10-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking & Wildlife Safari

Karibu Tanzania! On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport your driver guide greets you and transfers you comfortably by road to your lodge in Arusha.

In the evening you have your pre-climb briefing and a check of your trekking gear. Stroll through the peaceful grounds, catch a glimpse of the rugged peaks of Mount Meru and enjoy dinner before a good night's rest.

After breakfast at around 08:00 your driver transfers you to Marangu Gate. Once registration formalities are complete, you begin the trek – about 8 km and 4–5 hours – through the montane forest to Mandara Hut, set on the edge of the forest belt just below Maundi Crater.

After a rest your guide leads you up to Maundi Crater, from where on a clear day there are wonderful views to Lake Chala and Lake Jipe, the Usambara Mountains and Amboseli National Park in Kenya. The trails are well established and the forest is rich in plants and wildlife.

Dinner and the night are at Mandara Hut.

Today the trail climbs out of the forest and continues through the heather towards Horombo Hut, at 3,720 m.

As the vegetation opens up you are rewarded with your first striking views of the jagged Mawenzi peak and the great dome of Kibo.

Enjoy hearty, energising meals and the night at Horombo Hut.

After a leisurely breakfast you spend the day at Horombo to rest and acclimatise to the altitude, reducing the risk of altitude sickness.

For a gentle walk high and sleep low, you can trek to Zebra Rocks, about 3–4 hours there and back – named for the distinctive black and white stripes that make them look like a zebra's coat.

Return to the hut for a hot lunch, relax ahead of tomorrow's climb and enjoy dinner and the night at Horombo Hut.

After breakfast you continue to Kibo Hut at 4,720 m, a trek of about 9 km and 6–7 hours. It is a demanding day across the bare, high-altitude desert of the Saddle that links Kibo with Mawenzi.

Arrive in good time to eat, rest and prepare your gear for the summit attempt, which begins around midnight.

Dinner and a short night at Kibo Hut.

You set off for the summit at around midnight – the best time, as it brings you to the crater rim to watch a glorious golden sunrise, and the loose scree is frozen, making the climb noticeably easier. The ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa, takes around 6–7 hours.

After celebrating on the roof of Africa you descend by the same path; as the ground thaws the descent is quick. Back at Kibo Hut you have a warm meal and rest for 1–2 hours before continuing down to Horombo Hut, arriving in the afternoon – about 16 km from Uhuru Peak.

Enjoy a well-earned dinner and the night at Horombo Hut.

The final stage of the descent takes you from Horombo Hut down past Mandara Hut (2,720 m), where lunch is served, and on to Marangu Gate at 1,897 m.

At the gate you receive your summit certificate – please keep all your gear with you until we leave the park. Your driver guide then transfers you comfortably by road to your lodge in Arusha for a hot shower, dinner and a restful night on full board.

After breakfast at around 08:00 your safari guide drives you towards Karatu, stopping at a Maasai boma to immerse yourself in the vibrant traditions and warm hospitality of the Maasai.

Learn about their way of life, join in traditional dances, dress in their colourful shukas and taste local delicacies, with a picnic lunch along the way.

Continue to your lodge in the small, dusty town of Karatu to rest, followed by dinner and the night.

After breakfast at around 08:00 your safari driver guide takes you into the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and down 610 m into the world's most celebrated volcanic caldera – the largest intact and unflooded crater on earth – to explore its 260 km² floor.

Take in breathtaking views of the crater walls and its mirror-like soda lakes, search for the Big Five and enjoy a wonderful array of birdlife.

After a picnic lunch you drive back to your lodge in Arusha for dinner and the night.

After breakfast at around 08:00, and depending on your flight time, your safari driver guide transfers you comfortably by road to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your international flight home.

We wish you a safe journey, full of lasting memories of the roof of Africa and the Ngorongoro Crater.