10 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route & Taste of Tanzania Wilderness Safari

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival – Moshi- Pre-trek Briefing

If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. Your guide will meet you at your Moshi hotel for a thorough pre-trek briefing. To ensure you are fully prepared for the trek, we recommend arriving at least one day before it commences. The first day is dedicated entirely to preparing for the trek, which includes a comprehensive briefing and equipment check. Any necessary equipment can be rented from our store, so you can feel confident that you have everything you need for a successful trek.

Day 2: Hotel – Machame Gate – Machame Campsite

• Elevation: 1200m to 1700m to 3000m.
• Distance: 13km.
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest

Once you’re done with your breakfast, our transportation will take you straight from the hotel to Machame gate. Rest assured, we’ll ensure that all the necessary registration procedures are completed before embarking on your trek through the rainforest to Machame camp. Upon arrival, you’ll find that the tents have already been set up for you, so you can relish in a well-deserved dinner and a cozy night’s sleep at the campsite.

Meal Plan: Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 3: Machame Hut Campsite to Shira Campsite

• Elevation: 3000m to 3800m
• Distance: 9km.
• Trekking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorlands

After breakfast leave the glades of rainforest and continue ascending by crossing little valleys and steep rocky ridge covering with heather plants to the western side of the mountain where the camp is situated. At this camp you will able get the spectacular view of Mount Meru, Shira Plateau, Kibo Peak and sunset; then dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 4: Shira Campsite to Barranco Campsite

• Elevation: 3800m to 3950m.
• Distance: 13km.
• Hiking time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

This is long and important acclimatization day so you will be having an early breakfast then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock 4600m for acclimatization. Afterwards you will continue down to Barranco camp. The camp location is in the bottom valley of Barranco wall where you will stop for dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 5: Barranco to Karanga Valley – Barafu camp(4550m)

• Elevation: 3950m to 4550m
• Distance: 13km.
• Hiking Time: 7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarize 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 for not more than 5 Hours.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 6: Barafu Hut Campsite / Uhuru Peak / Mweka Campsite

• Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m
• Distance: 15 km
• Hiking Time: 10-12 hours
• Habitat: Desert and ice.

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. The trails is a series of switchbacks up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point you will be having the views of the fabled crater and its glaciers facing you. Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here you will spend some times for taking photo’s but it will depend on how you feel. After your summit activities done, you will descend back to the Barafu campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue down through moorland and heath zone to Mweka campsite, Dinner and overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 7: Mweka campsite to Mweka gate

• Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
• Distance: 9km.
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest.

Today is your last day on the mountain. After breakfast you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montane forest. This descent will take 3-4 hours. Here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel for your certificate presentation and a well-deserved celebration.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch Included.

Day 8: Arusha to Tarangire National Park.

Distance: Arusha to Tarangire takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (106 km)- Tarangire to Lake Manyara takes about 1hour (69 km)

Pick up at 7:00 AM from your hotel in Arusha and depart for Tarangire National Park with a picnic lunch for a full day game drive. Tanzania’s third largest National park is known for its majestic baobab trees that dot the landscape, dwarfing the animals that feed beneath them. The Tarangire River is the centerpiece of this park which is famous for some of the largest herds of elephants in Africa. Here you may see lion, leopard, cheetah, lesser kudu, buffalo, Oryx, eland, giraffe and zebra. After a full day in the Park, we will drive to the camp/Lodge where a delicious dinner awaits you and spend the night.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included.

Day 9: Lake Manyara to Ngorongo Crater

Distance & Drive Time: Lake Manyara to NCA takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour (41 km)

After an early breakfast you will have a sort drive to the Ngorongoro entrances and few minutes you start descending to 600m down the crater for game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is almost 600 m deep, approximately 20 km wide and the massive caldera is home to an amazing variety of animals. On your game drive you have the possibility of seeing all different kinds of mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard – to Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelles and mountain reedbucks. You might also see spotted hyenas, and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After a picnic lunch in the crater and some more game viewing, you will leave the crater in the evening and travel back to tented camp/lodge where you will be spending the second night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day 10: Lake Manyara National Park to Arusha

Distance &Time: Lake Manyara to Arusha takes about 2.5 to 3 hours (113 km)

You will depart the camp at around 0700hrs and head to Lake Manyara National Park for your final game drive. The park is renowned for its elusive tree climbing lions and diverse bird life. The shallow and alkaline Lake Manyara covers a large area of the park and it is the seasonal home to thousands of flamingos – an awesome (pink) sight. However more than 400 other bird species are also found here as well as some wonderful mammals. Troops of monkeys live in the forests, giraffes, buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests on the grassy plains and elephants. After your tour around the beautiful lake and the amazing ground water forest you will be transferred back to Moshi/Arusha/Airport in the afternoon via curio shops where you can grab some souvenirs to take back home with you.

Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch. As today is the end of the safari, please note that dinner tonight is not included in the tour.

Departure Instructions

Please note that the Kilimanjaro Machame Route & Taste of Tanzania Wilderness Safari Tour – 10 Days ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport at 17.00 hours. Your departure can only take place today if you have pre-booked a domestic flight which leaves from Kilimanjaro International Airport at 19.00 hours or after, or an international flight which leaves at 21.00 hours or after. Otherwise, you will need to book an extra night’s accommodation (not included in the tour price) and take a flight the following day.