12-Day Mt Kilimanjaro Marangu Route Climbing and Safari

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrival and transfer to Mc-Elly's Hotel

We will pick you from Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer you to Mc-Elly's Hotel in Arusha town for a pre-climbing briefing. The tour consultant will give you guidelines on what to expect from the first day of the trek to the last and final preparations for the tour. If you have any last-minute questions, this will be the best time to ask for answers and clarifications. You will overnight at Mc-Elly's Hotel.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mc-Elly's Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)

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+8 Photos

Meals & Drinks:

• Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Marangu trek to Mandara Hut

Elevation: 6,046ft to 8,858ft
Distance: 8km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

We depart from Arusha to Marangu Gate for the necessary formalities before beginning our trek. The hiking trail begins by ascending a beautiful, tropical rainforest. At the upper edge of the forest line, we have the opportunity to see blue monkeys. The trail then widens to expose beautiful hillsides until we reach Mandara Hut.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mandara Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut

Elevation: 8,858ft to 12,205ft
Distance: 12km
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Heath

We start the day continuing through the forest until the trail opens into high moorland. We may get our first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks – two of the three volcanic peaks that make up the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo acclimatization

This acclimatization day is optional but please keep in mind that the Marangu Route has the lowest success rate. We recommend that you add this optional one-day stay at the Horombo Hut to explore the surroundings. It will increase your chances to reach Uhuru peak. Dinner and overnight are at Horombo Hut.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo to Kibo Hut

Elevation: 12,205ft to 15,430ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

We climb gradually, then cross the lunar desert of the “Saddle” between Mawenzi and Kibo. Our camp, Kibo Hut, sits at the bottom of the Kibo Crater wall. Once here, we rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Kibo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak

Elevation: 15,430ft to 19,341ft
Distance: 6km
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Horombo Hut:
Elevation: 19,341ft to 12,250ft
Distance: 16km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Heath

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short breaks. At Gilman’s Point (18,600ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak - the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

After spending a few moments taking in the plains of Africa and your accomplishment, we descend to Horombo Hut. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Horombo Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate

Elevation: 12,205ft to 6,046ft
Distance: 20km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

On our last day, we have a long trek (mostly downhill) through the tropical rainforest. Once at the park headquarters at Marangu gate, we collect our summit certificates. A vehicle will meet us here and drive us back to Mc-Elly's Hotel in Arusha for our overnight stay.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Mc-Elly's Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Lake Manyara National Park

We pick you from Mc-Elly's Hotel in Arusha at 08.30 am. You will meet our professional driver tour guide who will drive you to Lake Manyara National Park (about 135km). You will go on a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

Lake Manyara is home to giant fig trees, acacia woodlands, mahogany trees, and grassy flood plains. The contrasts of this area are simply breathtaking, with the open plains, huge escarpment, soda lake, dense woodlands, and distance volcanic peaks. Animals such as elephant, hippo, impala, giraffe, warthog, wildebeest, blue monkey, and buffalo can be seen. This park is also home to leopards and the famous tree-climbing lions.

Lake Manyara National Park provides the perfect introduction to Tanzania’s birdlife with over 400 species that have been recorded within the park's boundaries. Highlights include pink-hued flamingos, herons, storks, and pelicans. Dinner and overnight will be at Migombani campsite.

Main Destination:

Lake Manyara National Park

Best Time To Visit June to October (Easier to spot animals)

High Season July to March (The northern section gets crowded)

Best Weather June to October (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Lake Manyara NP

ElephantCommon

GiraffeCommon

BuffaloCommon

ZebraCommon

WildebeestCommon

HippoCommon

Show more

LionOccasional

HyenaOccasional

LeopardRare

Wild DogVery Rare

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Just outside Lake Manyara NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Serengeti National Park

After an early breakfast, have a full day game drive en-route to Serengeti National Park, crossing over the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

The vast Serengeti plains are home to a huge variety of animals and bird species.

Enjoy game viewing and a picnic lunch en-route to the Pimbi campsite for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Serengeti National Park

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

White RhinoNone

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• Inside Serengeti NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Serengeti National Park - Ngorongoro Crater rim

After early breakfast pack everything, take your picnic lunch boxes and depart with full day game drive en route to the Simba campsite at the rim of Ngorongoro.

You are in Serengeti plains, the world natural wonder, and the first natural African icon. Explore wild predators such as lions, cheetahs, leopards kidding in the branches of trees, flamingos, and water birds on the Lake Magadi, as well as lovebirds and kingfishers across the Seronera River Valley.

Only in Serengeti, you will see millions of big wild mammals and wildebeest’s migration.

Then you will depart with en route game watching across the Kopjes of Serengeti plains to explore the cheetahs, lions, and leopards. Hyenas, jackals, wild dogs, elephants, and small antelopes are plenty, finding their survival in this plain. Dinner and overnight at Simba campsite.

Main Destination:

Serengeti National Park

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On the crater rim of Serengeti NP

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Ngorongoro Crater

At 06:00am have a breakfast and take your picnic lunch Box and descend over 600 meters into the Ngorongoro crater floor for a 6 hour game viewing.

The Ngorongoro National Park supports a vast variety of animals, which include herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and giant African Elephants. Another big draw card to this picturesque national park, is it’s dense population of predators, which include Lions, Hyenas, Jackals, Cheetahs and the ever-elusive Leopards, which sometimes requires a trained eye to spot.

We will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner, which is one of the main features of the crater.

A large number of Flamingos, Hippos and other water birds can usually been seen here.

Late evening drive to Mc Ellys Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:

Ngorongoro Crater

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

Black RhinoCommon

LionCommon

BuffaloAbundant

ZebraAbundant

WildebeestAbundant

HyenaAbundant

Show more

ElephantCommon

HippoCommon

LeopardOccasional

GiraffeNone

White RhinoNone

CheetahNone

Wild DogNone

Accommodation:

Mc-Elly's Hotel

• Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Non-alcoholic drinks

Transfer to airport

After breakfast at Mc-Elly's Hotel and then you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport.

Main Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.