Our Mt. Kilimanjaro and Safari Itinerary includes a 7 day Tanzania safari in Serengeti National Park and The Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The short hikes we will complete at Ngorongoro will be ideal for acclimatization for the 6 Day Mt. Kilimanjaro trek up the Machame Route directed by lead Tanzania guide Olotumi Laizer. This reduces the stress and allows for proper acclimatization to ensure you have a challenging but enjoyable experience on our Mt. Kilimanjaro Trek in Tanzania, Africa.
Mt. Kilimanjaro and Safari Itinerary
1/2021 ARRIVAL DAY (Most will fly from the US on the 16th to arrive on the 17th)
Olotumi Laizer and our driver guide will pick you up at the airport and drive you to your hotel.
Overnight you stay at the Outpost Lodge. The Outpost is a very comfortable lodge in a secure location with private rooms and a restaurant that serves western meals. Free Breakfast is prepared by chefs and quite good. Lunch and dinner range between $8 and 15 USD.
1/2021 SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
In the morning you begin your journey to Serengeti National Park. It takes a few hours to arrive and we will likely have lunch at the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater. A short time later, you enter
Serengeti National Park. There you will observe wildlife and enjoy the vast plains of the Serengeti.
Overnight at the public campsite in the heart of Serengeti National Park. This is tent camping and easily one of the most exciting aspects of the trip. All meals for our entire trip will be prepared and served by our own private staff. There is a public restroom with modern toilets at the campground.
1/2021 SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
The full day will be spent in the savannah viewing animals like zebras, wildebeests, antelopes, elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and maybe some lions.
*We will bring a boxed lunch to maximize our time in this pristine wildlife conservation area.
Overnight at the same public campsite in the heart of Serengeti National Park.
1/2021 SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK
We will spend the morning hours exploring the Serengeti plains and follow the great migration. You should see some of the gigantic herds of wildebeests and zebras. You might also spot a hippopotamus and possibly some well hidden predators like cheetahs and leopards.
Overnight at Simba A Campground on the rim of Ngorongoro Crater. This is tent camping. There is a public restroom with modern toilets at the campground.
1/2021 NGORONGORO CONSERVATION AREA
Early in the morning you head to Ngorongoro highland. In the afternoon, you will drive through the famous Ngorongoro Crater. The crater hosts an abundance of wildlife including all of the Big
Five. Expect to see zebras and wildebeests, meet some lions and with some luck, glance at the rare rhinos.
Overnight at the luxurious Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge (A World Luxury Hotel Award Nominee). We will be able to take a midweek break with a hot shower, a tasty meal, and an opportunity to photograph sunset and the following morning’s sunrise from an optimal location on the rim of the Ngorongoro Crater.
1/2021 TREKKING IN NGORONGORO HIGHLAND
After breakfast, you hike on a short trail to Olmoti Crater at 13,000 ft. Prepare to view some beautiful wildflowers and waterfalls. The you drive to the Empakai Crater and hike down to the crater floor where you can enjoy a stunning view of this forested crater with flocks of flamingos in its lake. After hiking back to the rim, you will eat lunch and then drive 10 km to a village to meet the Laizer family. In the afternoon you visit the Primary school where your donations are made.
Stay overnight at campsite in village. This is tent camping. There is a restroom with pit toilets.
1/2021 EXPLORING MAASAI VILLAGE
Spend time with the Laizer family learning more about Maasai culture and life in the village. You might choose to participate in daily activities like milking the goats, taking blood from the cows, dancing with the warriors, and/or walking toward Olodonyo Lengai.
Stay overnight at campsite in village. This is tent camping. There is a restroom with pit toilets.
**At dinner on the last night, you will be able to pass along a gratuity for your guides, cooks, and servers for their extremely difficult work.
1/2021 NGORONGORO- ARUSHA
Enjoy your last morning in the Village before driving back to Arusha, taking in the African landscape along the way.
Overnight at the Outpost Lodge. The Outpost is a very comfortable lodge in a secure location with private rooms and a restaurant that serves western meals. Free Breakfast is prepared by chefs and quite good. Lunch and dinner range between $8 and 15 USD.
Those trekking Mt. Kilimanjaro will meet their guides in the evening for a 1 hour orientation.
END OF SAFARI (Safari Only Guests will be driven to the JRO Airport on 25/1/2019)
1/2021 MOUNT KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Machame Gate (1900m) to Machame Camp (3100m)
After an early breakfast at the Outpost Lodge, you are picked up and driven to the Machame Gate. After a few formalities with the park authorities, you start your trekking tour. At first you slowly climb through the rainforest, enjoying this lush vegetation. Then the trail gets steeper until the forest gradually gives way to the moorland and you reach the Machame Camp.
Overnight you are camping at the Machame Camp. This is tent camping for the entire trek. All meals for our trip will be prepared and served at our camps by our own private team. There is a public restroom with pit toilets at each campground, but we will have a private toilet set up for us by our very hard working team.
1/2021 Machame Camp to Shira Camp (3850m)
The trail continues to climb as you advance through the moorland and come across some scattered heather. Along the way you have some great views of Mount Meru. You scramble up a small ridge, before you reach Shira Plateau on the edge of a moorland plateau.
Overnight you are camping at the Shira Camp.
1/2021 Shira Camp to Barranco Camp (3950m)
Today, you pass by the spectacular Lava Towers and along the South side of Kibo and Uhuru Peak and advance for the first time into the fascinating lunar alpine desert where the vegetation is limited to lichens and mosses. Although you do not gain much altitude over the day, you are
constantly going up and down making this day important for your acclimatization.
Overnight you are camping at the Barranco Camp.
1/2021 Barranco Camp to Barrafu Camp (4600m)
You start today’s journey by scaling the intimidating Barranco Wall that turns out to be an easier climb than expected. At the top of the wall you enjoy a beautiful view. You continue your way gently downhill into the Karanga Valley. At the end of the valley, the trail becomes steeper again and you start to feel that the air is thin. After an early dinner, you go to sleep ready for Summit Day.
Overnight you are camping at the Barafu Camp.
1/2021 Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak (5896m) and on the Mweka Camp (3100m)
At about midnight, you are woken up and commence the final ascent in the light of your torches. In the freezing cold you advance slowly to the crater rim of Kibo where you arrive for the most magnificent sunrise. After sunrise, you continue to climb to Uhuru Peak. Arriving at the highest point of Africa, you enjoy a few moments of unadulterated joy before you descend. At Barafu Camp, you rest for a while and then continue down along the steep Mweka Route that is only used to descend.
Overnight you are camping at the Mweka Camp.
1/2021 Mweka Camp to Marangu Gate (1800m)
Thrilled by the adventures of the last days, you walk down through the rainforest and enjoy the lush vegetation. At the Mweka Gate, your driver awaits you and takes you back.
**From here, you will say goodbye to your team of trekking guides, porters, and cook. This is when you will be able to pass along their gratuity and any gear donation you would like to leave for their extremely difficult work
Overnight at the Outpost Lodge. The Outpost is a very comfortable lodge in a secure location with private rooms and a restaurant that serves western meals. Free Breakfast is prepared by chefs and quite good. Lunch and dinner range between $8 and 15 USD.
END OF KILIMANJARO TREK (Guests will be driven to the JRO Airport on 1/2021)