Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing &
Tanzania Safari
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.
|
