10 Day Kilimanjaro (Machame) and Safari
Climb Africa's highest mountain on the scenic Machame Route, then reward yourself with a three-day lodge safari to Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater.
- Duration
- 10 days
- Route
- Moshi – Machame Gate – Shira 2 – Barranco – Barafu – Uhuru Peak – Mweka – Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha
- Start / end
- Starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport (transfer to Moshi) and ends in Arusha or at Kilimanjaro Airport
- Best time
- Late June to October and January to early March usually offer the best conditions for both the climb and the safari.
- Trip style
- Fully supported camping climb with guides, cook and porters, followed by a private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and mid-range lodges.
Tour overview
This trip combines Tanzania's two great adventures in a single, well-paced journey. After an arrival day in Moshi, you spend six days climbing Kilimanjaro on the scenic Machame Route, through rainforest, moorland and alpine desert to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
With the summit behind you, swap hiking boots for a safari vehicle. A three-day lodge safari takes you to the elephant herds of Tarangire, the forests and lakeshore of Lake Manyara and the wildlife-packed Ngorongoro Crater, with comfortable beds, hot showers and plenty of time to rest your legs.
It suits fit travelers who want to climb Kilimanjaro and see Tanzania's famous wildlife in a single trip. Everything is arranged from arrival to departure, including hotel nights before and after the climb.
Highlights
- Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) on the scenic Machame Route
- Lava Tower acclimatization and the Barranco Wall scramble
- Elephant herds and baobabs in Tarangire National Park
- Tree-climbing lions and flamingos at Lake Manyara
- Black rhino and big cats in the Ngorongoro Crater
- Comfortable lodges and a private safari vehicle after the climb
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Arrival and transfer to Moshi
Welcome to Tanzania. On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you are met and transferred to your hotel in Moshi, about 45 minutes away. Take the afternoon to rest after your flight. In the evening your lead guide visits for a detailed pre-climb briefing, explaining the route, daily routine and how to recognize altitude symptoms. Your gear is checked, and any rental equipment you need is arranged. Enjoy dinner and an early night before the climb begins.
Day 2Machame Gate (1,800 m) to Machame Camp (3,000 m)
After breakfast, drive about 45 minutes to Machame Gate, where your guides complete park registration and the porters prepare their loads. The trail climbs steadily through misty rainforest with giant ferns, moss-covered trees and colobus monkeys calling in the canopy. Expect about 5 to 7 hours of walking. Arrive at Machame Camp at the edge of the forest, where your tents are pitched and a hot dinner is prepared by your mountain cook.
Day 3Machame Camp to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m)
Climb out of the forest through heath and moorland on a steep, rocky trail, with views opening across the plains and to Mount Meru in the west. After about 4 to 6 hours the path levels onto the Shira Plateau, an ancient volcanic caldera. Shira 2 Camp offers superb views of the summit dome, especially at sunset. Spend the afternoon resting, hydrating and getting used to the routine of camp life on the mountain.
Day 4Shira 2 to Lava Tower (4,600 m) and Barranco Camp (3,950 m)
Today's climb-high, sleep-low stage is vital for acclimatization. Hike east through alpine desert to the Lava Tower, about 4,600 meters, for lunch. Mild headaches are common here as your body adjusts. Then descend into the Barranco Valley among forests of giant groundsels to Barranco Camp, beneath the soaring Breach Wall. The walk takes about 6 to 7 hours, and most climbers feel much better after descending to sleep at the lower camp.
Day 5Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp (4,670 m) via Karanga
Begin with the Barranco Wall, a fun, non-technical scramble of about an hour with superb views at the top. The trail then crosses a series of ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp, where you stop for lunch, before climbing over rocky ground to Barafu Camp. The total walk is about 7 to 8 hours. After an early dinner and a summit briefing from your guide, prepare your layers and headlamp and get some sleep before the midnight start.
Day 6Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), descend to Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
Leave camp around midnight and climb slowly by headlamp up steep scree, with your guides setting a steady pole pole pace. After about 6 to 7 hours you reach Stella Point on the crater rim, often around sunrise, and continue for about an hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Celebrate and take photos, then descend to Barafu for rest and food before continuing to Mweka Camp. It is a long day of 12 to 15 hours.
Day 7Mweka Gate and transfer to Arusha
After breakfast and a farewell song from the crew, descend through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, about 3 to 4 hours. At the gate you sign out and receive your summit certificate, and this is the customary time to thank your crew with tips. After lunch, transfer to Arusha, about 2 hours, and check in to your hotel. Enjoy a hot shower, a relaxed afternoon by the pool and a celebratory dinner before your safari begins tomorrow.
Day 8Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Meet your safari guide after breakfast and drive about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. After days on the mountain, it is a joy to sit back with the roof popped up and watch elephants gathering along the Tarangire River beneath giant baobab trees. Look for giraffes, zebras, buffalo, lions and colorful birdlife. After a picnic lunch and an afternoon game drive, continue about an hour and a quarter to your lodge on the escarpment above Lake Manyara.
Day 9Lake Manyara National Park to Karatu
Spend the morning in Lake Manyara National Park, just below your lodge. The park's groundwater forest is home to large troops of baboons and blue monkeys, while the open lakeshore attracts elephants, buffalo, giraffes, hippos and, at times, flocks of flamingos. Keep an eye on the trees for the park's famous lions. After a picnic lunch, drive about 45 minutes up to Karatu and spend a relaxing afternoon at your farm lodge.
Day 10Ngorongoro Crater and return to Arusha
Set off early with a packed breakfast and descend about 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater. The crater floor holds one of Africa's densest concentrations of wildlife, including lions, hyenas, elephants, buffalo, zebra and the endangered black rhino. Enjoy a picnic lunch beside a hippo pool, then climb out within the six-hour crater limit. Drive back to Arusha, about 3 hours, for drop-off at your hotel or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.
What is included
- Airport arrival transfer and all transfers between hotels, park gates and safari
- All Kilimanjaro National Park, national park and Ngorongoro Crater fees
- Professional mountain guides, cook and porters, with quality tents and toilet tent
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof and driver-guide for the safari
- Hotel nights in Moshi and Arusha and 2 nights in safari lodges as listed or similar
- Meals as listed in the itinerary
- Purified drinking water on the mountain and on safari
- Emergency oxygen, first-aid kit and daily pulse oximeter checks on the climb
- Summit certificate
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance covering trekking to 6,000 m (compulsory)
- Tips for mountain crew, safari guide and lodge staff
- Sleeping bag, trekking poles and personal gear (rental available)
- Drinks at hotels and lodges
- Personal items and laundry
- Optional activities not listed in the itinerary
Good to know
- Leave your safari clothing and spare luggage at the hotel in Moshi while you climb; it will be brought to you in Arusha.
- Pack layers for the mountain, from warm-weather hiking clothes to a down jacket, gloves and hat for summit night.
- Tipping your mountain crew and safari guide is a standard and expected part of travel in Tanzania.
- The 6-day Machame climb can be extended to 7 days with an extra acclimatization night at Karanga.
Frequently asked questions
Will I be too tired for the safari after the climb?
Most climbers find the safari the perfect way to recover. Days are spent sitting in a comfortable vehicle, and lodges have hot showers, good food and soft beds. We schedule a hotel night in Arusha between the climb and the safari to help you rest.
Can I add the Serengeti?
Yes. Adding two nights in the Serengeti is a popular upgrade and turns the safari into a five-day trip. We can also add a beach extension to Zanzibar after the safari.
What happens to my luggage during the climb?
You take only what you need on the mountain in a duffel bag carried by porters, plus your daypack. Extra luggage stays safely at the hotel and is transferred with you to Arusha for the safari.
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