12 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek & Serengeti Safari

12 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek & Serengeti Safari: Summit to Savannah. This Tanzania safari package is for adventurous travelers who are interested in summiting the beautiful Kilimanjaro Mountain, and then embark on thrilling wildlife encounters in the Serengeti National Park.

From the roof of Africa to the endless plains of the Serengeti, you will be amazed at the beauty that the destination Tanzania has to offer.

Machame Route is one of the most scenic and great treks with a reasonable success rate of summiting Kilimanjaro. This 12 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek & Serengeti Safari is available for booking all year through.

Detailed Itinerary 12 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek & Serengeti Safari: Summit to Savannah

Day 1: Arrival

Upon your arrival at the JRO or ARK, our driver will pick you and drive to Moshi town, the bustling starting point of most Mt. Kilimanjaro climbs. Check in at your hotel. Meet your climbing crew in the evening, familiarize and tick off all that needs to be had for your Kilimanjaro climb the next day. Dinner and an overnight stay at Maridadi Hotel.

Day 2: Pick up and drive to Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation (ft): 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest

The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

12 Days Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek & Serengeti Safari — Machame Camp

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation (ft): 9,400ft to 12,500ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite.

Day 4: Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation (ft): 12,500ft to 13,000ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semidesert

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 “Shark’s Tooth.”

Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000 ft. 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

Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Distance: 5 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. This is a short day meant for acclimatization.

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After breakfast, 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 make 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 7: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
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 2am), we continue our way 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 (18,600 ft), 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 all the way 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 8: Mweka Camp to Moshi, Transfer to Arusha

Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
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 to Arusha. Check in and rest for the rest of the afternoon. Lunch, dinner and an overnight at Zawadi House Lodge

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Transfer to Serengeti National Park, Game Drive

After a sumptuous breakfast at your hotel in Arusha, meet your driver guide and with your packed lunch proceed to drive to Serengeti National Park. Serengeti is home to a great diversity of wildlife, home of the Great Wildebeest Migration, and very scenic endless plains dotted with acacia trees. Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation area and view the crater from the view-point.

Once in Serengeti, embark on an afternoon game drive punctuated with a picnic lunch at a scenic area in the park. Look out for the different animals in Serengeti. Serengeti is a great place to see lion prides almost so easily and predator action. Drive to your camp, check in and relax as you wait for dinner and an overnight at Serengeti Tanzania Bush Camp.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 10 & 11: Full Day Serengeti National Park Game Drives

You will start your days with breakfast at your camp. With lunch boxes, spend these two days exploring the endless plains of Serengeti National Park on extensive game drives, punctuated with picnic lunches.

Elephants, wildebeests, cheetahs, antelopes, kudu, giraffes, waterbucks, zebras, lions, buffaloes, gazelles among others are a common sight. Chance to spot the migrating herds of wildebeests and chance to catch the predator action. Later chase the stunning sunset as you drive to your camp for dinner and overnight stay as above.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12: Departure

Enjoy a relaxed breakfast at the camp and with your packed lunch, say goodbye to the camp that’s been your home for 3 nights.

Drive back to Arusha through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area yet again. Enjoy your lunch en route. You will be dropped off at the airport for your onward flight or hotel of choice in Arusha, ending your Kilimanjaro Summit and Serengeti Wildlife safari.

End of 12 Days Kilimanjaro Summit and Tanzania Safari

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