Kilimanjaro Hike and Serengeti Safari
Your Journey at a Glance
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival & Check-in
Once you land at Kilimanjaro Intl Airport (JRO), our representative will be there to meet you and escort you to your hotel in Moshi. Get a much-needed rest after such a long flight as we await to officially start your amazing Safari on the next day.
The 1st night of your Tanzania trip includes;
Mid-Luxury Accommodation at: Kibo Palace Hotel Moshi
Day 2: Arusha/Moshi – Materuni Waterfall Hike and Coffee Tour Day Trip.
Day 3: Moshi – Kilimanjaro National Park (Marangu Gate – Mandara Huts)
You’ll be picked up from your Moshi Hotel and make the drive to Kilimanjaro National Park, Marangu Gate (1870 M) arriving in time for lunch at the gate.
From here, you’ll liaise with your guides and begin your ascent through the verdant rainforest that clothes the lower reaches of Kilimanjaro.
Hiking through this ancient jungle, you’ll get to go on a miniature safari as you spot wildlife such as black and white colobus monkeys along the way.
You’ll spend your night at the modern Mandara Huts (2700 M), which boast luxuries such as solar lighting and flush toilets. You won’t be seeing those again anytime soon!
Destination: Kilimanjaro National Park
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hrs. (8 Km)
Zone: Rainforest
Elevation: 830 M
Meals: Breakfast Lunch & dinner
Day 4: Mandara Huts (2720 M) – Horombo Huts (3720 M)
After your breakfast you’ll set off bright and early today, as you’ve got a long day of hiking ahead of you!
Today’s hike takes you from the verdant rainforest into the stark alpine zone, as you’ll cover more kilometres than your 1st day.
If the weather is clear, you’ll find stunning views of Kibo Glacier on your way before settling down for the evening at Horombo Huts. (3720 M)
Destination: Horombo Huts
Hiking Time: 6 to 8hrs.(12Km)
Zone: Rainforest/Low Alpine Zone
Elevation: 1020 M
Meals: All Meals
Day 5: Acclimatization Day at Horombo Huts (3720 M)
After breakfast, walk towards Mawenzi Hut, passing the unusual Zebra Rocks on the way. It’s a steep climb up a grassy slope, but well worth it: the views over the area towards Kibo are second-to-none. Afterwards, return to Horombo for lunch. Spend the afternoon relaxing and acclimatising to the altitude, or ask your guides about short walks in the area. Take advantage of the rest day here and drink plenty of water – the next couple of days will be pretty intense!
Destination: Mawenzi Hut
Hiking Time: 4 to 6 hrs
Zone: High Alpine Zone
Meals: All Meals
Day 6: Horombo Huts (3720 M) – Kibo Huts (4730 M)
It’s another big day of hiking today, as you’ll make your way to Kibo Hut to set up camp ahead of your summit attempt.
Climbing almost 1,000m, you’ll pass your last watering point at the 4,130m mark before arriving at Kibo Hut (4700 M) in the afternoon.
Remember to drink plenty of water during your early dinner, as you’ll be up bright and early tomorrow to begin your ascent to the summit!
Destination: Kibo Huts
Hiking Time: 5 to 7 hrs. (10 Km)
Zone: Low Alpine Zone/High Alpine Zone
Elevation: 980 M
Meals: All Meals
Day 7: Kibo Huts (4730 M) – Uhuru Peak (5895 M) – Horombo Huts (3720 M)
You’re going to start your day early today – just after midnight, in fact!
Your climbing team will wake you with a cup of hot tea and a light snack for energy as you get dressed and prepare your daypack for the adventure ahead.
You’ll be hiking in utter darkness for the next 5-7 hours, so take it slow and you’ll arrive at Stella Point a few hours before dawn. From here, there’s another two hours of intense hiking before you reach your ultimate goal: Uhuru Peak.
Standing at 5,985m, you’ll be able to experience a spectacular sunrise and take in the panoramic view. You’ve done it.
You’ll then descend back to Horombo Hut via Kibo Hut. At anywhere between 12 and 16 hours of hiking, this is sure to be one of the longest, most grueling days of your life!
Destination: Uhuru Peak and back to Horombo Huts
Summit Ascent Time: 6 to 8 hrs. (5.5 Km)
Descent Time: 4 to 5 hrs to Kibo Huts & 4 to 5 hrs to Horombo Huts.
Zone: Glacial/Low Alpine Zone/High Alpine Zone
Elevation: 1195 M
Meals: All Meals
Day 8: Horombo Huts – Marangu Gate – Moshi
It’s a day of celebration today, as you’ll enjoy one last breakfast on the mountain before descending to the Marangu Gate.
It’s an almost 20km walk today, but the steady downhill makes it a lot easier than the ascent.
Upon arrival at the gate, you’ll get to celebrate with your porters and guides, provide them with their tips for their hard work, and collect your certificate of completion.
Your driver will then whisk you away to your Moshi hotel to get some well-earned rest.
Destination: Back to Moshi
Descent Time: 6 to 8 hrs. (20 Km)
Travel Time to Moshi: 2 to 3 hrs
Zone: Low Alpine Zone/Rainforest
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation at: Kibo Palace Hotel Moshi
Day 9: Moshi – Serengeti National Park (375 Kms, 6 to 7 Hours)
Following your breakfast, we’ll arrange a hotel pickup in Moshi and embark on an approximately 8-hour journey to Serengeti through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. During the drive, you’ll have the opportunity for game viewing along the way.
The afternoon will be dedicated to a game drive in the Seronera region of the Serengeti. Seronera is the central and most accessible part of the Serengeti, housing the Park Headquarters, along with most of the larger lodges and busier campsites. It’s the iconic landscape often seen in wildlife documentaries, characterized by vast open plains teeming with wildlife. The Seronera River plays a crucial role in the Serengeti ecosystem, providing excellent year-round game viewing. This area is especially known for lion and cheetah sightings and offers occasional glimpses of the elusive leopard. After a full day of travel, you’ll be transported to your camp or lodge for dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Drinks: Drinking Water, other drinks are extra.
Accommodation Options: Tanzania Bush Camp
Day 10: Full Day in Serengeti National Park
Today will be dedicated to exploring Serengeti National Park, complete with provided picnic lunches.
This park serves as the annual stage for the grand migration of wildebeest, zebras, and gazelles, as they journey from the Kenyan Mara to the Serengeti. Starting in May or early June, these immense herds commence their northward migration, trailed by predators such as lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs, with vultures soaring overhead.
The Serengeti National Park stands as one of the most renowned wildlife sanctuaries on the planet, housing more than 3 million large mammals. Within its borders, you can observe approximately 35 species of plains animals, including the famed Big Five: elephants, rhinos, lions, leopards, and buffalos. Additionally, you’ll encounter common species like hippos, giraffes, elands, impalas, various antelope species, baboons, and monkeys. The park boasts a rich diversity of over 500 bird species, which encompass eagles, ducks, geese, egrets, vultures, secretary birds, ibises, storks, herons, kites, pelicans, cranes, and guinea fowl.
As the day comes to a close, we’ll head back to your camp or lodge for a delightful dinner.
This Day of African Safari includes:
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drinks: Drinking Water, other drinks are extra.
Accommodation Options: Tanzania Bush Camp
Day 11: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation Area (160 Kms, 2 to 3 Hours)
Following an early awakening and a sip of tea or coffee, we embark on a morning game drive with the choice of an optional balloon safari. We head back to the camp at 9:00 am to enjoy a hearty English breakfast before departing with our picnic lunch.
Later in the day, we’ll set off on an early afternoon game drive en route to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, aiming to arrive there in the late afternoon. We’ll dine and stay overnight at the lodge situated on the crater rim.
If you’re interested, you can also opt to visit the Olduvai Gorge for a fee to explore the museum.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Drinks: Drinking Water, other drinks are extra.
Accommodation Options: Ngorongoro Coffee Lodge
Day 12: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Moshi or Arusha (270 Kms, 5 to 6 hours)
After an early morning meal, we will complete our check-out procedures and begin our descent to the Ngorongoro Crater floor for an exploratory tour. A picnic lunch will be provided in the crater, right beside the hippo pool, where you can have a break, take a stroll, and access restroom facilities.
The Ngorongoro Crater holds the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Site status and is a crucial component of an international biosphere reserve. Covering an area of approximately 300 square kilometers and spanning about 19 kilometers in width, the crater floor lies 600 meters below the rim. It teems with a diverse array of wildlife, including black rhinos, lions, cheetahs, buffaloes, elephants, and numerous antelope species.
In the late afternoon, we will ascend from the crater and make our way to Moshi or Arusha. You will then be dropped off at your chosen hotel or the airport to catch your onward flight bringing to an end what we hope is a safari of your lifetime.
No Accommodation on this last day
Drinks: Unlimited Drinking Water, other drinks are extra
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Hiking Gears
- Sleeping bag (4 seasons)
- Waterproof Hiking boots
- Waterproof jackets and trousers
- Waterproof hand gloves
- Warm clothing
- 5 t-shirts minimum
- Additional sport shoes or sandals
- A warm fleece
- A hat
- A thermal suit
- Gaiters
- Hiking sticks
- Head Torch
- Water Bottle/Camel Bag
- Sunglasses
- Warm Socks *NB: All the gears are available for hiring at a local store in Moshi Town.
What is included?
- All transfers from your Hotel/Airport to designated parks and back.
- All accommodation during the tour (In mountain cabins, Mid-Range Lodges/Camps/Hotels)
- All meals and drinking water during the tour
- All game drives as noted in the itinerary
- Transport in a private 4 x 4 Jeep and with an open roof and vhf radios
- Professional, experienced English speaking tour guides/driver
- All applicable government taxes, levies and park entrance fees
- Dedicated support crew: assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks
- Hiking and safety equipment: Sleeping Mats, Medical kits.
What is not included?
- International flights and taxes
- Passports and visa applications and processing
- Tips and gratuities for drivers/guides
- Personal laundry
- Alcoholic drinks
- Entrance fee for activities noted as optional (on the itinerary)
Gallery
Destinations Visited
Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park & Ngorongoro
Start Point
Kilimanjaro International Airport
End Point
Moshi
Tour Code
NPA002
Highlights of the Trip
- Hike Kilimanjaro and watch a sunrise over ice fields from behind Africa’s highest peak.
- Materuni Waterfall trek and learn the traditional coffee processing by the Chagga Tribe
- Explore the wildlife of Serengeti National Park in depth
- Take a mind-blowing safari across the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater
Got A Question?
Contact us to inquire
- +254 715728479
- info@naturepointafrica.com
