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TANZANIA SAFARIS -
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb + Serengeti Safari
- 13 Days
Kilimanjaro Trek Combined With Serengeti Safari:
Day 1: Arrival - Moshi
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, met and assisted. Transfer to
Moshi for leisure sorting climbing gear in
readiness for the next day's trek. Overnight at Keys Annex Hotel on bed and breakfast.
Day 2: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame
camp (2980m
Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 18 km's | Habitat: Montane
forest
Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a
45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m).
The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your
equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can
also buy mineral water in the village. Depending on the condition of
the road, it is possible to drive from the village to the Machame
gate, but if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to
complete. After registering at the gate office, you start your
ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a
strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the
trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will
have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame
camping area in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have
erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will
boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner,
before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can
already drop to freezing point at this campsite, B,L,D.
Day 3: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp
(3840m)
Hiking time: 6 hours | Distance: About 9 km's | Habitat: Moorland
You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour
or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler
gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest,
you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you
will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach
with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a
short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters
will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The
night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous
night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing, B,L,D.
Day 4: Shira (3840m) - Lava Tower
(4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Semi
desert
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape
surrounding Lava Tower , where you reach an altitude of 4630m after
about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before
ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely,
the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for
the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of
breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent
again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching
the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower , the true acclimatisation
benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp
takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some
beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The
camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco
Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you
wait for the preparation of your dinner, B,L,D.
Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu camp
(4550m)
Hiking time: 7 hours | Distance: About 13 km's | Habitat: Alpine
desert
After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing
sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle,
which in the end normally turns out easier than what you
anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now
appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then
heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and
valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the
preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up
the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley , as there is
no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it
is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally
exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow,
stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself
with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is
now a further 1345m up and you will make the final ascent the same
night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for
your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your
headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set
available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your
water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to
get some precious rest and sleep, B,L,D.
Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT, Barafu camp (4550m)
- Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)
Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak | 7/8 hours to descend to
Mweka | Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent | Habitat:
Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you
shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly
direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the
crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers,
mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella
Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded
with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see
(weather permitting).
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From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on
your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak . The time you will spend on the
summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for
too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to
cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember
for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit,
takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest
and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut
(3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock
and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The
camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be
expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be
prepared, B,L,D.
Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate
(1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours | Distance: About 15 km's | Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and
scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name
and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers
receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella
Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who
reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village,
normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will
be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Arusha for a
long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight at
Impala Hotelt, B,L.
Day 8: Arusha - Ngorongoro, Tanzania
Distance: 190 km (4 hrs.). Pick up from your hotel in Arusha Town.
Drive to the crater with unique views of the high altitude rain
forest surrounding the ring. Lunch at your lodge. Afternoon descend
to the crater for game viewing. Ngorongoro Serena Lodge built into
the rim of a dormant volcano. The plant and ivy-covered native stone
blends perfectly with the surroundings. Guest rooms have private
terraces with views of the crater floor where countless animals make
their home. Lunch at the lodge and afternoon you will have crater
tour. This collapsed caldera is 610 meters deep and has a floor 18
km wide. Views from the rim of the crater are spectacular. The
crater has become a unique conservation area where Lion, Elephant,
Rhino and Buffalo roam in perfect safety. Dinner and overnight at
Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge, L,D
Ngorongoro Crater is one of the wonders of the natural world. An
extinct volcano that collapsed around 25 million years ago thus
forming a vast super bowl where the largest permanent concentration
of African game is on display. The views from the top of the crater
wall are absolutely breathtaking which are forested but four wheel
drive vehicles will take you down into this primeval paradise of
woodland, lake, river, swamp and plain that shelters around 20,000
animals. Large grazing animals such as wildebeest, buffalo, gazelle
and zebra that depends on the open grasslands in the crater.
Attracting predators, the black-maned lion, the leopard and hyena.
The elephant found are the lone males. The Fever Tree forests
shelter monkeys, bushbuck and waterbuck and the few black rhino that
have taken refuge here. A soda lake attracts water birds, including
flamingoes and is a favourite place for predators to make their
kill. Wildly beautiful as it is, it is not surprising that
Ngorongoro Crater has been called a Garden of Eden.
Day 9. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania
Full day spent in Ngorongoro Crater with a crater tour session for
game viewing on the crater floor of one of Africa s true wonders of
nature, home of rhino. Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa
Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 10: Ngorongoro - Serengeti, Tanzania
After breakfast, Ngorongoro Crater Area and drive to Serengeti
National Park via Olduvai George, prehistoric site. Arrive at your
lodge for lunch. Game drive in this park with immense herds of
herbivore, wildebeests, gazelles and Zebras followed by predators on
their annual migration to permanent water holes, offering a timeless
spectacle unequalled in the world. Dinner and overnight at Serengeti
Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 11: Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Morning games drive after breakfast. Enjoy the endless plains of
Serengeti with game viewing, A magnificent experience awaits as you
travel to the most famous wildlife park in Africa the legendary
Serengeti. Here you might have the chance to see the migration,
where thousands of zebra and wildebeest make trip from the Masai
Mara every year. Packed lunch is served and proceed for an afternoon
game drive. Dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Sopa Lodge, B,L,D.
Optional hot air balloon ride: US$ 475 per person and visit to a
local Maasai village: US$ 70 per group.
Day 12: Serengeti - Lake Manyara, Tanzania
After breakfast depart to Manyara. Lunch and afternoon game drive in
this superb scenic park set around Lake Manyara, most famous for the
tree climbing lions. Lake Manyara is a birdwatcher's paradise.
Marvel at the variety of species, spoonbill, teal, pelican,
kingfisher, hornbill and cormorant. In the tall trees, forest
monkeys leap from branch to branch on the slope of the Great Rift
escarpment, elephants stand in the shade of the baobab; and in the
acacia woodland, lions lie draped along the branches of the umbrella
trees. Dinner & overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, B,L,D.
Day 13: Lake Manyara - Arusha - Departure
After breakfast, drive back to Arusha for lunch. Later transfer to
Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight out, B,L.
Tour Price: US$ 3,510 per person
sharing. Single room supplement: US$ 380
The above price is inclusive of:
-Guarantee price & guarantee departure upon confirmation
-Transfer from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
-Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
-Machame route trek
-Full board accommodation whilst on the trek.
-Meal plan as detailed: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
-Accommodations at Keys Annex Hotel and Impala Hotel on bed and
breakfast
-Full accommodation in camps on the mountain as per the itinerary
-All park entrance fees to include government taxes
-Service of an English speaking professional Mountain guide on the
mountain, porters and skilled cook
-Treated water on the trek
-2 night of full board accommodation in double/twin room on safari
at Ngorongoro Crater
-Service of an English speaking professional driver/guide
-Ground transport on safari in a comfortable 4x4 safari landcruiser
-Complementary bottled water on safari
-Crater tour services (Game drive and crater fees)
-Chemical toilet on the mountain
-Group maximum of 12 climbers for personalised service
Excluded:
-Laundry, tips, sleeping bags (thermal ones which can withstand upto
-10 degrees celcius), beverages/drinks and climbing gears
-Emergency Oxygen, available on request at $200 per group (MUST BE
REQUESTED IN ADVANCE)
-International flights and taxes
-Traveler’s insurance and medical evacuation insurance
-Passports and visas
-Items of a personal nature and any other extras not detailed in the
above itinerary
To reserve this tour,
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