14-Day Hiking & Bush Combo Safari

Overview

Day by day

1. Day 1 Arrival in Moshi
   • Arrival: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport. Our driver will meet you and transfer
   • Dinner & Overnight Relax, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the adventure ahead.
2. Day 2 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 1; Machame Gate to Machame Camp
   • Start of Kilimanjaro Trek: After breakfast, you’ll depart for Machame Gate (1,640m). Start trekking through the rainforest, ascending to Machame Camp (~3,020m).
   • Hiking Distance: ~10 km (5-7 hours).
   • Elevation Gain: 1,380m.
   • Accommodation: Overnight at Machame Camp (tent camping).
3. Day 3 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 2; Machame Camp to Shira Camp
   • Shira Plateau: You’ll continue through heather and moorland, reaching Shira Camp (~3,840m).
   • Hiking Distance: ~7 km (4-6 hours).
   • Elevation Gain: 820m.
   • Accommodation: Overnight at Shira Camp (tent camping).
4. Day 4 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 3; Shira Camp to Barranco Camp via Lava Tower
   • Acclimatization: Ascend to the Lava Tower (~4,640m), then descend to Barranco Camp (~3,960m), aiding acclimatization.
   • Hiking Distance: ~10 km (6-8 hours).
   • Elevation Gain/Loss: 800m ascent, 680m descent.
   • Accommodation: Overnight at Barranco Camp (tent camping).
5. Day 5 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 4; Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
   • Barranco Wall: You,ll scale the Barranco Wall before trekking through alpine desert to reach Barafu Camp (~4,640m).
   • Hiking Distance: ~10 km (8-9 hours).
   • Elevation Gain: 680m.
   • Accommodation: Overnight at Barafu Camp (tent camping).
6. Day 6 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 5; Summit
   • Summit Attempt: You’ll Start your ascent to Uhuru Peak (~5,895m) just after midnight. Reach the summit at sunrise, then descend to Mweka Camp (~3,110m).
   • Hiking Distance: ~5 km ascent (~7-8 hours), ~12 km descent (~5-6 hours).
   • Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,255m ascent, 2,785m descent.
   • Accommodation: Overnight at Mweka Camp.
7. Day 7 Kilimanjaro Climbing Day 6; Descent to Mweka Gate
   • Final Descent: You’ll descend to Mweka Gate (~1,640m) through the rainforest. Celebrate your summit success with a certificate presentation
   • Hiking Distance: ~10 km (3-4 hours).
   • Transfer to Arusha: You’ll drive back to Arusha for a well-deserved rest, dinner and overnight at a lodge.
8. Day 8 Arusha to Lake Manyara National Park
   • Drive to Tarangire: After breakfast, you’ll depart from Arusha to Tarangire National Park (~2.5-hour drive).
   • Game Drive in Tarangire: Enjoy your first full-day game drive in Tarangire, famous for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and the Tarangire River, which attracts various wildlife species like zebras, giraffes, wildebeests, lions, and leopards.

   Activities:

   • Game drive
   • Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park amidst the beautiful landscape.
   • Dinner and overnight at a lodge in the wilderness of Tarangire.
9. Day 9 Full Day in Tarangire National Park.
   • Full-Day Game Drive: Spend the entire day exploring more of Tarangire National Park. The park is particularly vibrant during the dry season (June to October) when animals congregate around the Tarangire River, offering exceptional wildlife viewing. You may also spot tree-climbing lions, cheetahs, and various bird species (over 550 bird species inhabit the park).

   Activities:

   • Morning and afternoon game drives.
   • Optional: Take a hot air balloon safari at sunrise for a bird’s eye view of the Tarangire (additional cost).
   • Enjoy a picnic lunch in the park or a hot lunch at the lodge.
   • Dinner and overnight at the same lodge in the wilderness of Tarangire.
10. Day 10 Tarangire to Serengeti National Park
    • Morning Drive: Early breakfast followed by a drive to the Serengeti National Park through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (~4-5 hours).

    Activities:

    • Picnic Lunch
    • Visit Maasai cultural village
    • Afternoon Game Drive in Serengeti: Arrive in the Serengeti and enjoy an afternoon game drive
    • Dinner & Overnight: Enjoy the Serengeti wilderness at your tented camp or lodge
11. Day 11 Full Day in Serengeti National Park
    • Morning & Afternoon Game Drives: Spend a full day exploring the Serengeti. Depending on the season, you might witness the Great Migration or spot the Big Five
    • Optional Hot Air Balloon Safari (Budget Option): Experience the Serengeti from the skies with an optional hot air balloon safari (at additional cost).

    -Dinner and overnight at the same tented camp in the wilderness of Serengeti

12. Day 12 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
    • Morning Game Drive: After a morning game drive, you’ll drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, with a picnic lunch enroute.
    • Arrival at Ngorongoro: Arrive in the late afternoon and settle in at your lodge on the crater rim.

    Activities:

    • Morning game drive
    • Picnic lunch
    • Dinner & Overnight at a lodge in Ngorongoro: Relax and enjoy the stunning views of the Ngorongoro Crater
13. Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater Safari
    • Crater Descent: After an early breakfast, you’ll descend into the Ngorongoro Crater for a full day of game viewing. Spot lions, rhinos, elephants, and much more in this unique ecosystem

    Activities:

    • Morning game drive
    • Picnic Lunch: Enjoy lunch by the hippo pool inside the crater.
    • Afternoon Game Drive: Continue exploring the crater floor before heading back to your lodge.
    • Dinner and overnight at the same lodge on the crater rim.
14. Day 14 Return to Arusha & Departure
    • Morning Departure After breakfast, you’ll drive back to Arusha (~3-4 hours).
    • Cultural Visit: On the way back, you will visit a Maasai village and explore Mto wa Mbu, a vibrant market town known for its diversity of cultures.
    • Transfer to Airport: Depending on your flight schedule, you’ll be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home or onward destination.

Photographs