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13
DAYS TANZANIA WILDLIFE SAFARI AND MOUNT
KILIMANJARO CLIMB MACHAME ROUTE
Day 01: ARUSHA - MANYARA
Depart Arusha
to Lake Manyara national park to arrive in
time for lunch. After lunch depart for an
afternoon game drive and game viewing. The
park is famous for its tree-climbing lions
and birdlife. Inland of the floodplain, a
narrow belt of acacia woodland is the
favoured haunt of Manyaras? legendary tree-
climbing lions and impressively tusked
elephants squadrons of banded mongoose dart
between the acacias while the diminutive
Kirk?s dik dik forages in then shade, pairs
of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted
on the rocks above a field of searing hot
springs that streams and bubbles adjacent to
the lake shore in the far south of the park.
Dinner and overnight at KIRURUMU TENTED
LODGE.
Day 02; LAKE MANYARA TO NGORONGORO CRATER
Morning game viewing and drive in Manyara.
After breakfast depart to one of the natural
wonders of the world, Ngorongoro crater. The
Crater is one of the world's greatest
natural spectacles; its magical setting and
abundant wildlife never fail to enthral
visitors. It borders the Serengeti National
Park to the north and west. Arusha is known
as the gateway to the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area and the Northern Parks.
Dinner and overnight at NGORONGORO SOPA
LODGE.
Day 03: NGORONGORO CRATER
After breakfast you will be taken 2000ft
down the crater by a 4wheel drive vehicle
for a full day crater tour, picnic lunch at
crater, Also referred to as ?the eighth
wonder of the world? and stretching across
some 8,300 sq km, the Ngorongoro
Conservation Area in northern Tanzania
boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife,
people and archaeology that is unsurpassed
in Africa. The volcanoes, grasslands,
waterfalls and mountain forests are home to
an abundance of animals and to the Maasai.
In the evening ascend to the lodge for
dinner and overnight.
Day 04: NGORONGORO CRATER - SERENGETI
After breakfast depart for Serengeti passing
through Olduvai Gorge the site of Leakey?s
family discovery of fossils of human and
animal ancestors dating back to almost two
million years. The Serengeti ecosystem is
one of the oldest on earth. The essential
features of climate, vegetation and fauna
have barely changed in the past million
years. Early man himself made an appearance
in Olduvai Gorge about two million years
ago. Some patterns of life, death,
adaptation and migration are as old as the
hills themselves. Meals and overnight at
lodge NGORONGORO SOPA LODGE.
Day 05: SERENGETI
Full day in Serengeti plains with morning
and afternoon game viewing and drive. Search
for wild game you might have missed the
previous game drive. It is the migration for
which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over
a million wildebeest and about 200,000
zebras flow south from the northern hills to
the southern plains for the short rains
every October and November, and then swirl
west and north after the long rains in
April, May and June. So strong is the
ancient instinct to move that no drought,
gorge or crocodile infested river can hold
them back. Meals and overnight at
SERENGETI SOPA LODGE.
Day 06: SERENGETI TO ARUSHA TO MOSHI
After breakfast depart to Arusha town-
Safari Destination; it is a starting point
for safaris in the northern circuit arriving
in time for lunch. After connect for
transfer to Moshi arriving in the afternoon
overnight at
SPRINGLANDS
HOTEL (B&B).
Day 07: MACHAME GATE TO MACHAME CAMP
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 untilwe
reach the MACHAME CAMP (F/B).
Day 08: MACHAME GATE TO SHIRA CAMP
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 CAMP
(F/B).
Day 09: SHIRA CAMP TO LAVA TOWER TO BARRANCO
CAMP
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 South East
towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's
Tooth." Shortly after the tower, we come to
the second junction which brings us up to
theArrow Glacier at an altitude of 4876m /
15,997 ft. We now continue down to the
Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3860m /
12,664 ft. 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 10: BARRANCO CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and
continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco
Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at
4200m / 13,779 ft), and the junction which
connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue
up to the Barafu Hut. 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 11: BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA
HUT
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 (5685m / 18,652 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 they 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. It can be very cold at night at
these elevations, but it will be quite warm
by the end of the hiking day. You will want
clothing for both extremes with you. 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 12: MWEKA HUT TO MOSHI
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,
continue another hour to Mweka Village. A
vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to
drive you back to hotel in Moshi. Don't
forget to tip your guides and porters. It is
time for celebration! overnight at
SPRINGLAND
HOTEL (B/B).
Day 13: MOSHI – ARUSHA AND DEPART:
Breakfast at the hotel and later on you will
be transferred to the Airport for you flight
back home.
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