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12-Day The Complete Kilimanjaro and Safari Experience

Offered by: USD Safaris & Tours

4.9/5 (1600 Reviews)

Journey Snapshot

🗺 Tanzania ⏱ 12 days 🚙 4x4 Pop-up Roof

Kilimanjaro and Safari

Overview Day by Day Rates Inclusions Getting There Offered By

This immersive journey blends a guided ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame Route with a classic Northern Tanzania safari. Experience diverse landscapes from rainforest and alpine terrain to vast savannahs, encountering iconic wildlife in Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro. The itinerary balances adventure, acclimatization, and comfort, supported by professional guides, quality accommodations, and seamless logistics throughout.

Route

Start	Kilimanjaro and Safari (Day 1)
Day 2	Rainforest Trek to Machame Camp
Day 3	Heathland Ascent Across the Shira Plateau
Day 4	High-Altitude Acclimatization via Lava Tower
Day 5	Barranco Wall Climb and Alpine Valley Traverse
Day 6	Ascent to High Camp and Summit Preparation
Day 7	Summit Achievement and Descent to Mweka
Day 8	Mountain Exit and Recovery in Moshi
Day 9	Moshi / Arusha to Tarangire National Park - Elephant Country and Baobabs of Tarangire
Day 10	Tarangire Area to Serengeti National Park
Day 11	Serengeti National Park (Full Day Game Drives)
Day 12	Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Drop-Off (TBA)
End	Kilimanjaro and Safari

Tour Features

Day 1: Arrival in Moshi – Pre-Climb Preparation Day 2: Rainforest Trek to Machame Camp Day 3: Heathland Ascent Across the Shira Plateau Day 4: High-Altitude Acclimatization via Lava Tower Day 5: Barranco Wall Climb and Alpine Valley Traverse Day 6: Ascent to High Camp and Summit Preparation Day 7: Summit Achievement and Descent to Mweka Day 8: Mountain Exit and Recovery in Moshi Day 9: Moshi / Arusha to Tarangire National Park - Elephant Country and Baobabs of Tarangire Day 10: Tarangire Area to Serengeti National Park Day 11: Serengeti National Park (Full Day Game Drives) Day 12: Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Drop-Off (TBA)

Activities & Transportation

Route: Kilimanjaro and Safari
Duration: 12 days
Getting around: 4x4 safari vehicle (pop-up roof)
Transfers: airport pick-up & drop-off can be included

Accommodation & Meals

Day

Accommodation

Meals

1

Park view inn Lodge View hotel

Bed and Breakfast

2

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

3

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

4

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

5

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

6

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

7

Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

8

Park view inn Lodge View hotel

Bed and Breakfast

9

Marera valley lodge View hotel

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

10

serengeti wild camp View hotel

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

11

serengeti wild camp View hotel

All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

12

No accommodation (End of tour)

Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day by Day

Day 1 Arrival in Moshi – Pre-Climb Preparation

⏱Morning 🏨Park view inn Lodge 🍽Bed and Breakfast

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) at, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Moshi town. After check-in at Hotel, the remainder of the day is dedicated to rest and acclimatization. In the afternoon or evening, you will meet your lead mountain guide for a detailed climb briefing, route overview, safety procedures, and a full equipment check to ensure readiness for the ascent. Dinner is served at the lodge, followed by an overnight stay on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Day 2 Rainforest Trek to Machame Camp

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After breakfast, you will drive to Machame Gate for registration and formal entry into Kilimanjaro National Park. The trek begins through dense rainforest characterized by towering trees, ferns, and rich wildlife sounds. The trail ascends steadily with occasional muddy sections, allowing time to adapt to altitude and pace. After approximately 5–7 hours of hiking, you arrive at Machame Camp, where your crew prepares dinner and camping facilities for your first night on the mountain.

Day 3 Heathland Ascent Across the Shira Plateau

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Leaving the rainforest behind, the trail transitions into heath and moorland zones with expansive views as vegetation becomes sparser. The climb is gradual and scenic, offering clear perspectives of Mount Meru and the Shira Plateau. Hiking for 4–6 hours, you reach Shira Camp situated on a high plateau, where temperatures drop noticeably. The afternoon is spent resting and hydrating, followed by dinner and overnight at the camp.

Day 4 High-Altitude Acclimatization via Lava Tower

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

This is a critical acclimatization day, involving a steady ascent toward Lava Tower at 4,630 meters, where lunch is taken. The route passes through alpine desert terrain, exposing you to higher altitude before descending to sleep lower. After lunch, the trail descends into the Barranco Valley, offering dramatic views of the Great Barranco Wall and surrounding glaciers. This “climb high, sleep low” approach significantly improves summit success. Dinner and overnight are at Barranco Camp.

Day 5 Barranco Wall Climb and Alpine Valley Traverse

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

This is a critical acclimatization day, involving a steady ascent toward Lava Tower at 4,630 meters, where lunch is taken. The route passes through alpine desert terrain, exposing you to higher altitude before descending to sleep lower. After lunch, the trail descends into the Barranco Valley, offering dramatic views of the Great Barranco Wall and surrounding glaciers. This “climb high, sleep low” approach significantly improves summit success. Dinner and overnight are at Barranco Camp.

Day 6 Ascent to High Camp and Summit Preparation

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Following breakfast, you continue a gradual ascent toward Barafu Camp, the final base camp before the summit attempt. The terrain is rocky and exposed, with increasingly thinner air. Arrival is typically by early afternoon, allowing time for rest, hydration, and final summit briefing. An early dinner is served, and you retire early to prepare for the midnight summit push.

Day 7 Summit Achievement and Descent to Mweka

⏱Morning 🏨Budget camping On Mt Kilimanjaro 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

You are awakened around midnight for the summit attempt, beginning the ascent under headlamp through steep scree toward Stella Point and onward to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters, the highest point in Africa. After reaching the summit and taking photos, you descend carefully back to Barafu Camp for brunch, then continue the long descent through moorland and rainforest to Mweka Camp. This is the most demanding day, lasting 12–16 hours in total. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp.

Day 8 Mountain Exit and Recovery in Moshi

⏱Morning 🏨Park view inn Lodge 🍽Bed and Breakfast

After breakfast, you complete the final descent through lush rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you receive your official Kilimanjaro climbing certificate. You are then transferred back to Moshi for a well-deserved hot shower, relaxation, and overnight stay at Hotel on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

Day 9 Moshi / Arusha to Tarangire National Park - Elephant Country and Baobabs of Tarangire

⏱Morning 🏨Marera valley lodge 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, the safari party departs Moshi or Arusha with a professional driver-guide in a private 4×4 safari vehicle. The journey leads to Tarangire National Park, well known for its large elephant herds, ancient baobab trees, and seasonal wildlife concentrations along the Tarangire River. Upon entering the park, a full game drive begins, with opportunities to see lions, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, buffalo, and a wide variety of birdlife. A picnic lunch is served at a designated site inside the park, followed by continued afternoon game viewing. In the late afternoon, the group exits the park and transfers toward the Serengeti corridor for dinner and overnight at the selected lodge or tented camp.

Day 10 Tarangire Area to Serengeti National Park

⏱Morning 🏨serengeti wild camp 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Following breakfast, the safari continues toward Serengeti National Park, passing through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area with scenic views of highlands, Maasai villages, and open plains. Upon entering Serengeti National Park, game viewing begins immediately, with the landscape opening into vast savannahs supporting large populations of plains game and predators. The afternoon game drive focuses on tracking lions, cheetahs, leopards, and large herds of wildebeest and zebras. Lunch is taken en route or at camp, depending on timing. The day concludes with dinner and overnight at the Serengeti camp.

Day 11 Serengeti National Park (Full Day Game Drives)

⏱Morning 🏨serengeti wild camp 🍽All meals included Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

This day is dedicated entirely to wildlife exploration within Serengeti National Park. After breakfast, the group departs for extended game drives covering different ecological zones, with flexibility to adjust routes based on wildlife movement and seasonal conditions. The Serengeti offers excellent opportunities for predator sightings, including lion prides, cheetahs in open plains, and elusive leopards along riverine areas. Picnic or camp lunch is provided, followed by continued afternoon game viewing. The evening is spent at the camp for dinner and overnight, allowing time to enjoy the atmosphere of the African bush.

Day 12 Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater and Drop-Off (TBA)

⏱Morning 🏨No accommodation (End of tour) 🍽Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included) Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

After an early breakfast, the safari departs Serengeti and travels toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The highlight of the day is the descent approximately 600 meters into the Ngorongoro Crater, one of Africa’s most concentrated wildlife ecosystems. Game viewing on the crater floor includes the possibility of spotting black rhino, lions, hyenas, buffalo, zebras, wildebeest, and large hippo populations. A picnic lunch is served at a designated site within the crater. After ascending from the crater, the safari concludes with drop-off at the pre-arranged location or Airport (TBA), marking the end of safari services.