Kilimanjaro & Tanzania Wildlife Safari
Consider this your invitation to explore one of the world's iconic mountains and witness the best game parks in the world. Kilimanjaro's snow-capped peak is one of the most awe-inspiring sights in Africa, rising up to an impressive 19,343 feet above sea level. It is one of the world's highest volcanoes, the highest mountain on the African continent, and the highest free-standing mountain on earth. You'll spend 7 days trekking on Kilimanjaro (fully supported with guides and porters) followed by 7 days exploring Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro Crater, and the Serengeti. Along the way you'll see Tanzania's astounding wildlife and spend time with the Maasai to learn about their culture and daily lives.
On this Tanzania journey you'll experience all this fascinating country has to offer with your private guide and vehicle. Accommodation is a mix of mountaineering tents (on the Kili trek), small tented camps and comfortable lodges set in the remote African wilderness.
Sept 3-17, 2022
Registration Deadline: May 1, 2022
10 guests maximum
Kilimanjaro - The Lemosho Route
Our path to the summit of Kilimanjaro follows the Lemosho Route, one of the longer trails up the mountain. We’ll take 6 days to reach the summit and the high elevation camps should allow time for acclimatization. Lemosho is one of the more scenic routes with spectacular views of the sprawling Tanzania plains and the famous snows of Kilimanjaro.
The Lemosho Route starts in lush rainforests on the western slopes of Kilimanjaro. The first day takes us to Lemosho Forest Camp, hiking through the tropical rainforest with an excellent chance of seeing monkeys and a variety of birds. The hike then heads up to the rim of the Shira Plateau for our second night at Shira 1 Camp. Along the way we’ll transition from rainforest to the higher altitude moorlands with fascinating and bizarre plant life. We then make our way across the Shira Plateau, passing the Lava Tower, before dropping down into the Barranco Valley for our next night at Barranco Camp. From here it’s up the steep Barranco Wall as we make our way across the high altitude desert along the southern flanks of Uhuru Peak to Karanga Camp. Climbing higher we finally reach our highest camp, Barafu, at 15,300 feet. From here we’ll make the summit push very early the next morning (around 1am). Summit day will be arduous with arctic conditions but we’ll take it slow with plenty of rests before reaching the summit after sunrise. After celebrating our accomplishment on reaching Africa’s highest peak, we’ll descend to Mweka Camp for the night and return to Arusha the following day.
The Lemosho route is about 42 miles from gate to gate. The Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb is considered a strenuous and physically demanding trip reaching altitudes exceeding 19,000 ft above sea level. The entire trek is non-technical (does not require crampons, ice axes, etc) but it is imperative that you are fully prepared (both physically and mentally) for this trip.
Tanzania Wildlife & Culture Safari
Once we’re off the mountain, we’ll return to Arusha for a well-deserved rest. We then head off to visit some of Africa’s iconic wildlife parks and experience Tanzania’s vibrant cultures. From Arusha, we’ll head west toward the volcanic highlands and the national parks. We stop at Mbo Wa Mbu village for lunch and to wander the local market for a glimpse of daily life in Africa. In the afternoon we’ll visit Lake Manyara, famous for its flamingoes, herds of elephant, and tree-climbing lions. The next morning, we drive up the escarpment then down to the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater. An extinct volcano, this massive crater supports a variety of wildlife and with luck we may see the endangered black rhino. Later in the afternoon we’ll depart Ngorongoro and drive to the central Serengeti. We’ll spend two full days exploring the vast Serengeti plains, searching for wildebeest herds, elephants, lions, cheetahs and enjoying the African wilderness.
Our safari ends with a drive back over the highlands to a small tented camp located on Maasai land. Here we’ll have the opportunity to experience the Maasai culture. We can visit an authentic Massai boma, join them on bush walks, or simply hike to a hilltop and enjoy the sweeping views over the plains and Lake Manyara. Finally we return to Arusha with lunch and a tour of the Shanga Workshops (a non-profit benefiting Tanzania’s disabled population) before our transfer to the airport and our flight back home.
If you're interested in only the Kilimanjaro trek, please contact us and we'll send you the rate.
What's Calling You to Africa?
An exhilarating trek in search of endangered mountain gorillas? Experiencing the vast desert wilderness of Namibia? Following a herd of elephants on foot? Paddling papyrus lined waterways of the Okavango? Discover your African adventure on one of our safari packages or we'll help design your own itinerary.
