Mt. Kilimanjaro Climb with Celebratory Safari

This unique itinerary has been carefully planned to meet your desire to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro on one of the lesser-traveled routes with experienced and safety conscious guides. Then after your summit celebrate your climb and travel in comfort on a custom safari designed just for you. The safari portion of your adventure allows you the freedom and flexibility to view animals on your schedule and according to your interests. You will view wildlife in the various eco-systems of two of Tanzania’s National Parks. You will stay at comfortable well-situated lodges chosen for their excellent locations and organized in a manner to maximize your game viewing time and minimize your transfer times from park to park. It provides some cultural opportunities as well. This is a trip designed for you to reach the “roof of Africa,” one of tallest points in the world and most importantly to fall in love with Africa – its beauty, its people and its wildlife.

Full Itinerary

Day 1: On arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport in Arusha, Infinite Safari Adventures representatives will meet your group and take you to Rivertrees Lodge (BB) a luxurious converted old coffee farm a half an hour from the airport. This beautiful resort was the former home of the lodge owner. There is a pool as well as pleasant grounds to walk around, monkeys in the trees and massage and Wi-Fi facilities.

Day 2: This will be your day to prepare for your climb. Your guide will brief you, check your gear, work out last minute details if you need to hire anything and answer any last minute questions. Spend the day relaxing, shaking off your jet lag and spend another night at Rivertrees Lodge (FB).

Day 3: Today is the day you will start your climb. After breakfast you will be picked up from Rivertrees Lodge and depart by vehicle to the Macheme Gate of Mt. Kilimanjaro. At Macheme gate your crew will finalize packing and after finishing with formalities you will start off on your climb. Today’s hiking is through verdant Afromontane forest to camp and on route you will have a picnic lunch. Look out for pretty endemic flora and a gradation of forest zones. You may even come across some monkeys and other wildlife as well as interesting bird life.

Day 4: After breakfast you will hike to the next camp. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly. Remember, “pole-pole” (Swahili for slowly), as there is no rush to get to the next camp. You will enjoy a picnic lunch on the trail today. The zone you pass through today is known as the heath zone where attractive helichrysum (part of the sunflower family) and lobelia plants become apparent.

Day 5: Today is a climb high sleep low day. You ascend into alpine desert and for those that are feeling strong you can even head up higher after lunch before descending to camp. Lunch is taken as a picnic lunch on route.

Day 6: Famous for its’ giant groundsels, this high altitude zone takes you to glacial valleys and onto your next camp. Today is a relatively short day hiking and lunch is often had at the camp. In the afternoon a walk can be taken with your guides for great views of the Southern walls of Kibo and deep glacial valleys.

Day 7: Today is another half day ascending to higher altitude and closer to the snow line. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening.

Day 8: Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence is the name of game to reach the summit and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down and your goal today is to descend to Mweka Camp.

Day 9: You will complete the last of the mountain descent then return to Arusha for another night at Rivertrees Lodge (FB). Today is the day to get cleaned up, pack away your climbing gear and prepare for the more relaxed portion of your safari. After a celebratory dinner, fall asleep in a nice comfortable bed while savoring the accomplishment of reaching the roof of Africa!

Day 10: This morning after breakfast you will head to Tarangire National Park. You will do a game drive as you make your way to Tarangire Safari Lodge (FB). Located amongst the rugged baobab trees (sometimes known as the “upside down tree”) Tarangire Safari Lodge boasts one of the best views in the park. You can view animals on their way to the river while sipping drinks from the veranda. Tarangire has the second highest density of elephants in Africa and it is not uncommon to have one wander into camp! Return at the end of the day to watch the sunset before heading off to dinner. You might even fall asleep to the sounds of lions off in the distance (or close up, but don’t worry there are Maasai guards posted around camp all night).

Day 11: Today you will spend another day in Tarangire National Park and all the wildlife there is to see – your experienced guide will take you to the best places to see elephant, buffalo, lion, giraffe, zebra and wildebeest; and perhaps an elusive leopard or cheetah. You will spend another night at Tarangire Safari Lodge (FB).

Day 12: This morning you will leave Tarangire and drive up the Great Rift Valley to the village of Mto Wa Mbu. Here you will visit small villages, a Maasai boma (corral), see the Maasai tend their cattle, while nearby another tribe works their shamba (small scale village farm). You will visit the market, maybe a school and participate in other cultural activities. Stay the night Rhino Lodge (FB) a simple but reliable lodge set on the crater rim that is well situated for an early start tomorrow to Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 13: Today you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater floor for a game drive in one of the mostly densely packed wildlife areas in the world. Ngorongoro Crater is a collapsed volcano (a caldera) that formed about 2-3 million years ago. Measuring just 100 square miles on the floor it also boasts one of the densest population of lions in the area. At the end of the day you will go back to Rhino Lodge (FB) for a final night in Africa. As you fall asleep dream of all that you have done, the things you have seen and the people you have met.

Day 14: Today you will head back to Arusha for your international flight home.

Pricing available on request. Single supplement charges apply.

*This is an all-inclusive trip and includes full board accommodation throughout, (except Rivertrees on the first day which is bed and breakfast), all guides & porters for your climb and non-personal climbing gear, specially adapted 4x4 safari vehicle with complimentary bottled water) and experienced English speaking guides for your exclusive use while on safari, cultural activity, all transfers and internal flights, park and entrance fees, and regional medical evacuation insurance. *

It does not include international flights, Tanzanian visa fees, drinks, tips, other activities, international travel insurance, personal climbing gear and items of a personal nature. We strongly recommend all clients take out international travel insurance – we can advise on this if you would like.

Please noteThis itinerary is subject to availability of accommodations and space on chartered flights. It is best to book as far in advance as possible to insure the best chance of having space available.

Thank You For The Opportunity To Be Your Safari Company!

Rivertrees Country Inn

Tarangire Safari Lodge

Rhino Lodge