13 Day Kilimanjaro, Safari and Zanzibar
Mountain, safari and beach in one journey: the scenic Lemosho Route to Kilimanjaro's summit, a three-day northern safari, then three nights on Zanzibar's white sands.
- Duration
- 13 days
- Route
- Moshi – Lemosho Gate – Shira 2 – Barranco – Karanga – Barafu – Uhuru Peak – Mweka – Arusha – Tarangire – Lake Manyara – Ngorongoro Crater – Zanzibar
- Start / end
- Starts in Moshi or Arusha (pick-up from your hotel) and ends at Zanzibar Airport
- Best time
- Late June to October and January to early March usually bring the best conditions on the mountain, on safari and on the beach.
- Trip style
- Fully supported camping climb with guides, cook and porters, a private safari in a 4x4 Land Cruiser with mid-range lodges, and a mid-range beach hotel on Zanzibar.
Tour overview
This is the complete Tanzania adventure. Start with a seven-day climb of Kilimanjaro on the beautiful Lemosho Route, crossing the Shira Plateau and scrambling the Barranco Wall before your summit push to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
After a night in Arusha to recover, set off on a three-day private safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater, home to elephants, lions and black rhino. Then fly to Zanzibar for three nights of turquoise water, soft sand and time to celebrate everything you have achieved.
The trip suits fit, adventurous travelers who want to see Tanzania's highlights in a single journey. Every transfer, flight and hotel night between the gate and the beach is taken care of, so after the summit you can simply relax and enjoy.
Highlights
- Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) on the scenic Lemosho Route
- Cross the Shira Plateau and climb the Barranco Wall
- Private safari to Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro Crater
- Search for black rhino on the Ngorongoro Crater floor
- Three nights on a white-sand Zanzibar beach
- Seamless logistics from mountain to safari to coast
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Lemosho Gate (2,100 m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m)
Your guide picks you up from your hotel for the drive to the western side of the mountain, about 3 to 4 hours from Moshi including registration at Londorossi Gate. At the Lemosho trailhead enjoy lunch while the porters organize their loads. The first walk is gentle, about 3 to 4 hours through quiet rainforest, where colobus monkeys and forest birds are common. Arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp to find your tent set up and dinner on the way.
Day 2Mti Mkubwa to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m)
Climb out of the forest into giant heather and moorland, with the views widening as you go. The trail crosses the Shira Ridge and drops onto the Shira Plateau, where you stop near Shira 1 for lunch with the snowy summit ahead. In the afternoon walk across the open plateau to Shira 2 Camp. It is a full day of about 7 to 8 hours, with mostly moderate gradients and spectacular sunset views of Kibo and Mount Meru.
Day 3Shira 2 to Lava Tower (4,600 m) and Barranco Camp (3,950 m)
Head east through alpine desert to the Lava Tower, a dramatic volcanic plug at about 4,600 meters, where you stop for lunch. This climb-high, sleep-low day is key to good acclimatization, and mild headaches are normal at this height. In the afternoon, descend into the Barranco Valley among giant groundsels to Barranco Camp beneath the Breach Wall. The walk takes about 6 to 7 hours, and most climbers feel noticeably better once they reach camp.
Day 4Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,000 m)
Start with the famous Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical scramble of about an hour. Your guides help you with hand and footholds, and the views from the top over the clouds and up to the Heim Glacier are unforgettable. The trail then crosses ridges and valleys to Karanga Camp. This shorter day of about 4 hours leaves the afternoon free to rest, hydrate and let your body continue adjusting to the altitude.
Day 5Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,670 m)
Climb steadily for about 3 to 4 hours over rocky alpine desert to Barafu Camp, set on an exposed ridge below the summit cone. Arrive around lunchtime and spend the afternoon resting and preparing your summit kit. Your guide holds a detailed briefing, checks your layers, headlamp and water bottles, and carries out a health check. After an early dinner, sleep for a few hours before being woken shortly before midnight for the final ascent.
Day 6Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), descend to Mweka Camp (3,100 m)
Set out around midnight and climb slowly by headlamp up steep scree, with your guides keeping a steady pace. After about 6 to 7 hours you reach Stella Point on the crater rim, often as the sun rises, then walk about an hour along the rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating, descend to Barafu for rest and a meal, then continue to Mweka Camp. It is a long, demanding day of about 12 to 15 hours.
Day 7Mweka Gate and transfer to Arusha
After breakfast and the crew's farewell song, descend through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, about 3 to 4 hours. Sign out of the park, collect your summit certificate and thank your crew with tips, as is customary. After lunch, transfer to Arusha, about 2 hours, where your spare luggage is waiting at the hotel. Enjoy a long hot shower, a relaxing afternoon and a celebration dinner before the safari begins tomorrow.
Day 8Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, meet your safari guide and drive about 2 to 2.5 hours to Tarangire National Park. Pop up the roof and rest your legs as you watch elephant herds gather along the Tarangire River beneath ancient baobab trees. Giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo and lions are also regularly seen, along with hundreds of bird species. Enjoy a picnic lunch at a scenic viewpoint, then continue your game drive before arriving at your lodge in the late afternoon.
Day 9Lake Manyara National Park to Karatu
Drive about an hour and a half to Lake Manyara National Park for a game drive through shady groundwater forest, where baboons and blue monkeys are common, and out onto the open lakeshore to look for elephants, giraffes, hippos and water birds. Manyara is also known for lions that sometimes rest in the trees. After a picnic lunch, climb the Rift Valley escarpment to Karatu, about 45 minutes away, and relax at your farm lodge among coffee gardens.
Day 10Ngorongoro Crater and fly to Zanzibar
Leave very early with a packed breakfast and descend about 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive among lions, hyenas, buffalo, zebra, elephants and, with luck, black rhino. Climb out of the crater around midday and drive to Lake Manyara airstrip, about 1.5 hours, or to Arusha, depending on the flight schedule. Fly to Zanzibar, where you are met and transferred to your beach hotel in time for a sunset dinner.
Day 11Zanzibar at leisure
Wake to the sound of the Indian Ocean and enjoy a day of complete relaxation. Swim in the warm turquoise water, stretch out on the white sand, or treat your hard-working legs to a massage. The northern coast around Nungwi has little tidal variation, so you can usually swim at any time of day. In the evening, watch the dhows sail past at sunset from the beach or a nearby seafront restaurant.
Day 12Zanzibar at leisure or optional excursion
Spend another day on the beach, or join an optional excursion. Popular choices include a guided walking tour of historic Stone Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with carved doors, bustling markets and a rich Swahili history; a spice farm tour; or a boat trip to snorkel around Mnemba Atoll, where dolphins and turtles are often seen. In the evening, enjoy a final dinner celebrating your mountain, your safari and your time on the coast.
Day 13Departure from Zanzibar
Enjoy a final breakfast and, depending on your flight time, a last swim in the ocean. Late check-out can be requested in advance and is subject to availability. At the agreed time, your driver collects you for the transfer to Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, about an hour from Nungwi, for your flight home or onward journey. This is the end of your Kilimanjaro, safari and Zanzibar adventure, and you leave with memories of Africa's summit, its wildlife and its coast.
What is included
- All transfers between hotels, park gates, airports and the beach hotel
- 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
- Domestic flight from Lake Manyara or Arusha to Zanzibar
- Hotel night in Arusha, 2 nights in safari lodges and 3 nights on Zanzibar 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 hotel staff
- Hotel accommodation in Moshi or Arusha before the climb
- Sleeping bag, trekking poles and personal gear (rental available)
- Drinks, lunches on Zanzibar and optional excursions
- Zanzibar infrastructure tax and mandatory Zanzibar travel insurance, payable as applicable
Good to know
- We recommend arriving at least one day before the climb for rest, your briefing and a gear check.
- Leave your safari and beach luggage at the hotel during the climb; it is brought to Arusha for you.
- Domestic flights to Zanzibar have luggage limits, typically around 15 to 20 kg, so soft bags are best.
- Tipping your mountain crew and safari guide is a standard and expected part of travel in Tanzania.
Frequently asked questions
Is 13 days enough for Kilimanjaro, safari and beach?
Yes, this itinerary is carefully balanced. The 7-day Lemosho climb gives good acclimatization, the safari covers the northern highlights without long drives, and three nights on Zanzibar give you time to unwind.
Can I choose a different beach hotel?
Of course. Zanzibar has options from boutique hotels to large resorts on the north, east and south coasts. Tell us your preferences and we will suggest the best match.
Can I add the Serengeti to the safari?
Yes. Adding two nights in the Serengeti is a popular upgrade, and you can fly directly from the Serengeti to Zanzibar. This turns the trip into a 15-day journey.
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