Kilimanjaro Safari Zanzibar – 18 Days Best of Tanzania

Day 1: Arrival

You will be met at the International Airport by your driver/guide and our representative. We will take you to Ilboru Safari Lodge in Arusha (or similar). Alternative accommodation is at Kigongoni Lodge.

Our safari manager will come to meet you and to provide you with a briefing about your Kilimanjaro Safari Zanzibar combination.

Dinner is included.

NB –if you arrive into another airport than Kilimanjaro we’ll arrange a connection flight to Arusha either on arrival or the following day (at extra cost). From Nairobi also road transfers in private or shared vehicles possible.

Day 2: Mt Kilimanjaro, Arusha – Machame Camp

In the morning we’ll transfer to the Machame Park Gate (5,950 ft./ 1,815 mt.). After registering with the park authority, we’ll begin our climb through the lush forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and you may even see black & white colobus monkeys and sykes monkeys as they hike along the knotted roots.

We’ll continue on to some heath land before reaching our overnight camp at Machame Camp (9,850 feet, 6-7 hours of walking), just above the forest zone. The trek is quite long, thus not steep and mud on the forest floor.

Overnight at Machame Camp. All meals included.

Day 3: Mt Kilimanjaro – Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Today’s segment of the ascent will continue across beautiful heath land and alpine moorland with magnificent views of Kilimanjaro Peak. We begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, and trees of Giant Heather and Erica. Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by lobelia and senecio plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. We’ll overnight at Shira Camp (12,600 feet, 5-6 hours of walking).

Overnight at Shira Camp. All meals included.

Day 4: Mt Kilimanjaro – Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

We’ll draw nearer the peak as we get closer to the Lava Tower. The trek becomes a bit more strenuous as the trail steepens on the approach to the lava Tower, a 300 foot tall volcanic plug which marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley.

Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (SenecioKilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Then we slowly ascent to our overnight stop at Barranco Camp (12,950 feet, 5-6 hours of walking). This day and the following day will be your acclimatization time.

Overnight at Barranco Camp. All meals included.

Day 5: Mt Kilimanjaro – Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp

The day will begin with a descent into the Gorge, before we climb its eastern wall where we will enjoy views of Kilimanjaro’s ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. We will continue trekking until we reach our camp in Karanga Valley (13,900 feet, 4-5 hours of walking).

Overnight at Karanga Valley Camp. All meals included.

Day 6: Mt Kilimanjaro – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp

We’ll trek up through the KarangaValley, the trail turns steadily uphill, following the lava ridge to the Barafu camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp.

Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Barafu camp (15,200 feet, 6-7 hours of walking).

Overnight at Barafu Camp. All meals included.

Day 7: Mt Kilimanjaro – Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Just after midnight we start of a challenging trek(12-18 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:30 to 1am, passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to the rim at Stella Point.

The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between 10 deg. F (-12 deg. C) to –10 F. (-23 deg. C) just before dawn at the summit. As dawn nears, we’ll summit at Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet. Uhuru will be the culmination of – and the reward for – 6 -7 hours of strenuous hiking. We’ll then descend back to Barafu Camp, resting for a while before continuing our descent to Mweka Camp (9,840 feet, 3-4 hours of walking on the descent).

Overnight at Mweka Camp. All meals included.

Day 8: Mt Kilimanjaro – Mweka Camp to Park Gate

We’ll make our final descent to the park gate, a walk of about 3 or 4 hours. After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we’ll drive to Arusha.

Overnight at Rivertrees Country Inn or Mount Meru Game Lodge. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 9: Lake Manyara

After breakfast we depart to Lake Manyara. Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. You can see many game animals such as Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, hippo and others.

Overnight at Rift Valley Lodge at Lake Manyara. All meals included.

Day 10: Lake Manyara – Serengeti

After breakfast you start on your way to Serengeti National Park. After stopping for your picnic lunch on a kopje (rock outcropping) in Serengeti you will continue further into the park and go on a game drive.

Overnight at Kati Kati Tented Camp, Central Serengeti. All meals included.

Accommodation at a Lodge in Serengeti with some supplement (on request).

Day 11: Serengeti

A full day of game drives around Serengeti. Depending on the time of year and the migration of the herds you can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species.

Overnight at Kati Kati Tented Camp Serengeti at Central Serengeti. All meals included.

Day 12: Ngorongoro

After breakfast you will drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After arrival you will descent into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater. As very few animals migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. Your Driver/Guide will be in contact with other safari drivers and will amaze you with his skill at locating the hidden animals.

Overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge or Ngorongoro Farmhouse. All meals included.

Day 13: Ngorongoro – Arusha – Zanzibar

After breakfast you return to Arusha in the afternoon for your flight to Zanzibar. Transfer to The Zanzibari Hotel or Blue bay resort (other beach resorts as per request).

Overnight at The Zanzibari Hotel or Blue bay resort or Zanzibar Retreat Hotel. Breakfast and dinner included.

Day 14 – 16: Beach Extension

Relax and enjoy the beaches of Zanzibar. There are a wide range of water sport activities you can do, such as snorkelling, scuba diving, boat trips and more.

Overnight at The Zanzibari Hotel or Blue bay resort. Breakfast and Dinner included.

Day 17: Spice Tour & Zanzibar Town

After breakfast transfer to Stonetown. On the way we will do the famous Spice Tour. We have developed a special Spice Tour with in depth information not only about spices, but also organically grown herbs and a detailed description about their traditional uses in medicine cosmetics and cooking. After the tour we invite for an opulent lunch, where you can taste the spices and fruits.

In the afternoon we will show you Stone Town on our Historical Stone Town Tour. This tour takes you through fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People’s Palace) and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar. You will see Zanzibar’s bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques!

Overnight at Tembo Hotel or Dhow Palace Hotel. Breakfast and Lunch included.

Day 18: Departure

End of your Kilimanjaro Safari Zanzibar combination. Transfer to Zanzibar Airport for departure.

NB –if you depart from another airport than Zanzibar we’ll arrange flight connections to your departure airport (to Dar Es Salaam also ferry boats possible).