This 12-day adventure package is designed for travellers who want to combine three of Tanzania's most iconic experiences in a single trip: summiting Africa's highest mountain via the scenic Machame Route, running the Kilimanjaro Marathon, and experiencing the northern wildlife circuit. The climb follows the 7-day Machame Route — widely considered the most beautiful approach to Uhuru Peak — ascending through rainforest, heath, moorland, and alpine desert before the midnight summit push. After descending and recovering, the marathon follows. The package concludes with two safari days in Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater.
The package is paced to allow adequate recovery between the climb and the race, with a rest day in Moshi before the marathon. The safari comes last, giving participants a relaxed finish to a demanding itinerary. For a shorter version without the climb, see our Kilimanjaro Marathon and 2-day safari package.
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Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport your representative meets you and transfers you to your accommodation in Moshi, the base for the Kilimanjaro climb.
Distance: Approximately 50 km from the airport to Moshi
Activity: Transfer and check-in
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast
Departing from Moshi at around 9:00 AM, you travel to Machame Gate where your porters, cooks, and guides join the group for the seven-day ascent. The trail begins through Kilimanjaro's moss-covered cloud forest, dense with Podocarpus trees and festooned with moss and lichen. As you gain altitude, the forest thins and the vegetation transitions to heather and tall grasses. On a clear day you can see Kibo Peak ahead.
Distance: 9 km; elevation gain 1,200 m (from 1,800 m to 3,000 m)
Activity: Trek to Machame Camp
Accommodation: Machame Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Today includes several uphill sections across more exposed terrain, so carrying sufficient water is important on clear days. The vegetation changes noticeably with altitude — trees give way to Kilimanjaro's characteristic high-altitude plants, including giant groundsel and Lobelia deckenii. Several viewpoints offer views of the plains and forests below, with Kibo and Mawenzi peaks above. After lunch, you climb onto the Shira Plateau, formed when ancient lava flows filled the Shira crater.
Distance: 7 km; elevation gain 840 m (from 3,000 m to 3,840 m)
Activity: Trek to Shira Camp
Accommodation: Shira Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Although the net elevation gain today is modest at 110 metres, the route climbs to 4,530 metres before descending to Barranco Camp — making this one of the most important acclimatisation days on the route. After breakfast you hike east across the Shira Plateau, passing the Shira and Lemosho Route junction before continuing through increasingly barren landscape to lunch. Faster hikers can detour via Lava Tower, a dramatic 90-metre lava formation jutting from the mountainside. Barranco Camp, set among stands of giant groundsel, is widely regarded as the most scenic campsite on the Machame Route.
Distance: 10 km; total elevation gain 690 m to 4,530 m before descent to 3,950 m
Activity: Trek to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower (optional detour)
Accommodation: Barranco Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The day begins with the most technically demanding section of the Machame Route — the scramble up Barranco Wall. The 1.5-hour climb requires use of hands in places to pull yourself up the steep rock face, and the effort is rewarded with spectacular views from the top. After the wall, a short descent leads into the greener Karanga Valley. The camp is positioned on the ridge above the valley floor to support ongoing acclimatisation.
Distance: 7 km; elevation gain 250 m (from 3,950 m to 4,200 m)
Activity: Trek to Karanga Valley via Barranco Wall
Accommodation: Karanga Valley Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, the route continues to Barafu Camp — the high camp and launch point for the summit push. En route you pass the junction for the Mweka descent route and views of several of Kibo's glaciers, including the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers. The alpine desert landscape at this altitude has little vegetation, but Barafu Camp offers extraordinary views of both Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. An early dinner and an early bedtime are essential — the summit push begins before midnight.
Distance: 6 km; elevation gain 400 m (from 4,200 m to 4,600 m)
Activity: Trek to Barafu Camp
Accommodation: Barafu Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The summit push begins around midnight by headlamp. The ascent to the crater rim at Stella Point is the most challenging section of the entire climb — steep, cold, and demanding at altitude. From Stella Point the trail levels off for the final 45-minute walk to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa. After celebrating at the summit and taking photographs, the descent begins back to Barafu for breakfast and a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp — a further three to five hours through alpine desert and moorland.
Distance: 18 km; elevation gain 1,295 m to Uhuru Peak; elevation loss 2,795 m to Mweka Camp
Activity: Midnight summit push to Uhuru Peak; descent to Mweka Camp
Accommodation: Mweka Camp (tented)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
The final descent passes through Kilimanjaro's cloud forest — a beautiful end to the climb, though the trail can be slippery so care is needed. At Mweka Gate climbers sign the register and receive their summit certificates: green certificates for those who reached Stella Point, gold certificates for those who reached Uhuru Peak. Vehicles are waiting at the gate for the transfer back to Moshi for a hot shower, dinner, and a well-earned night of rest.
Distance: 10 km; elevation loss 1,600 m (from 3,100 m to 1,500 m)
Activity: Final descent to Mweka Gate; transfer to Moshi
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
A dedicated rest and recovery day in Moshi ahead of the marathon. You have the opportunity to collect your race number and explore the town at your leisure. Moshi's easy-going atmosphere and proximity to the Kilimanjaro foothills make it a comfortable base for recovery after the climb.
Distance: N/A – rest day in Moshi
Activity: Race number collection; optional town exploration
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast
Race day. You join participants from around the world for the Kilimanjaro Marathon. Both the full marathon (42 km) and half marathon (21 km) are available under this package. The course takes runners through the scenic Kilimanjaro foothills and surrounding villages, with Mount Kilimanjaro as a backdrop throughout.
Distance: Course runs through the Kilimanjaro foothills
Activity: Kilimanjaro Marathon (full or half marathon)
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast you depart for Tarangire National Park for a full-day game drive — a rewarding contrast after the physical challenge of the climb and race. The park is famous for its large elephant population, ancient giant baobab trees, and the Tarangire River, which draws concentrations of elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, zebras, and over 500 bird species. Lodge accommodation near Karatu gives a comfortable base for the final safari days.
Distance: Approximately 120 km from Moshi area to Tarangire
Activity: Full-day game drive in Tarangire National Park
Accommodation: Lodge or camp near Karatu
Meals: Full Board
After breakfast you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a game drive in this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The crater supports an exceptional density of wildlife including lions, elephants, hippos, and the rare black rhino. After the drive you transfer to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight.
Distance: Approximately 200 km from Ngorongoro to Arusha or airport
Activity: Ngorongoro Crater game drive; transfer to Arusha or airport
Accommodation: N/A – departure day
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Add a Zanzibar beach stay after your safari, or extend the wildlife portion with additional northern circuit parks. For the shorter version of this package without the climb, see our Kilimanjaro Marathon and 2-day safari package.
No technical climbing experience is required. The Machame Route is a non-technical trek — no ropes, crampons, or specialist equipment needed. However, it is a physically demanding high-altitude route and a good level of fitness is essential. The Barranco Wall scramble requires use of hands but is not technical climbing.
The Machame Route's 7-day schedule includes a built-in acclimatisation day at Lava Tower, which improves summit success rates compared to shorter routes. Success depends on individual fitness, acclimatisation, and conditions on the day. Your guide will monitor your health throughout and will make recommendations based on your condition.
Yes. The marathon ticket covers either the full marathon (42 km) or the half marathon (21 km). Please specify your preference at booking.
The Kilimanjaro Marathon is an annual event held in Moshi. Please contact us for the current year's race date and to confirm availability before booking.
Hotel accommodation in Moshi, mountain accommodation in tents throughout the climb, all meals during the climb, certified English-speaking mountain guides, porters, and cooks, all TANAPA park fees and climbing permits, safety equipment including emergency oxygen and pulse oximeter, personal summit certificate, marathon ticket, 2-day safari accommodation and full board, private safari vehicle with guide, all park fees during safari, and airport transfers. International flights and visa fees are not included.
A good level of cardiovascular fitness is required for both the Kilimanjaro climb and the marathon. We recommend maintaining a regular training programme of hiking or running for at least 2 to 3 months before the trip. Please consult your doctor if you have any health concerns before undertaking high-altitude trekking.
Most nationalities require a tourist visa, available as an e-visa before travel or on arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Yellow fever documentation may be required. Consult a travel health clinic well in advance.
Your guide will monitor your condition throughout the climb and will make recommendations based on altitude sickness symptoms, fitness, and conditions. Not all climbers reach the summit, and turning back early when necessary is the safe and correct decision. The safari and marathon portions of the package proceed as planned regardless of summit outcome.
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