13 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking and Tanzania Safari

DAY 1: ARRIVAL DAY

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you’ll be warmly welcomed by a friendly SafariBando representative and transferred to the comfortable Panama Garden Resort, where you can relax and enjoy amenities like a swimming pool and Wi-Fi. In the evening, attend a detailed trekking briefing conducted by SafariBando’s experienced managers, who will ensure you're fully prepared for your upcoming Kilimanjaro adventure. Bed and breakfast included.

Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort

DAY 2: MACHAME GATE – MACHAME CAMP: 10.75K /7MI | 5-6 HRS | RAINFOREST

Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft

Altitude gained: 1210m

Departing from Moshi a 45-minute drive will take you through the Village of Machame to the Kilimanjaro National Park Gate. We will patiently wait for our permits to be issued while watching the hustle and bustle of operations as many crews prepare for the journey ahead Enjoy the beautiful rainforest scenery and windy trails while your guide tells you about the local flora and fauna and natural wildlife. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here.

DAY 3: MACHAME CAMP – SHIRA CAMP: 5.3KM/3MI | 4-5HRS | MOORLAND

Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft

Altitude gained: 818m

After a good nights sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop.

DAY 4: SHIRA CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP: 10.75KM/6MI | 5-6HRS | SEMI-DESERT

Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft

Altitude gained: 147m

Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before we then continue, South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we come to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier. We then continue to descend to overnight at Barranco Camp.

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP: 8.5KM/5MI | 6-8HRS | ALPINE DESERT

Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft

Altitude gained: 676m

After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction, which connects, with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see the power, agility, and strength of your crew zip over this wall with what appears such ease. We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once reached you have now completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. Overnight at Barafu Camp.

DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT: 4.86KM /3MI UP | 5-7HRS | – MWEKA CAMP: 13KM /8MI DOWN | 5-6HRS | GLACIERS, SNOW CAPPED SUMMIT

Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Altitude gained: 1233m

Descent to 3106m/10,190ft

Altitude lost: 2789m

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

We continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers trying to stay warm and focused on the amazing sense of accomplishment that lies ahead. With a switchback motion in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. You will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise during your short rest here. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From here on your remaining 1 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, you are likely to encounter snow all the way.

Congratulations, one step at a time you have now reached Uhuru Peak the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa!

After photos, celebrations and maybe a few tears of joy we take a few moments to enjoy this incredible accomplishment. We begin our steep descent down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch and a very brief rest. We strongly recommend gaiters and trekking poles for uncooperative loose gravel and volcano ash terrain. Well-deserved rest awaits you to enjoy your last evening on the mountain. Overnight Mweka Camp.

DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE – MOSHI: 9.1KM/6MI |3-4HRS | RAINFOREST

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft

Altitude lost: 1473m

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles.

From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).

DAY 8: HOTEL RELAXATION

This day is dedicated to relaxation and recovery at your hotel after completing the Kilimanjaro trek. Take this time to rest, refresh, and enjoy the comfort of your surroundings as you reflect on your mountain adventure. In the evening, gather with your group for a casual get-together and prepare for the exciting safari journey that begins tomorrow.

Accommodation: Panama Garden resort.

DAY 9: MOSHI TO TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK.

Our Safari starts in Moshi after breakfast, later depart to Tarangire for full day game drive. You will reach the main gate and after registration, you will depart into the park for game safari drive, it will take you games drive before the drive back to the lodge.

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams

Activity: guided game drive

DAY 10: TARANGIRE TO SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK.

Today you will have morning breakfast followed by long journey safari to Serengeti. It will take us to about seven hours to reach the main gate. In your way, you will have an option to pass via Olduvai Gorge for a historical tour. At the main gate, you will have your packed lunch later transfer to the park for next game safaris drive before it gets dark. Dinner and a hot shower will be served at the park before overnight.

Accommodation: Suenos de luxury camp

Activity: En-route guided game drive

DAY 11: SERENGETI TO NGORONGORO CRATER.

Early morning game drive and after depart to Ngorongoro Conservation area. We will stopover at Olduvai Gorge, boasting with a history dating back to the dawn of time. It was here, that the anthropologists Drs. Lois and Mary Leakey discovered the skulls of ‘Nutcracker Man’ and ‘Handy Man’, both very significant links in the chain of human evolution Late afternoon transfer to  Lodge where you will have dinner and overnight

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams

Activity: guided game drive

DAY 12: NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA

After breakfast, we depart for Ngorongoro Crater passing through the forested slopes of the Ngorongoro Crater Highlands before arriving at the rim of the crater...We’ll descend into the crater which is one of the most densely crowded game areas in the world, home to nearly 40,000 animals...Here we’ll have a good chance of seeing the big five: lion, leopard, rare Black Rhino, buffalo and elephants...Along with the big five; we will also see herds of wildebeest, zebra and Thomson’s gazelle...After a picnic lunch, we’ll continue our game drive then depart the crater and arrive at our accommodations

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams

Activity: guided game drive

DAY 13 – LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast drive to Lake Manyara National Park with packed lunch...Encompassing this area is Lake Manyara Park which is often overlooked, but game-rich and best known for its tree-climbing lions...We’ll have time for full day game drive then evening drive back to Arush/airport

Accommodation: Farm of Dreams

Activity: guided game drive