15 days Kilimanjaro and northern Tanzania wildlife safari
15 days Kilimanjaro and northern Tanzania wildlife safari
15 days Kilimanjaro and northern Tanzania wildlife safari is an experience which will start in Arusha and you will hike on Mount Kilimanjaro for 7 days along the Machame route and also enjoy a Tanzania wildlife safari.
You will engage in game drives in Serengeti national park in the morning and also in the afternoon as you enjoy looking out for wildlife species like elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, buffalos, antelopes, wildebeests, zebras, cheetahs, waterbucks, hippos, giraffes among others.
During the safari, you will visit destinations such as Lake Manyara national park, Serengeti national park, Tarangire national park and Ngorongoro crater. You will also enjoy a Maasai cultural experience during your safari which will end with drop off in Arusha.
Safari highlights
Day 1; trek from Machame gate to Machame camp
Day 2; trek from Machame camp to Shira 2 camp
Day 3; trek from Shira 2 camp to Lava tower and then Barranco camp
Day 4; trek from Barranco camp to Karanga camp
Day 5; trek from Karanga camp to Barafu camp
Day 6; Trek from Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and then to Mweka camp
Day 7; descend from Mweka camp to Mweka gate
Day 8; drive to Lake Manyara national park
Day 9; transfer to Serengeti national park
Day 10; Serengeti national park
Day 11; drive to Ngorongoro crater
Day 12; transfer to Tarangire national park
Day 13; full day in Tarangire national park
Day 14; drive to Arusha and Maasai experience
Day 15; departure
Detailed itinerary
Day 1; trek from Machame gate to Machame camp
The first day of climbing mountain Kilimanjaro via the Machame route will start from Machame gate to Machame camp which lies on the altitude range of 5380 ft to 9350 ft. the trek takes approximately 5 to 7 hours through a rainforest and starts with a drive from Moshi or Arusha to Machame gate through a village situated on the lower slopes of the mountain.
The trek through dense rain forest trees winds up to the ridge leading to Machame camp where you will spend the night.
Day 2; trek from Machame camp to Shira 2 camp
On the second day of your hiking adventure, you will hike from Machame camp to Shira 2 camp which is about 5km and about 4 to 6 hours in the altitude range of 9,350 ft to 12500 ft. You will leave the Machame camp early in the morning and ascend on a steep rocky ridge and continue to Shira plateau passing through open moorlands and also crossing a river gorge leading you to Shira camp where you will spend the night.
Day 3; trek from Shira 2 camp to Lava tower and then Barranco camp
You will start your trek from Shira 2 camp to the lava tower which lies in the elevation range 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft a distance of about 7km and approximately 2 to 3 hours hike. You will continue to the east up a ridge and then head in the south eastern direction towards the lava tower which is a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. From the lava tower, you will descend through beautiful forests to Barranco camp where you will spend the night.
Day 4; trek from Barranco camp to Karanga camp
Your trek will start from Barranco camp to Karanga camp which lies in the elevation range of 13044 ft to 13106 ft a distance of 5km taking about 4 to 5 hours of hiking and this trail runs through alpine desert.
You will descend into the ravine to the base of the great Barranco wall and then proceed to climb the steep nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of Barranco wall, you cross a series of hills and valleys until you descend to Karanga valley and then you will spend the night at Karanga camp. This trek is shorter and meant for acclimatization.
Day 5; trek from Karanga camp to Barafu camp
You will trek from Karanga camp to Barafu camp which lies in the elevation range of 13106 ft to 15331ft and at a distance of approximately 4km and 4 to 5 hours of hiking. This trek starts with leaving Karanga camp on a trail running through the alpine desert and connecting with the Mweka trail and then continue to the rocky section to Barafu hut. Reaching this point marks the completion of the southern circuit which offers magnificent views of the summit from various angles. At this point you get uninterrupted views of Mawenzi and Kibo peak. You will spend the night at the Barafu camp at this point.
Day 6; Trek from Barafu camp to Uhuru peak and then to Mweka camp
Your trek will start from Barafu camp to Uhuru camp which is about 5km running through the arctic and approximately 7 to 8 hours of hiking. The points lie in elevation range of 15331 ft to 19341 ft. Trekking from Uhuru peak to Mweka camp follows a trail which takes 4 to 6 hours and is about 12km and it lies in the elevation range of 19341 through rainforest.
The trek starts in the morning and is a challenging hike. You will continue to ascend in the darkness with frequent short breaks and near stella point at elevation of 18900 ft you will enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi peak and you will finally arrive at Uhuru peak which is the highest peak of mountain Kilimanjaro. From the summit, you will continue to descend down to Mweka hut campsite situated amidst forest. This trail is very rocky and trekking poles are helpful. You will have a stopover in Barafu for lunch and in the evening dinner and overnight will be at Mweka camp.
Day 7; descend from Mweka camp to Mweka gate
On the last day of your hike on Machame route, you will descend from Mweka camp to Mweka gate though rainforest a distance of 10km and approximately 3 to 4 hours of hiking. You will receive your summit certificates at Mweka gate and drive to Mweka village where you will meet your guide and drive to Arusha where you will check in at your hotel and have your dinner and overnight at Tulia boutique hotel and spa.
Day 8; drive to Lake Manyara national park
Your guide will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha and welcome you for your safari. You will be driven to Lake Manyara national park where you will engage in a game drive in search of wildlife species such as tree climbing lions, elephants, buffalos, waterbucks, giraffes, hippos, impalas, gazelles, monkeys among others.
You will also enjoy seeing flamingos along the shores of Lake Manyara which covers a big part of the national park. After your wildlife viewing experience and driving around the beautiful diverse scenery during your game drive in Lake Manyara national park, your guide will drive you to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Twiga lodge.
Day 9; transfer to Serengeti national park
After breakfast at your lodge, your guide will drive you to Serengeti national park where you will engage in more wildlife viewing activities after checking in at your lodge in the central part of the national park. You will have lunch at your lodge and after engage in a game drive.
You will explore the savannah plains of Serengeti national park in search of wildlife species like elephants, lions, buffalos, giraffes, rhinos, antelopes, zebras, wildebeests, hippos, cheetahs, leopards among others. After your game drive, you will return to your lodge for dinner and to spend the night at Osinon camps and lodges.
Day 10; Serengeti national park
Your guide will pick you up from your lodge early in the morning for a morning game drive around the vast plains of Serengeti national park. You will explore the Seronera area in search of lions, elephants, buffalos, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, zebras, hartebeests, cheetahs among other wildlife species. You will enjoy your lunch after your morning game viewing experience in Serengeti.
After lunch, you will explore the central plains of Serengeti national park and enjoy an afternoon game drive as you search for different wildlife species like the big 5 such as elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards, buffalos. You will return to your lodge after your full day of exploring the national park and have your dinner and overnight at Osinon camps and lodges.
Day 11; drive to Ngorongoro crater
Your guide will drive you to Ngorongoro conservation area after your breakfast and checking out of your lodge in Serengeti national park. You will engage in a game drive in the Ngorongoro crater after descending about 600 meters into the crater where you will look out for wildlife species such as lions, elephants, leopards, buffalos, rhinos, cheetahs, wildebeests, zebras, hippos, waterbucks among others.
You will also enjoy seeing bird species like flamingos during your safari experience in the Ngorongoro crater and later return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Hhando coffee lodge.
Day 12; transfer to Tarangire national park
After having breakfast and checking out of your lodge, your guide will drive you to Tarangire national park which is home to many elephants as well as other wildlife species. You will check in at your lodge before engaging in a game drive in Tarangire national park.
You will search for wildlife species around the national park such as elephants, giraffes, lions, buffalos among others during your game drive as you enjoy the beautiful scenery and return to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Tarangire Roika lodge.
Day 13; full day in Tarangire national park
You will start your full day of wildlife viewing in Tarangire national park with breakfast at your lodge. You will spend the day exploring the national park in search of wildlife species such as elephants, lions, giraffes, antelopes, impalas, elands, dik dik, elands, and gazelles among others. You will have your lunch after your morning game drive.
After lunch, you will engage in another game drive around Tarangire national park and enjoy seeing baobab trees as you look out for the wildlife species in the national park. After the game drive, your guide will drive you to your lodge for dinner and overnight at Tarangire Roika lodge.
Day 14; drive to Arusha and Maasai experience
After having breakfast and checking out of your lodge, you will be driven to Arusha where you will engage in a cultural experience with the Maasai people. You will visit a Maasai village and interact with the Maasai as you get to know more about their way of life and enjoy a walking safari around the Maasai village and also learn about the hunting techniques of the Maasai among other activities.
You will also enjoy a traditional lunch during your Maasai experience and later return to your hotel in Arusha where you will have your dinner and spend the night at Tulia boutique hotel and spa.
Day 15; departure
You will have breakfast ahead of your flight and your guide will drive you to the airport which will bring your safari to an end.
