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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • A transfer from the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Nairobi - Masai Mara National Reserve

Nairobi - Masai Mara National Reserve

You will wake up and eat breakfast before driving via Narok town to the Masai Mara National Reserve, home of the Masai tribe. The proud, young Masai warrior-nomads with their plaited hair, red cloaks and spears will challenge your curiosity.

The 700-square-mile game reserve itself is the Africa of your dreams, complete with wild animals grazing amid the superb rolling landscape of gentle hills and acacia woodlands. Check in to your camp and eat lunch at 12:30pm. There will be time to settle in before your first game drive at 4:00pm. Return to the lodge before dark and enjoy dinner at the campsite.

Main Destination:
Masai Mara National Reserve (Kenya)
Best Time To Visit June to October (For general wildlife viewing) and August to October (For wildebeest migration)
High Season June to October and December to March
Best Weather June to October (Sunny, but not too hot)

Wildlife in Masai Mara NR

ElephantCommon
GiraffeCommon
LionCommon
CheetahCommon
ZebraAbundant
WildebeestAbundant
Show more
BuffaloCommon
HippoCommon
HyenaCommon
LeopardOccasional
Wild DogVery Rare
Accommodation:
Mara Moutain Rock Spring Tented Camp
  • Budget tented camp located in or near Masai Mara NR (Kenya)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 2

Masai Mara National Reserve

Masai Mara National Reserve

Today you have the option of going on a hot air balloon ride (cost not included). You will take to the skies for the ultimate Masai Mara wildlife adventure, soaring in a hot air balloon over herds of game to the inner reaches of the park. You’ll ascend in the early morning when winds are calmest. Watch as the professional crew fills the balloon with hot air. Slowly the big, colorful bag begins to bulge and take shape! After your incredible flight, it’s time to come back down to earth for breakfast. You might wonder what all the ordinary people are doing on this perfect African morning! Before leaving, the pilot will present you with your balloon flight certificate, and then you’ll enjoy a game drive en route back to the camp

If you don't opt for the balloon ride, you will have your breakfast in the camp and then check out before going on a game drive. You have an option of going on a boat ride or just relaxing at the next camp.

Main Destination:
Lake Naivasha (Naivasha, Kenya)
Accommodation:
Camp Carnelley's
  • Budget lodge located at Lake Naivasha (Naivasha, Kenya)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 3

Lake Naivasha - Arusha

Lake Naivasha - Arusha

After an early morning breakfast, we will depart for Arusha via Nairobi. Our journey will take us across the border into Tanzania, arriving in the picturesque town of Arusha in time for lunch. Arusha sits at the foot of rugged Mount Meru and is the gateway to most of Tanzania’s safari sites. The afternoon will be spent at your leisure.

Main Destination:
Arusha (City, Tanzania)
Accommodation:
The Charity Hotel
  • Mid-range hotel located in Arusha (City, Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 4

Arusha - Serengeti National Park

Arusha - Serengeti National Park

After breakfast you will be transferred to the famous Serengeti National Park. This park is to Tanzania what the Masai Mara Game Reserve is to Kenya. Covering 14,763 sq km, the Serengeti is dominated by vast, open plains and an abundance of wildlife. A picnic lunch will be provided en route, and the afternoon will be spent viewing game and absorbing the breathtaking scenery. Your dinner and overnight will be at the Seronera Campsite.

Main Destination:
Serengeti National Park (Tanzania)
Best Time To Visit January to February and June to October (Different areas are best at different times)
High Season July to March (The Seronera area is crowded)
Best Weather June to October (Little to no rainfall)

Wildlife in Serengeti NP

ElephantCommon
LionCommon
CheetahCommon
BuffaloAbundant
ZebraAbundant
WildebeestAbundant
Show more
GiraffeCommon
HippoCommon
HyenaCommon
LeopardOccasional
Black RhinoVery Rare
Wild DogVery Rare
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Serengeti NP (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 5

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater

Today you we will transfer to the Ngorongoro crater via Olduvai Gorge. Ngorongoro is an impressive 20km wide volcanic crater with 600m walls. The views from the crater rim are breathtaking, and there is an ever-present abundance of wildlife due to the permanent water supply on the crater floor. Olduvai Gorge is famed for being the site where 3.5 million year-old fossil fragments of an early human civilization were discovered. We will enjoy lunch overlooking the crater, and the afternoon will be spent at your leisure.

Main Destination:
Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
Best Time To Visit June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)
High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)
Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

LionCommon
BuffaloAbundant
ZebraAbundant
WildebeestAbundant
HyenaAbundant
Show more
ElephantCommon
HippoCommon
LeopardOccasional
Accommodation:
Octagon Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located in or near Ngorongoro Crater (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 6

Karatu - Arusha

Karatu - Arusha

Today you will make your way to Arusha. A pre-departure group meeting with your mountain guide is scheduled for the early evening.

Situated in the heart of a major coffee growing region, Moshi is an attractive, small town of about 150,000 people that sits at the base of Kilimanjaro. Despite the teasing proximity of the snow-capped mountain, Moshi is not the cool highland settlement you might expect. Instead, lying at an altitude of 810 meters, it has a surprisingly humid, sticky climate that is reminiscent of the coast. Moshi means “smoke” in Swahili, but the origin of this name is something of a mystery.

Main Destination:
Arusha (City, Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Octagon Lodge
  • Mid-range lodge located in Karatu (Town, Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 7

Machame Gate - Machame Camp

Machame Gate - Machame Camp

After breakfast we will drive approximately one-hour drive to the village of Machame. Depending on the road conditions, it may be possible to drive 3km further from the village to the Machame gate in Mt. Kilimanjaro National Park (1815m). After registering at the gate office, you will start your ascent and enter the lush rain forest. Here you will listen to the sounds of many exotic birds and possibly see monkeys like the black and white colobus. These monkeys are black with a long ‘cape’ of white hair and a flowing white tail. We cover a lot of distance today, though the gradient is gradual. We climb the lower slopes of the mountain and end at the Machame Campsite, just beyond the rain forest and within the fascinating heath-land.

Hiking Time: 6-7 hrs
Total Distance: 18km
Starting Altitude: 1490m
Final Altitude: 2980m
Habitat: Montane forest.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 8

Machame Camp - Shira Camp

Machame Camp - Shira Camp

Rise early and climb steeply through the savannah heath land, seeing trees such as Giant Heather and Erica. You will encounter gentler ascent through the lower alpine moorland, which is notable for its beautiful wild alpine flowers, unique giant lobelia and giant groundsel (senecio kilimanjari) plants. If it is a clear day, you will have direct views of Kibo Peak, which is the ultimate goal of your adventure.

After a short lunch and rest, you will traverse west across the Shira plateau towards the river gorge and the Shira campsite. Your night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Hiking Time: 6-7 hrs
Total Distance: 9km
Starting Altitude: 2980m
Final Altitude: 3840m
Habitat: Moorland.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 9

Shira Camp - Barranco Camp

Shira Camp - Barranco Camp

Today we turn east and continue to climb “pole pole” (slowly, slowly) through increasingly rocky and barren terrain. We will eat lunch and then ascend the rocky scree path to the Lava Tower (4630m). The trek starts to become more difficult as the trail steepens, and most hikers will start to feel the effects of the altitude, such as weakness and lack of breath.

From the Lava Tower, we descend steeply for two hours and more than 600m into the Great Barranco Valley. This descent affords fantastic views and some great photo opportunities of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. You will also experience the clear benefits of this acclimatization day as we lose altitude on the way to our camp.

Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides by the Breach Walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above.

Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs
Total Distance: 15km
Starting Altitude: 3840m
Final Altitude: 3950m (via 4630m)
Habitat: Montane Semi-Desert.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10

Barranco Camp - Barafu Camp

Barranco Camp - Barafu Camp

Today we tackle the Great Barranco Wall – an imposing face above your camp. A steady climb up the eastern wall takes us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may catch some awesome views of Kilimanjaro.

Our trail continues down into the Karanga Valley, and then joins up with the Mweka route – our descent trail. In this valley your porters will stop to collect water as there will be none up ahead. Here the temperature grows colder as we follow the trail climbing through this empty and dry landscape up to Barafu Camp.

In preparation for your final ascent tonight, you will familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark and prepare your equipment and thermal clothing. Sleep may be difficult, but you will lie down after dinner to rest for the 1345m final ascent.

Hiking Time: 7-8 hrs
Total Distance: 13km
Starting Altitude: 3950m
Final Altitude: 4550m
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 11

Barafu Camp - Summit - Mweka Camp

Barafu Camp - Summit - Mweka Camp

Today you will be awakened in time to leave camp by around 12:00am. After a warm drink and a light snack, you will begin the most difficult but also most rewarding day of the trek – your hike up to the top of Africa. Climbing through the dark, you will ascend passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers. After approximately six hours of slow but strenuous hiking, you will reach the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5685m.

It is here where you will be rewarded with a breath-taking sunrise (weather permitting), which we will enjoy while taking a short rest. From Stella Point the ascent trail to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, is normally snow-covered. Take a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment, as this is a day to remember for the rest of your life!

Total Distance: 7km to summit, 23km descent
Starting Altitude: 4550m
Summit Altitude: 5895m – Uhuru Peak
Final Altitude: 3100m
Habitat: Stone scree, ice capped summit, alpine desert.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • In or near Mt Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 12

Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Moshi

Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate - Moshi

Today you will wake up full of oxygen and ready to descend thanks to the much lower altitude. Enjoy the forest on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Upon arrival at the Mweka gate, successful hikers will receive their summit certificates (gold for Uhuru Peake, green for Stella Point).

From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village for lunch, normally a muddy, one-hour hike. Upon arrival to Moshi in the afternoon you will relax, enjoy a much-deserved shower and a congratulatory beverage.

Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs
Total Distance: 12km
Starting Altitude: 3100m
Final Altitude: 1980m
Habitat: Montane forest.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.
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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris Ltd, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of Kenya Walking Survivors Safaris Ltd.