimanjaro Airport where you will be greeted by a driver and transferred to your hotel. Take the late afternoon/evening to either explore Arusha or rest up at your hotel for the big climb tomorrow.
DAY 2: Hotel – Machame Gate (1828M) – Machame Camp (3020M)
Distance: 10.8km; Ascent: 1200m
You will have an early breakfast at your hotel, after which you will be transferred to Machame Gate where you will register with the authorities. Once the formalities are out of the way, you will commence your trek, walking from Machame Gate (1828m) to Machame Camp (3020m). The distance is 10.8km, over 1200m of elevation gain. Today can be quite tiring, particularly the final two hours, so once you get to camp, you will need to rest up.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
DAY 3: Machame Camp (3020M) – Shira Camp (3847M)
Distance: 5.2km; Ascent: 820m
It is normal to experience mild headaches on this day which should be alleviated with paracetamol. Those choosing to take Diamox should begin their course this morning with half a tablet (125mg) in the morning and the other half with supper in the evening. Distance is 5.2km.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
DAY 4: Shira Camp (3847M) – Lava Tower (4642M) - Barranco Camp (3984M)
Distance: 10.7km; Ascent/Descent: 800m/700m
Trek from Shira Camp to Lava Tower (4642m). If the weather’s good you can ask your guide to guide you to the summit of the Lava Tower (4688m) where the views are excellent. Lunch is normally taken at the foot of the tower. Descend from Lava to Barranco Camp (3984m). Distance from Shira to Lava Tower is 7.0km. Distance from Lava Tower to Barranco is 3.7km.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
DAY 5: Barranco Camp (3984M) – Barafu Camp (4681M)
Distance: 9.4km; Ascent: 700m
Trek from Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp (4681m) via the 257m high Breach Wall across the valley from Barranco. You should be aware that there are three rises and falls before reaching Karanga Camp where you have lunch at 4040m. From Karanga, the route ascends 640m to Barafu. Aim to get to sleep as soon as possible as you will be woken around midnight to begin your assault. Don’t worry about waking yourself for meals - your staff will wake you for these. You probably won’t feel like eating but please endeavour to do so as you’ll need the energy reserves. You are advised to get all your gear ready for the summit bid before you go to sleep as you may feel disoriented when awoken for the assault. Distance from Barranco to Barafu is 9.4km. It is advantageous to have a mental image of today’s profile so you don’t get psyched-out by all the rise and falls.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
DAY 6: Barafu Camp (4681M) – Stella Point (5725M) - Summit (5895M) – Mweka Camp (3090M)
Distance: 15.3km; Ascent/Descent: 1200m/2800m
Around midnight you will leave your camp via Stella Point (5752m) to attempt the summit. Tonight is very difficult - particularly the final 500m - and you’ll need to commit to fight for the summit. Once you have reached Stella Point, you are almost there - you are only 143 vertical metres short of the summit. The trekking from here is much less steep, and you have plenty of time to rest along the way. The feelings of elation when you get to the top are incomparable. On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. From the summit you will turn around and descend to Stella Point and onto Barafu, where you would usually have time to rest an hour or so before continuing the descent. From Barafu you will usually descend to Mweka Camp (3090m) for overnight. Distances on summit day Barafu to Stella Point: 3.3km Stella Point to Summit: 1.2km Summit to Barafu: 4.5km Barafu to Mweka Camp: 6.3km Total = 15.3km
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Camping
DAY 7: Mweka Camp (3090M) – Mweka Gate (1,641M)
Distance: 8.5km; Descent: 1500m
Descend from Mweka Camp (or Millennium) to Mweka Gate (1641m) where you sign the summit register. After signing, you descend a further 15 minutes on foot to Mweka Village to meet your transport. Transfer from the gate back to Arusha. You should return back to Arusha sometime between 2 and 5pm, depending on your descent pace.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8: Depart for Lake Manyara
At your hotel, your private safari guide and a closed 4x4 vehicle will meet you and depart for Mto Wa Mbu Village, which is only an hour from Arusha. The village has over eight thousand residents with 120 tribes represented; this will give you a taste of the various cultures in Tanzania. Continue onto Lake Manyara National Park, which will take about two hours for an afternoon game drive around the park with picnic. This national park has no less than 11 different eco-systems, from rift valley cliffs, acacia woodland, savannah, ground water forests and the alkaline lake. It is home to a variety of antelope, elephant, buffalo, hippo, leopard and tree climbing lion. You will arrive at Manyara Green Camp for late afternoon to settle in and enjoy your first dinner in Africa.
Meals Included: Lunch and dinner included.
Accommodation: Manyara Green Camp
Transport: Drive from Arusha into Lake Manyara (+/- 2 hours) Afternoon game driving around Lake Manyara, then onto Ngorongoro Conservation Area
DAY 9: Lake Manyara
After breakfast, you’ll depart on morning mountain bike trip around the farming village of Mto Wa Mbu, through ground water forest and small herds of wildlife on the lake shore. This will take about 2-3 hours and a reasonable level of fitness is required. After lunch you will have some time to relax around camp before the afternoon drive and dinner. This evening there will be a rare opportunity to enjoy a night game drive which is not allowed in the other parks. This drive is from about 19h30 to 22h30 and you may be lucky enough to see nocturnal animals such as porcupines, genets, civet cats, hippos out of the water grazing, leopard and lion.
Meals Included: All meals included
Accommodation: Manyara Green Camp
Transport: Game Drive in Lake Manyara
DAY 10: Ngorongoro Crater
Depart early to be at the entrance of the Ngorongoro Crater in time for a sunrise entrance. Here you will spend the day on game drive drives within the crater floor with picnic lunch. This spectacular unbroken caldera is capable of supporting 25,000 large mammals which are all used to the vehicle presence and provide excellent close up photo opportunities
Meals Included: All meals included.
Accommodation: Manyara Green Camp
Transport: Drive Manyara to Ngorongoro (approx. 1 hours). Game Drive in Ngorongoro Crater. Return to Manyara (approx. 1 hour drive)
DAY 11: Serengeti National Park
Depart early for Serengeti National Park with picnic lunch. You will spend the afternoon on a game drive in the Serengeti ending your day at Serengeti Green Camp
Meals Included: All meals
Accommodation: Serengeti Green Camp
Transport: Transfer from Ngorongoro to Serengeti. (approx. 3 hours). Safari in the Serengeti
DAY 12: Serengeti National Park Walking Safari
Today you will be taken on a guided walk with qualified walking guide and armed National Park ranger. The open plains of the Serengeti offer perfect conditions for a walking safari, with excellent visibility. This walk will be about looking at the smaller things, rather than covering great distance. You will see things such as insects, plants and birds, not to say you won’t come across larger animals.
Meals Included: All meals
Accommodation: Serengeti Green Camp
Transport: Safari in the Serengeti
DAY 13: Serengeti National Park Game Drive
Full day game drive in the Serengeti with picnic lunch.
Meals Included: All meals
Accommodation: Serengeti Green Camp
Transport: Safari in the Serengeti
DAY 14: Return Home
Enjoy breakfast in camp before departing for the airstrip, enjoying game viewing en-route. A light aircraft flight will take you back to Arusha, where you will have a day room use and local lunch before your return flight home.
Guide price is based on recommended accommodations. Alternative accommodations and upgrades are available. Please get in touch for alternatives and upgrade options.
This trek includes airport transfers to and from Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO).
It is not possible to fly direct from London to Kilimanjaro (JRO). There are a number of options via Europe and the Middle East
The next best option is usually to fly Kenya Airways to Nairobi and then on to Kilimanjaro (the second leg by Kenya Airways subsidiary Precision Air on a small prop plane). British Airways and Ethiopia Airlines also offer this route.
The cheapest available fares from the UK vary throughout the year from £650 - £900
Price Includes:
The following are therefore our all-inclusive package prices. These cover the following:
- Pick up at Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to your hotel in Arusha
- A night’s accommodation both before and after your climb*
- All climb costs, salaries, food, fees, etc (excluding tips)
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Arusha hotel again
- Transfers back to Kilimanjaro Airport for your return flights
- 6 night private safari in 4x4 vehicle with all meals
- unlimited game drives with professional and knowledgable Tanzanian English speaking driver guide
- All National Park Entrance Fees
- Light aircraft flight from Serengeti to Kilimanjaro International Airport
*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.
Excludes:
- International Airfare to and from Tanzania
- Flights or overland transfers to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha town if approaching from Nairobi
- Visas
- Tips to the mountain staff (guideline aprox $200-$250 per person for the whole crew) and drivers ($5-10 a day, per person per day)
- Meals other than breakfast while in Arusha
additional nights beyond the two standard hotel nights included
- Hotel upgrade costs if you decide to request an alternative hotel to the standard
- Items considered to be non-essential, such as alcohol, beverages, cigarettes, snacks, etc
- Travel and Medical Insurance
- Any Vaccinations/Medical Requirements
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.
Safari:
It is best to avoid the long rains that run April and May. During this period it tends to rain through the night and into the morning. It is usually possible to get a dry spell between 10am and 2pm for getting out on safari.
The short rains bring some rain during November, but this is less of an impediment and they have usually cleared up by October half term.
December, January, July and August are peak season, expect flight costs to be substantially higher.
Although Kilimanjaro is a big attraction for many adventure seekers, Tanzania has plenty to offer in terms of its wildlife, culture and scenery. For those wanting to grasp the opportunities Tanzania has to offer, this is the perfect chance to ‘see it all’ in just 2 weeks. For the adventure and/or wildlife enthusiast, the combination of the trekking and safari aspects brings treats for the feet and the eyes! A reasonable level of fitness is certainly required for the Mountain and with plenty of sights to pack in later on in the fortnight; this is not for those who want a relaxing second half of their trip (see our beach option if this appeals more).
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth office check www.gov.uk/travelaware
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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.
Emma 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
Maritta 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!
Hardeep S reviewing Boutique Marrakech & Atlas Mountains on 15 April 2024
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.