Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.

Day 2: Lemosho Glades to Big Tree Camp

You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process you will still start our climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.

• Elevation 2380meters to 2780meters
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time:3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 3: Big Tree Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Today you will cover a lot of ground as you trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. We will trek through Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds as we head towards our destination which is Shira 2. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude as we head towards Shira 1 and parts of the route are fairly steep. As you proceed towards Shira 2 you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views.

• Elevation 2780meters to 3900meters
• Distance: 16.5 km
• Hiking Time 9-11 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking in to the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.

• Elevation 3900meters to 4600meters to 3950meters
• Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
• Habitat: Semi-Desert

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

• Elevation 3950meters to 4002meters
• Distance: 5.5km
• Hiking Time: 5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

• Elevation 4002meters to 4600meters
• Distance: 4 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 7: Barafu Camp to Uhuru peak to Mweka campsite

Hiking to the summit will begin short after midnight, at around 12:30 A.M., as our path twists through heavy scree towards Stella Point at the crater rim. This part of the hike is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the ascend. Once we reach Stella Point, you will rest and refresh with warm cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by the views of the magnificent sunrise coming above Mawenzi. Going further up, you might encounter snow storm, although it is dictated by the season you are taking for the hike. The summit, Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Kilimanjaro and all of Africa, is just an hour ascend from Stella Point.

From the summit, you will start trekking down to Mweka campsite. Lunch stop will be at Barafu camp, where you can take some rest, before we continue our descend towards Mweka Campsite, which is located in the forest. Here, you will have your last dinner and overnight on the Kilimanjaro.

• Elevation 4600meters to 5895meters (and down to 3100meters)
• Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
• Habitat: Arctic

Day 8: Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate

Breakfast will be served before we begin hiking down to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive summit certificates. Path on the lower elevations can be rather wet and muddy, so the gaiters and trekking poles might come handy. There will be a vehicle waiting at the gate to take you back to your accommodation in Moshi.

• Elevation 3100meters to 1800meters
• Distance: 10 km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 9: Moshi – Tarangire National Park

After a breakfast, your drive will be at your hotel ready to take approximate 3-hour drive to Tarangire National Park. Giant baobab trees, bush savannah and the seasonal marshes add to the wonder of this nature reserve. The Tarangire National Park is considered as one of the best places to view elephants up close. The park is also home to buffaloes, zebras and wildebeests which are always closely followed by a range of predators such as lions. Leopards are seen now and then but cheetahs are rarely spotted. From the open roof of the safari vehicle you will be able to absorb the landscape and watch the animals. In the evening you reach your lodge inside the park.

Dinner and overnight at Marera Valley Lodge

Day 10: Karatu – Serengeti National Park

After breakfast, you will travel via the cooler highlands towards the southern Serengeti and at midday you will reach the plains of the Serengeti National Park. This park is the largest in Tanzania and has a diversity of habitats and landscapes – short grass plains, savannah, thick bush, swamps, and lakes. Bizarre rock formations called kopjes dot the grassy landscape where predators are often seen. The Serengeti is famous for the yearly migration when hundreds of thousands of wildebeests and zebras trek to find fresh grass and water.

Dinner and overnight at Embalakai Tented Camp

Day 11: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Conservation

On your outward journey to the park gate, you will enjoy some more game viewing before you leave the Serengeti National Park in the early afternoon to continue your journey to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. On the way you can also see the Maasai boma with their traditional life. You will be staying at the lodge located on rim of Ngorongoro crater.

Dinner and overnight at Rhino Lodge

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

After breakfast you will descend the crater 600m down the crater for game. The massive collapsed volcano is home to over 25,000 mammals ranging from the Big Five – lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino, and leopard – to spotted hyenas, rare warthogs, and some of the more than 500 bird species of the area. After an extensive game drive and a picnic for lunch at hippo pool, you will leave the caldera in the late afternoon you will leave the crater and drive to Arusha town.

Accommodation: The Bay Leaf Arusha (bed and breakfast)

Day 13: Departure Date

Today you may have a plan to fly home or have a flight to Zanzibar, our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at perfect time to catch your flight.