14 Days Kilimanjaro Machame – Ngorongoro – Serengeti Adventure

Day 1:  Arrive Moshi

Pick up from Arusha town or Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Moshi town, which is commonly known as the gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. Half Board accommodation at a Base Hotel in Moshi.

Day 2: Moshi to Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Transfer to Machame Gate and begin ascent of Mt. Kilimanjaro via Machame Route. Upon completion of entry formalities, begin walking through the mist on a 4 x 4 track for about an hour into the forest. The track ends, and the trail continues up through the dripping, verdant forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and many even see black & white colobus monkeys and sykes monkeys as they hike along the forest floor. The trek is quite long, though not very steep, and it takes from 5 to 7 hours trekking to reach the first camp. Machame Camp is just above the forest zone, in the heather zone. When it is clear, there are views of jagged Shira ridge and the summit itself.
MACHAME GATE (5,950 ft./ 1,815 mt.) ~ MACHAME CAMP (9,850 ft./ 3,000 m)

Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Wake early to a steaming cup of tea of coffee served in your tent, and then after breakfast, begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, and trees of giant Heather and Erica. The clouds should clear for a beautiful view of the Western Breach and the glaciers atop which mark the summit; Uhuru Peak. Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by the bizarre lobelia and senecio plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. You’ll reach camp after descending a small valley and crossing a brook, then ascending up onto the Shira Ridge, after a total of about 4 to 5 hours of trekking.
MACHAME CAMP ~ SHIRA CAMP (12,600 ft./ 3,840 m)

Day 4: Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

Proceed steadily upward over long ridgelines of high desert about 4 hours, and break for lunch at about 14,500 feet (4,420 mt.). After lunch, continue to Lava Tower, a 300 foot-tall volcanic plug which marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet (4,600 m). 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 (Senecio Kilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Trekking time is from 6 to 7 hours.
SHIRA CAMP ~ BARRANCO CAMP (12,950 ft./ 3,950 m)

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

The day begins with a scramble up the steep ‘Barranco Wall’, then we trek 3-4 hours and stop in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. In the afternoon the trail turns steadily uphill. 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 a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep.  BARRANCO CAMP ~ BARAFU CAMP (15,200 ft./ 4,630 m)

Day 6: Barafu Camp – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp

The steaming hot drink will arrive very early on this momentous day. A midnight wake-up call is the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:30 to 1am. 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. The winding path of endless switchbacks will take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers at early dawn, and behind you the spires of Mawenzi will be silhouetted against the red glow of the sun from beneath the clouds. After about 6 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater, at Stella Point, at 19,000 feet (5,790 mt.), which is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope upward about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak. After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest, then again summon your strength for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night.
BARAFU CAMP ~ UHURU PEAK(19,340 ft./5,895 mt.) ~ MWEKA CAMP(10,200 ft./3,110 m)

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

Descend straight to the gate (2-3 hours), where you’ll have lunch and will be awarded climbing certificates. On arrival at the gate you will have lunch, and then will be transferred transferred back to a Base Hotel in Moshi for dinner and overnight.
MWEKA CAMP ~ MWEKA GATE (6,000 ft. /1,830 m)

Day 8: Morning in Moshi – Afternoon drive to Tarangire

Breakfast at your hotel in Moshi,  after lunch , depart for Tarangire National Park arriving in time for  a short afternoon game drive in the park till sunset. Drive to the lodge for dinner and overnight at the Sangaiwe Tented Camp.

Day 9: Drive Tarangire to Ngorongoro

After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Lunch at the lodge. This afternoon, you will descend 2000 feet (over 600 meters) to the floor of the crater for a day crater tour with picnic lunches. Explore the forest areas that are inhabited by monkey and elephant, the lake area, where you may see the flamingos and the open savannah where the lions hunt for food. Dinner & overnight at the Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge or similar.

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Today you’ll depart early on a morning game drive down into the crater. Discover the diverse areas of forest, swamplands, lakes and open grasslands in this volcanic caldera that’s home to the densest concentration of wildlife in Africa. There is good game viewing year-round, as most animals do not leave the crater. You might also spot Maasai tribesmen guiding their cattle down the steep crater walls to graze. Return to the lodge for dinner and overnight. Stay: Rhino Lodge.

Day 11: Drive Ngorongoro to Serengeti

Drive to Serengeti National Park via Olduvai Gorge, the site of Louis and Mary Leakey’s renowned archaeological discoveries. Their findings include some of the man’s earliest known ancestral remains. Lunch at the lodge in Serengeti. You will have an afternoon game drive in the endless plains of the Serengeti for a chance to see the great herds of wildebeest, zebras and gazelles or a pride of lions lounging in the shade. Dinner and overnight at the Serengeti Mawe Camp.

Day 12: Safaris in Serengeti

Full day  of game viewing in the Serengeti. Meals and overnight at the Serengeti Mawe Camp in the Serengeti National Park.

Wildlife populations double during the migration season, but outside of the migration season, wildlife populations are still some of the densest on the African continent year round.  They include substantial populations of plains game including buffalo, giraffe, and warthog; as well as a wide range of antelope species including dik dik, bushbuck, waterbuck, eland, impala, and topi. With so many prey animals available all year round, predators can manage smaller territories.

Big cat viewing is superb in this region of the Serengeti. Cats include lion, leopard, and cheetah. There are actually twelve different lion prides living within driving distance of the river. Not to be forgotten, the smaller cats such as caracals, servals, and African wild cats definitely make their presence known.

Day 13: Road Transfer Serengeti to Lake Manyara

Enjoy an early morning game drive, before breakfast. After breakfast,  depart to Ngorongoro Highlands. Lunch at the lodge in Lake Manyara.  Afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara till sunset. Dinner and overnight at Isoitok Camp.

Day 14: Drive to Arusha – Depart

After breakfast, you will have a morning game drive in Lake Manyara National Park whose inhabitants include hippos, monkeys, tree climbing lions, flamingos and other variety of birdlife. Lunch at the lodge. After lunch, drive back to Arusha and proceed to JRO for departure flight in the evening.

Tour Price Per Person

Rates are subject to change with notice.

Important to Know

• This tour can’t be booked by solo travelers.
• Rates are per person and exclude the international flight from/to your home country.
• Rates include a fixed budget for flights during this tour. Flights may cost more, depending on travel dates. If so, your quote will reflect this.