12 Days Climbing Machame Route and Serengeti Safaris Camping

12 Days Climbing Machame Route and Serengeti Safaris Camping

Safety and Experience

Our number one priority is to make sure our clients have the safest adventure possible. According to our long experience on both mountain and wildlife safaris, our team promises their best to provide quality service and guidance during adventure travel.

Itinerary

Day 1:Arrival in Moshi

Once you have arrived safely at Kilimanjaro airport you will be met by one of our friendly drivers who will transfer you to your hotel your accommodation for the evening. Should you arrive early you can explore the small and pretty town of Moshi, which is only a short taxi van or bus ride away, or you can just relax at the hotel and get ready for the days ahead. You will also meet with one of our operations staff who will explain everything you need to know regarding your trek and check all your equipment.

Day 2: Machame Gate (1790m) – Machame Camp (3010m)

The Kilimanjaro National Park gate is only a 45-minute drive from your hotel. You will be picked up after breakfast and make your way there for the start of your climb. Once you have arrived your guide will get started with the formalities (entrance forms) while you observe all the different teams and mountain crew getting ready for their expedition. It’s always a fascinating experience for clients to watch them load all the different items for the trip. As soon as everything is prepared your adventure will begin. The destination for today will be the Machame Camp which you should reach in about 5 – 6 hours. On route you will experience a wonderful rainforest with ancient trees, primeval ferns, liana & lichen to mention but a few. Another favourite to look out for on this day is the black and white thumbless colobus monkeys. Once you arrive at your campsite for the night you have time to relax before enjoying a well deserve dinner prepared by our own cook.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Machame Camp (3010m) – Shira Camp (3845m)

Although today is a shorter stretch then yesterday you will still have an early start which will allow you to reach today’s destination around mid-afternoon. The landscape changes dramatically from the green mountain rainforest into moor and heath land. You will have a beautiful view of the mountain range from your campsite which is situated at the Shira Plateau. The glacier of Kibo also lights up as the sun sets for the evening.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Shira Camp (3845m) – Lava Tower Hut (4640m) – Barranco Camp (3960m)

Today is a good day for the body to acclimatize for the days to follow. You will climb roughly 700m but will sleep on a level not much higher than the night before. We will start at Shira Plateau and make our way up to Lava Tower at around 4640m, after a rest we will continue through the Barranco Valley until we reach our destination for the day the beautiful Barranco Camp. Today’s trek will be approximately 6 – 7 hours, during which time you will experience the alpine desert as well as the Barranco Valley with its small lobelia plants and giant senecio’s. You will sit down for a well-deserved dinner before it’s time to rest in preparation for the next day.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4035m)

Just after breakfast we concur the famous Barranco Wall. You might need your hands once in a while for better grip, but with that being said, there are no climbing passages, and as safety is very important please listen to our guides who will ensure you get to the top safely. There will be a lot of ascents and descents today followed by a walk along the mountain ridge. This will reward you will a great view of the glacier of Kibo. Walking time today will be 3 – 4 hours with the Kibo summit all the time on your left accompanying you to your camp for the night.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Karanga Camp (4035m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Barafu Camp is our destination for today and will be reach after 3-4 hours. Most of this time you will be walking through the moon-like alpine dessert. After a satisfying dinner you will have an early night and a good rest. The highlight of your trip is now only some hours away.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

The climb will start at midnight. You will be woken up just before that to have some tea and biscuits. Around 5 – 7 hours later you will reach Stella Point which is the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. After another 1 – 2 hours you will reach Uhuru Peak at a height of 5895 m. This is truly a magnificent sight standing on top of Africa’s Highest Mountain watching the sunrise. This view will be one to remember and will make every minute of the last couple of days trekking worth your while. You will descent along the same way back to Barafu Camp which you will reach after 1 – 2 hours. The rest of the mountain team will be there waiting for you with some well deserve snacks and refreshments. You will rest for an hour or two before making your way to Mweka Camp where you will spend your last night on the mountain.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 8: Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka Gate (1630m)

After breakfast you will have a traditional farewell ceremony from all your mountain crew. After a short 2 – 3 hours walk through the rainforest our driver will be waiting for you at the Mweka gate. You will then be transferred back to your hotel for a well deserved shower, a cold drink, a debrief and the awarding of your certificate of achievement. The rest of the day you will relax and to reflect back on this once in a lifetime experience.

Day 9: Moshi – Lake Manyara National Park.

This morning after breakfast you will travel to Tarangire National Park with picnic lunch boxes. Tarangire is one of Tanzania’s largest national parks and sanctuary for an unusually large elephant population. Majestic baobab trees are an interesting features of the park. There is a great diversity of wildlife including lion, leopard, and cheetah and up to six thousand elephant. The late evening drive to Mto wa Mbu just 15 min to the Lake Manyara overnight at Twiga Campsite or Fanaka Campsite.

Day 10: Lake Manyara National Park – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast drive to one of the most famous game parks in Africa, the Serengeti. Here is home to millions of wildebeest during the migration and over the huge flat plains you are likely to find lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and many other small predators. All afternoon will be spent on game drive before enjoying dinner and the experience of sleeping in the middle of the Serengeti.

Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 11: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area

Dawn is the best time to watch wildlife, therefore before breakfast the first wildlife safari of the day takes place. After breakfast another exploration tour of the Serengeti National Park follows. Here in the Seronera region you can often watch wildebeest and zebras next to lions and other big cats such as leopards and cheetahs. Lunch is taken at a picnic spot before a slow drive to the Ngorongoro Crater. On the way you will pass the Olduvai Gorge where the English pair, Louis and Mary Leak pioneered excavation work. In the sixties some of the earliest archaeological deposits of human evolution was found and a small museum (visit optional) documents these discoveries. Once you reach the crater’s rim you will be able to see into this massive caldera and down to its floor which lies 600m below. Overnight at Simba Campsite Breakfast; Lunch; Dinner

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater – Moshi/Arusha

This morning you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater – a wonderful haven for wildlife. Ngorongoro is unique in that almost all the wildlife lives within the crater walls hence you have the opportunity to find game easily. Rhino, in particular, can be seen regularly as well as prides of lion and other predators like cheetah. Enjoy lunch by the hippo pond before commencing your drive back to Moshi/Arusha.