12 Days Kilimanjaro Machame Route & Zanzibar Beach Holiday

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/Arusha. You will meet your Guide for Pre- trek briefing at your hotel in Moshi. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend the day having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed at our store.

Meal Plan: Bed

Day 2: Hotel – Machame Gate – Machame Campsite

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

After breakfast our vehicle will transport you from the hotel drive to Machame gate. Here you will do the required registration procedures then you will start the trek through the rainforest to Machame camp where you will find the tents are already setup for you. Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 3: Machame Hut Campsite to Shira Campsite

• Elevation: 3000m to 3800
• 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.

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.

Day 5: Barranco campsite to Karanga Campsite

• Elevation: 3950m to 3900m
• Distance: 6km.
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Today is short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for hot lunch. After lunch you will have a bit of rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the southern ice field. You will then return to the camp for supper and overnight. On the 6-day itinerary, after lunch on Day 4 the itinerary omits the afternoon acclimatization trek and continues to include the Day 5 trek, with dinner and overnight at Barafu Camp.

Day 6: Karanga campsite to Barafu campsite

• Elevation: 3900m to 4620m.
• Distance: 8km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert.

On this day, the trek up to the Barafu ridge campsite is tough because of altitude. The walk take few hours because of the short distance but is steep needing a slow pace to avoid fatique. You will trek across an alpine desert. Chances are that a strong, cold wind will be blowing from Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs then rest until midnight when we you will attack the summit.

Day 7: Barafu Hut Campsite / Uhuru Peak / Mweka Campsite

• Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m
• Distance: 15km.
• 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 at Mweka campsite.

Day 8: 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 a shower and your certificate presentation and a well-deserved celebration before the late afternoon drive to Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight to Zanzibar.

Day 9: Airport Pick-up and Transfer to Hotel

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport and take a flight to Zanzibar in the morning. Welcome to Zanzibar. Upon arrival at Zanzibar Airport you will be met by a Kilele Climb Tours representative and transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Meals Plan: Breakfast Included.

Day 10: Zanzibar Beach

After breakfast, you will go on a guided tour of stone town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Experience tracing the footsteps of Arab Sultans on Zanzibar and ponder on the interesting historical sites and labyrinths. See actual Zanzibar doors famous for its unique architectural tradition.

After lunch, we will proceed to a tour of the countryside to the spice plantations. This place has a rich history and you will be welcomed by the rich aroma of spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Afterwards, we take you to Nungwi for your 2 nights’ accommodation.

Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.

Day 11: Kendwa Beach

Kendwa beach is the perfect place to unwind with a good book and a glass of your favorite beverage. This is also a haven for underwater lovers as you can also enjoy a day of snorkeling or scuba diving. Indeed, a place to relax for all type of travelers.

Meals Plan: Breakfast Included.

Day 12: Departure

On your last day, enjoy the rest of your stay by relaxing in the pool or in the beach while taking in as much sunshine as you can. In the afternoon, we will take you to the airport for your onward destination.

Meals plan: Breakfast and lunch. As today is the end of the tour, please note that Accommodation and dinner tonight is not included in the tour.

Accommodation: Can be arranged at an extra cost

Departure Instructions

Please note that the Taste of Tanzania Wilderness Safari & Zanzibar Beach Holiday Tour – 11 Days ends at Zanzibar International Airport. (Advice departure time).