14 day - Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Machame route + Tanzania Safari

The Machame route can also be completed in 5 days. On day 3 on the itinerary below, you go directly to Kibo with an overnight at the Arrow Glacier camp, with your final summating attempt on day 4. An extremely physically and mentally demanding option, not recommended for the average climber.

Day 1: Arrival - Arusha
On arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, met and assisted. Transfer to a hotel for an overnight. Dinner and Overnight.

Day 2: Machame Gate (1490m) - Machame camp (2980m)

Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 18 km's
Habitat: Montane forest

Your day starts early with a briefing, followed by breakfast and a 45-minute drive from Moshi (910m) to the Machame village (1490m). The guides and porters prepare and pack the supplies and your equipment in the village. You will receive a lunch pack and you can also buy mineral water in the village. Depending on the condition of the road, it is possible to drive from the village to the Machame gate, Machame Forestbut if not, the muddy 3 km walk will take about 1 hour to complete. After registering at the gate office, you start your ascent and enter the rain forest almost immediately. There is a strong possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very soggy, muddy and slippery experience. You will have a welcome lunch stop about half way and will reach the Machame camping area in the late afternoon.
Your porters (arriving at the camp site long before you) will have erect your tent on your arrival. In the evening the porters will boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner, before you retire to your tent for the night. Night temperatures can already drop to freezing point at this campsite.

Day 3: Machame camp (2980m) - Shira camp (3840m)

Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: About 9 km's
Habitat: Moorland

Shira tent Camp. You rise early at Machame camp and after breakfast you climb an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for 2 hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. After a short lunch and rest, you continue up a rocky ridge onto the Shira plateau. By now you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its stunning glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite at 3 840m. The porters will boil drinking and washing water, before serving dinner. The night at this exposed camp will even be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.


Day 4: Shira (3840m)-Lava Tower (4630m)-Barranco camp (3950m)

Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Semi desert

Lava Tower.The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4630m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4630m). Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch you descent again by almost 680m to the Barranco camping area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner.


Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m)- Barafu camp (4550m)

Hiking time: 7 hours
Distance: About 13 km's
Habitat: Alpine desert

After spending a night at the Great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out easier than what you anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. Turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, you reach Barafu Hut.
The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for "ice" and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1345m up and you will make the Barafu Tent Camp.final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.


Day 6: SUMMIT ATTEMPT
Barafu camp (4550m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m)

Hiking time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak
7/8 hours to descend to Mweka
Distance: About 7 km's ascent - 23 km's descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Stella Point.You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5685m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your live. The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, beforeSummit Group. heading down to Mweka hut (3100m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared.


Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)

Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 15 km's
Habitat: Forest

Mweka Gate. After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Click here for more info on tips. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! You now drive back to Moshi for a long over due hot shower, dinner and celebrations!! Overnight in Springlands hotel.

Day 8 Lake Manyara
Depart Arusha for lake Manyara arriving by lunchtime. Afternoon game drive. Meals and overnight at the camp. All meals included.

Day 9 Serengeti
After breakfast in Ngorongoro proceed to Serengeti National Park through Olduvai Gorge (an archeological site, to see the earlier sign of mankind existence): en route game viewing with lunch boxes, late afternoon game drive and thereafter dinner and overnight at the camp. All meals included.

Day 10 Serengeti.
Spend the day in Serengeti with two game drives, meals and overnight at Serengeti Sopa Lodge. All meals included.

Day 11 Serengeti
Another day in Serengeti with morning and afternoon game drives in search for wild game you might have missed in the previous game drives. Dinner and overnight at the camp. All meals included.

Day 12 Ngorongoro
In the morning drive to one of the natural wonders of the world, the Ngorongoro crater. Dinner and overnight at the camp. All meals included.

Day 13 Ngorongoro Crater
Leave after breakfast with picnic lunch for a full day crater tour, explore the crater, enjoy picnic lunch at the crater before ascending back to the camp for dinner and overnight. All meals included.

Day 14 Arusha
After breakfast drive to Arusha arriving by lunch time. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Thank you and enjoy

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Routes

Marangu Route 8 Days  Affectionately known as the "Coca-Cola route", Marangu is by far the most popular route to the summit of Kilimanjaro. This could partly be as a result of the fact that the Marangu is the least expensive route, but more so, perhaps the fact that it is possible to do the Marangu route in 6 days, thereby getting to the summit one day earlier than on the Machame route.

Machame Route  Sometimes called the Whisky Route. This is a popular route up steep paths through magnificent forests to gain a ridge leading through the moorland zones to the Shira Plateau. It then traverses beneath the glaciated precipices of the Southern Icefields to join the Barafu Route to the summit.

Umbwe Route  The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach. It is probably the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful.

Lemosho Route  This is the longest and most remote route to Kilimanjaro. After beautiful forests and moorlands it crosses the Shira Plateau to meet up with the Machame Route. Groups may be accompanied on the first day by an armed ranger as the forests around the Lemosho Glades are rich in buffalo, elephant and other game.

Rongai Route  This remote and less frequently used route is the second easiest route to Kilimanjaro. The approach to the mountain is from the less-forested north side and the descent is by the Marangu Route. There are several variations, the one described below is a longer route taking in Mawenzi Tarn.

Shira Route  The Shira route, approaches Kilimanjaro’s summit from the west and crosses the caldera of Shira Volcano before heading beneath the southern ice fields of Kibo. The route is seldom used by other trekkers and so your initial two days on the mountain are less crowded than on most other routes.

Mount Kilimanjaro Group Joining Dates 2011 / weather / Best Months to climb Kilimanjaro

Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya Climbing 16 Days

Mount Kilimanjaro Combined with Mount Meru in Tanzania

Mount Kenya Climbing, Mt Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru Hiking

Mount Kilimanjaro Combined with Tanzania Safari

Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania Safari and Zanzibar Beach Holiday Vacation

Oldonyo LeNgai "Mountain of God" in Tanzania

Mount Kenya Climbing  At 5,199 m, Mount Kenya is the second highest peak in Africa. It is an ancient extinct volcano, during whose period of activity (3.1–2.6 million years ago) it is thought to have risen to 6,500 m. There are 12 remnant glaciers on the mountain, all receding rapidly, and four secondary peaks that sit at the head of the U-shaped glacial valleys. With its rugged glacier-clad summits and forested middle slopes, Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa. The evolution and ecology of its afro-alpine flora also provide an outstanding example of ecological processes. There are three main routes, which penetrate the forest and the moorland. The routes are Naromoru, Sirimon and Chogoria and each of which has something different to offer. Naromoru is the fastest route to point Lenana but not as scenic as the other two. Mt. Kenya's Nelion Summit, Batian Summit and Point Lenana

Mount Kenya Climbing Routes

Sirimon down Sirimon  A more gradual trek to the summit, traversing areas of rich forest cover before emerging into the sprawling moorlands. This hike is usually rated as the easiest among the short trips and is quite popular with persons attempting to reach an altitude exceeding 4000m for the first time. It is a good choice for large trekking groups as it follows the same trail up and down, making it convenient for those who are unable to reach the summit to stay behind at lower camps to wait for the rest of the group to complete the trip then descend together. Unless preferred, camping is not necessary as accommodation is available in a lodge and mountain huts throughout the trip.

Mt Kenya Climb Sirimon down Chogoria  On this Mount Kenya climbing experience, you ascend via the dry and little used Sirimon Trail and descend on the scenic Chogoria Trail. You reach point Lenana (4985 m), the highest point accessible to walkers, and return to base. Mount Kenya is Africa's second highest mountain. Above the habitable altitude, you find a rainforest zone, abundant with many tree species and wildlife too. Further up is open moorland, and beyond is the snow line where vegetation is sparse. Finding snow on the equator was a great surprise for the first Europeans to get to East Africa.

Sirimon down Narumoru  The Naro Moru route is the fastest and therefore also the most popular route onto the mountain, being used by many of the tour and outfitting companies guiding clients up to Point Lenana.

Mount Meru Climbing Mount Meru is one of Africa's most beautiful volcanoes, and it is the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4,5685m, the third highest in Africa.
The mountain is located within Arusha National Park, Tanzania’s gem. This prime location gives walkers the opportunity to spot some of the birds and wildlife that inhabit the area. The ascend is quite steep, the route to the summit passes over streams, through parkland, montane forest, a giant heather zone and moorland. The summit is reached by a narrow, barren ridge, which provides stunning views of the Ash Cone lying several thousand feet below in the crater. Weather permitting, Kilimanjaro can be seen in the West. There are two huts available to climbers on the mountain and firewood is supplied. The best time to climb Meru is between October and February. But also June to September, while it is colder then.

Main Attractions
A Tanzania wildlife safari is the wildlife enthusiasts ultimate destination. A number of parks throughout Tanzania offer a host of wildlife highlights. The Big Five of Serengeti National Park is a must, the stunning Ngorongoro Crater is breathtaking, the wilds of Lake Manyara take you back in time and the forested peaks of Mahale Mountains National Park and Serengeti, Gombe Reserve offer the perfect backdrop to track chimpanzees along the shores of Lake Tanganyika, Ruaha, Selous...

Tanzania National Parks Safari Itineraries

Tanzania Safaris / Lodge / Camping book with us for cheap prices

3 days Ngorongoro Crater
3 days Ngorongoro, Lake Manyara

4 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti
4 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire

4 days Ruaha National Park Tanzania

4 days Selous Luxury Lodge Safari
5 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Tarangire
5 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti
6 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti ( Wildebeest migration Special)
7 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, Tarangire
7 days Lake Manyara, Ngorongoro, Serengeti

Tanzania and Zanzibar Honeymoon Trip
Safari in Tanzania then relax in Zanzibar. This twin centre safari and beach honeymoon is for those honeymooners that want something more unique.. We offer a wide range of different types of honeymoons to Africa and the Indian Oceans. To read more about our honeymoon destinations click Safari & Beach Honeymoon Holidays

Tanzania offers some of the best wildlife safaris in Africa. Whether visiting the Big Five of Serengeti National Park, the jaw dropping Ngorongoro Crater, the wilderness of the Selous Game Reserve or the amiable chimpanzees of Mahale and Gombe you will not be disappointed. Tanzania offers the best parks to see big cats and the big five and can be combined with some pristine beaches off the coastline where you can relax at the end of your safari...

Accommodation
A range of safari accommodation is available in Tanzania. Western style luxury lodges and luxury tented camps are available for the wildlife enthusiast. Some of the best lodges include Migration Camp, Ngorongoro Crater Lodge, Migration Camp, Klein's Camp, Nomad's Greytoke, Nomad's Serengeti Safari Camp and Tarangire Treetops..

Safaris
Please find below a selection of sample itineraries with approximate costs for wildlife and migration safaris to Tanzania. Some of these itineraries may also be combined with gorilla safaris to both Rwanda and/or Uganda. These are by no means all of the itineraries that we offer however they will give you a taster of what is available...For further itineraries or enquiries please do not hesitate to fill in our contact form and we will get back to you with a detailed quote and itinerary at the earliest possible convenience.
Tanzania Safaris

A Tanzania Safari with Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing provides you with the ultimate Tanzanian holiday. Experience Tanzania's rich diversity of culture and wildlife. Whether you decide upon: a luxury lodge safari to Ngorongoro Crater, a camping adventure safari in Serengeti, Lake Manyara walking tour, Tarangire Selous, Mikumi, Ruaha, Arusha, climbing Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro, relaxing on superb Zanzibar Beaches, Wedding honeymoon holiday in Africa, Family Holiday vacation Tanzania or a hot air balloon Serengeti Safari, you will have an unforgettable experience. Safari Trips hotel bookings kenya Road Safari Africa tour budget safari beach family holiday packages kenya Ngorongoro Tanzania migration tours Uganda gorilla trekking organizations luxury holiday bookings to Africa holidays in east Africa Kenya walking safari masai mara safari Kenya Tanzania wildlife migration tour Africa adventure tour safari Serengeti Kenya walking safari holidays travel Africa safari budget Tanzania camping safari Tanzania Serengeti adventure trips Kenya Tanzania Zanzibar African wildlife safari Trips Samburu Kenya holiday budget safari family Kenya incentive travel Tanzania Africa wildlife safari tours Kenya/Tanzania combined safari Kenya safari package family Africa tour group Kenya over landing safari Tanzania Africa mount kenia budget group tours of east Africa

We Safaris specializes in:

* Private, Tailor-made Tanzania Safaris, designed to suit your budget
* Breathtaking Natural History including the Wildebeest Serengeti Migration
* Safaris to the Selous Game Reserve and off the beaten track safaris.
* Trekking, mountain climbs and wilderness budget camping adventure
* Tanzania Bird watching Safaris
* Tanzania Photographic Safari
* Tanzania Cultural Safaris

For more adventurous travel, leave the tourist trail and select a private Tanzania safari in the unspoilt Southern Circuit (including the vast wilderness of the Selous Game Reserve). Alternatively, Wild Things Tanzania Safaris provides the challenge of trekking safari in the Udzungwa Mountains, Ngorongoro Highlands or Kilombero Valley. Thrill seekers may prefer to climb Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania's only active volcano or take a sunrise balloon safari across the Serengeti.

Kenya Safaris in the best National Park / Game Reserve

Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Safaris is one of Kenya's finest tours, safaris and travel companies, specializing in short excursions, extended safaris, specialist and tailor-made travel and safaris, car hire, hotel and safari lodge bookings and much much more...

We cover the whole of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda with our centrally based headquarters in Nairobi - Kenya.

African Safari Holiday

An African or Kenya safari is an amazing travel experience. The diverse wildlife and stunning scenery make Kenya and East Africa the perfect safari locations.

As local, African safari operators, we offer you the best holidays with quality,
value for money and personal service.

We also customize our safaris and offer options, such as adventure travel, luxury tours and beach holidays. See our Kenyan and East Africa safari list below, as well as our Tanzania safari and Zanzibar holidays.

African Safari Selection
See below full Kenya Safari list
Kenya wildlife safaris

Masai Mara Safari
A 3 day safari lodge to Masai Mara, one of the most famous national parks in the world, with an abundance of wildlife. Accommodation in luxury lodges which have facilites such as swimming pools. The  Kenya Safaris: can be combined with an African beach vacation if you will be interested to see the beautiful white sand beaches in Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi, Watamu or the Tanzania Island - Zanzibar

Africa Offers
Africa is an immensely rewarding place to travel to, thanks to unspoilt natural surroundings, such as the wildlife and vegetation, and the spectacular landscapes When on safari, you may see everything from snow capped mountains to forests and
white tropical beaches, all in a day's travel- it's that diverse. Finally the local cultures add to your holiday like no where else in the world.

Safari in Africa
Safaris began in Kenya and Tanzania and these are the best destinations for a safari. A Kenya safari offers amazing diversity and superb wildlife viewing. Rift Valley, is a good location too, known as for the scenery and rich wildlife in natural surroundings.

A safari in Africa is in some ways like an expedition - exciting and adventurous, but requiring careful thought and planning , which is what we, as locally based tour operators, are there for.. however you must plan for a leisurely pace of travel to truly enjoy your tour - so whether you have 3 days or 30, make sure you do not plan for too much in your travel.

Most of your safari will be in the " bush ", but this does not mean your travel will involve "roughing it" - you can have all the luxury you want ! Africa is home to many internationally reputed hotels and lodges luxury tented camps, with well appointed rooms, excellent cuisine and deluxe facilities such as bars and swimming pools. You can also fly between most places during your luxury safari.

Africa Safari Planner : See our safari planning guide, to help with the basics of designing your trip, be it Kenya travel ,a Tanzania safari , beach vacation in Mombasa or Zanzibar or an Uganda Gorilla Trek adventure holiday.

3 Days Masai Mara Lodge/ Camping Safari
Masai Mara, Kenya
This famous wildlife park is a top safari location, and one of the natural wonders
of the world, being the site of the annual wildebeest migration..

3 Days Amboseli Lodge/ Camping Safari or Tsavo Safari to Mombasa
Amboseli National Park, one of Kenya's oldest park, is located near the Kenya and
Tanzania border, "in the shadow" of Africa's highest mountain, the snow capped Kilimanjaro.

The park is known for its wildlife, especially it's prolific elephant population.  Amboseli also hosts the big cats, herbivores and numerous bird species including
flamingo and a variety of plains game.

3 Days Samburu Lodge/ Camping Safari

Samburu Reserve, established in 1985, is an arid, hilly region with riverine forests, doum palms, acacia woodland and scrubland, offering a dramatic and rugged landscape in a rather remote location of Kenya - which is precisely the attraction of this reserve - fewer tourists in a wildlife rich, desert like setting amidst a colourful local tribe.

4 Days Kenya Bird watching - Wildlife Safari - Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara

5 Days Masai Mara Wildebeest Migration

6 Day  Samburu - Sweetwaters - Aberdares - Lake Naivasha
7 Days Discover Kenya Safari - Amboseli - Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara
8 Days Kenya Safari to Amboseli - Aberdares - Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara
9 Days Kenya Safari with Beach Extension - Lake Nakuru-Maasai Mara-Mombasa
10 Days Kenya Classic Safari-Amboseli-Mt Kenya- Samburu - Lake Nakuru - Maasai Mara
11 Days Magical Kenya-Amboseli-Aberdares-Samburu-Mt Kenya-Lake Nakuru-Maasai Mara
12 / 14 / 16 /17 / 21 Days Best of Kenya & Tanzania Safari Expedition

African Safari offers you a chance to experience a natural world unchanged by the
passage of time. The Kenya Safari wilderness is home to an endless array of
ecosystems, the staging ground for natural cycles of life, death and regeneration
as old as the planet itself.

This great range of natural habitats means that there is plenty to explore, and
plenty of species to encounter during your Africa vacation. This is a land of
endless potential for the wildlife African Safari Tour enthusiast.

On a Serengeti Safari, Tanzania Safari, Kenya Holiday, African Adventure, Kenya
Vacation, Kenya Tour you will enjoy a variety of amazing African landscapes and
some of the best game viewing possible.
Our seasoned African safari professionals will help you plan the perfect Africa
Safari, Kenya Safari, Tanzania Safari, African Adventure, Africa Vacation, Kenya
Holiday and African Classic Safari.
Call us today to help make your Africa Safari dream escape happen.

Guides
At Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking / Climbing Safaris we use local guides whenever possible. We believe that local guides have that extra bit of knowledge which can make a good safari into a great safari. Through using local guides / porters we also adhere to our responsible travel policy in contributing to the local economy through tourism.

mount Kilimanjaro climbing combined Tanzania safari