12 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking and Wildlife Safari in Tanzania

12 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking and Big 5 Safari (11 nights)

Esere is a Maasai word which means “Journey Mercies” Bon voyage! Our company is therefore known as Esere Safaris.

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ESERE Safaris is a locally owned Tanzanian company with over 10 years combined experience in providing high quality tour services in East Africa.

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12 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking and Big 5 Safari (11 nights)

This package covers the most popular destinations in Tanzania. Kilimanjaro Mountain (5 nights),

Tarangire National Park (1 night),

Serengeti (2 nights) and Ngorongoro Crater (1 night). There are also 1 night stay in Moshi and Arusha before starting wildlife Safari. Tour starts at Kilimanjaro and ends at Kilimanjaro International Airport. With our experienced driver guides, it will be unforgettable experience!

6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking

Below is a route that can take anybody from any corner of the planet to the “Roof of Africa”. Famously known as the “Coca Cola Route”, Marangu is the easiest, cheapest and one of the busiest routes to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. This is the only route to offer sleeping huts in dormitory-style accommodation. Climbs can take five or six days; however, we always advise choosing the longer route for the best chance of acclimatization and reaching the summit.

Day 1: Marangu Gate to Mandara

After breakfast, you’ll get picked up from your hostel/hotel in Moshi and driven to the starting point at Marangu Gate (approximately 45 mins). After registration, you will begin your journey to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro using a well-maintained trail through Montane Forest. On the way, you’ll walk through dense rainforest and coffee plantations as your guide talks you through some of the local flora and fauna. Here you will also get a very good chance of witnessing Black and White Colobus monkeys, as well as many different species of brightly-colored birds. Mandara Hut is a group of dormitory-style wooden huts with solar generated lighting. The camp accommodates up to 60 hikers and has all necessary facilities, including water and toilets.

Day 2: Mandara to Horombo

On your second day, you’ll embark on a hike that traverses a slightly steeper trail to Horombo Hut. The trail passes through more of Montane Forest before transitioning into the moorland vegetation zone, where you’ll find rolling alpine meadows dotted with giant heather trees. Once in the open moorland, you’ll also get the opportunity to see plants like the giant lobelia and giant groundsel, which can grow to an outstanding 16ft in height! After approximately six hours of hiking, you will reach Horombo Hut, where you’ll have hot water to wash, an evening meal and an overnight rest. Horombo is a village of huts perched on a small plateau with buildings similar to Mandara, but with a total capacity of 120 climbers

Day 3: Horombo Huts

We advise that you spend a full day and a second night at Horombo. On this day, you can either rest at the huts or take a stroll up to the Mawenzi base camp then return to the Horombo Huts. This extra day will help your acclimatization, and further your understanding of the mountains weather and altitude. After your pause, you will continue up to the Kibo Huts on your fourth day for your midnight start to the summit

Day 4: Horombo to Kibo Huts

Wake up early to catch the sunrise and get some great photos! After a full breakfast, you will then continue to trek at a slow pace through the heathland, which quickly turns into an almost lunarlike landscape as you enter the saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. During this hike, you may start to experience some symptoms of altitude sickness. Pay attention to your body and keep your guide informed. From here you will start to get fantastic views of Mt. Kilimanjaro’s summit before arriving at Kibo Hut – a drystonewalled hut with dormitories and limited facilities. Rest for the evening at Kibo Huts and prepare for your final ascent to the summit!

Day 5: Kibo Huts to Uhuru Peak (Sumit!)

This is where the going gets really tough! Just before midnight, you will venture into the night and begin your final ascent to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Head northwest through the heavy stone scree following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685m). This section is probably the most challenging part of the route and will require great physical and mental effort. Continue to move slowly, always listening to your guide.

After a short rest at Stella Point, you will hike along the crater rim for another hour before reaching your ultimate goal – Uhuru Peak! Congratulations! You have now made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend there, but it is important to start your descent within good time to ensure you get enough rest back at Horombo huts. After your rest, you’ll gather the rest of your belongings and descend to Horombo huts (3,720m) where you’ll enjoy dinner and a well-earned sleep!

Day 6: Horombo to Marangu Gate

After eating breakfast, you will begin the easiest part of your adventure on Mount Kilimanjaro via a scenic path through the forest to Marangu Gate. Successful hikers who made it to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak will be awarded their certificates at the gate. After a short celebration of mountain trekking championship with you and Esere trekking crew , our driver will pick you up in a 4x4 landcruiser to the Hotel in Moshi.

Post hike recovery

Of course climbing to the roof of Africa, the number one World’s free standing mountain is physically challenging.

We normally advise our clients to take a day off, walk around Arusha or Moshi town, cycling if you love to do and swimming in the hotel or visit Chemka natural hot spring for post hike recovery and have a fresh start for the best safari experience.

Day 7: Moshi to Chemka Hotspring

In the morning, your driver guide will pick you up from the Hotel in Moshi to Chemka natural hot spring. It is about 1 hour drive from Moshi to Chemka hot spring which is along the way to Arusha.

Chemka Hot Springs is a crystal clear water oasis of geothermal warmth that bubbles up from underground

It is a well-deserved treat after hiking Kilimanjaro Spend a relaxing half a day in the natural hot springs hidden in the jungle! Enjoy picnic on the shore of hot springs with hot lunch box or berbercue. After a half day of relaxation, we drive to Arusha a - 1 hour drive to your hotel where you will have a good sleep waiting to start your Tarangire Safari.

Day 8: Arusha to Tarangire National Park

In the morning, after you take your breakfast, your driver guide will meet you at the Hotel, give your a short brief about the 6 days safari before you start your journey to Tarangire National Park.

Tarangire is a two hours drive from Arusha. Itis the largest elephant population in Tanzania with more than 500 bird species. The National Park is named after Tarangire river which attracts wildlife species such as elephants, buffalos, zebras, lions, baboons and many other that you can see during your safari.

In the afternoon we take lunch box at the picnic site, take a short rest before we continue with evening game drive. You might stay at Tarangire Safari Lodge located in the park.

Day 9: Tarangire to Serengeti

In the morning, after you take your breakfast, your driver guide give a short brief then you start your safari to Serengeti National Park.

You will enjoy game viewing through

Ngorongoro Conservation Area to Serengeti Nabi Gate. You might see wildlife Migration as you approach the southern part of Serengeti.

You will spend a night at Ndutu.

Day 10: Ndutu to Seronera

In the morning you will start a morning game drive to Serenera Central part part of Serengeti where you will have a 1 night stay at Seronera.

Seronera is a headquarter of Serengeti National Park. You will get to visit Serengeti National Park information center and have your lunch there. You will then have a short rest before you start enjoying your evening game drive at Seronera.

Day 11: Seronera to Ngorongoro Conservation

This morning starts with a game drive to Ngorngoro Conservation Area.

You will enjoy various species of birds, the big five and other wildlife as you drive to Olduvai gorge. The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is one of the most important paleoanthropological localities in the world; the exploration of historic phenomena of human evolution. You will visit the historical site of which many academic writings have featured the genesis of man. The first humans are believed to have lived there. You will then transfer to Ngorongoro where you will have a night stay along Ngorongoro crater the world’s biggest intact volcanic caldera. It is voted one of 7

African natural wonders

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater to Kilimanjaro Airport

After breakfast, a short briefing from your guide, then you will go for a morning game drive descending into the crater where you will see the big 5 mammals one of them is endangered specie the black rhino. You will have lunch within the crater before you start ascending and start the safari to Arusha.

The guide might take you to different curio shops along the way to Arusha if you would prefer. in the evening around 5pm to 6pm you will be at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) for departure depending on your flight schedule.

Esere Safaris wishes you a

Safe Journey back