7 DAYS KILIMANJARO TREKKING | 4 DAYS SERENGETI LODGE SAFARI
Arrive Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet our guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.
Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
- Elevation: 2335m to 2780m
- Distance: 6 km
- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
- Habitat: Rain Forest
We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead (another hour to reach the trailhead). Upon arrival at the trailhead, we eat lunch, then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first campsite.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1
-Elevation: 2335m to 3900m
-Distance: 8 km
-Hiking Time 5-6 hours
-Habitat: Moorland
We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.
Day 3: Shira Camp 1 to Shira 2 to Moir Hut
-Elevation: 3900m to 3900m
-Distance: 14 km
-Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
-Habitat: Moorland
We explore the Shira plateau for a full day. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo's Glacier Peak, across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. Then we continue to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on Earth.
Day 4: Moir Hut to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
-Elevation: 3900m to 4000m
-Distance: 7 km
-Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
-Habitat: Semi Desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast towards the Lava Tower, called the Sharks Tooth. Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
-Elevation: 4000 m to 4640m
-Distance: 9km
-Hiking Time: 8-10 hours
-Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Then, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
-Elevation: 4673 m to 5895m to 3950 m
-Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
-Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
-Habitat: Arctic
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5756m), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi
-Elevation: 3950m to 1630m
-Distance: 10 km
-Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. 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). From the gate, you continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the hotel in Moshi.
DAY 8: Moshi to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, your driver will be at your hotel ready to take an 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 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.
Day 9: Karatu to 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 its yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.
Day 10: Serengeti National Park
These two days will be spent on a game drive in the Serengeti. The areas that you visit will depend upon where the migrating herds are (predators usually follow closely behind the trekking animals). During the short rainy season in November and December, the herds move from the hills in the north to the plains in the south. During the longer rainy season from April to June they return up central Serengeti, while from July to October, they are in North Serengeti.
The yearly trek is determined by the rainfalls and the location of the herds might vary from year to year but your guide will know where to find the animals and where to see them best. Apart from wildebeests and zebras, you will also spot predators such as lions, leopards, and cheetahs as well as all big fives. You will have enough time to venture the Serengeti Park with its heart Seronera River
Day 11: Ngorongoro Crater to Moshi/Airport
After breakfast, you will descend the crater 600m down the crater for the 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 the hippo pool, you will leave the caldera in the late afternoon you will leave the crater, and drive to Moshi/Arusha town.
Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
• Two nights’ accommodation in Moshi Town ( Before & after the trek – B&B)
• Airport pick up and drop off.
• Qualified guides with mountain crew
• National park fees
• All camping equipment, mountain tents, sleeping mats
• Transport to the Lemosho gate and from the Mweka gate to the hotel
• Rescue fees
• All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)
• Guides and porters’ accommodations and their entry fees on the mountain
• Pulse oximeter
• First aid kit
• Emergence oxygen
• Katady filtered water through the trek
• Fair wages to guides and porters as approved by Kilimanjaro National Park Authority
• Private Transport in a customized pop-up top 4 x 4 Safari Land cruiser with plugs to charge the mobile and camera.
• Service of an English-speaking professional driver guide.
• Unlimited drinking water during safari.
• Meals and accommodation on safari as indicated on the program shared.
• All applicable park entry fees as per the program.
• Unlimited game drives
• All applicable transfers.
• Picnic Lunch or hot Lunch on safari depending on the onward program.
• Flights – Domestic and international flights
• Visa
• Insurance
• Tips to mountain crew
• Personal Items
• Sleeping bags.
• Laundry services (available at the hotel for an extra cost)
• Medical/luggage Insurance.
• Any change in tax rates will be applicable
• Any extra orders at meals are not included - Set menu meals are part of the package.
• Post Safari accommodation
• Anything not mentioned in the inclusions/itinerary is excluded.