Kilimanjaro Marangu Route & Safari - 11 Days

5 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMBING VIA MARANGU ROUTE FOLLOWED BY 4 DAYS SAFARI TO SERENGETI PLAINS, NGORONGORO CRATER AND LAKE MANYARA NATIONAL PARK ( 11 DAYS PACKAGE).

Arrive in Tanzania via Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO) Lindo travel staff will pick you up and transfer to Moshi town where you will spend the first night at Panama Garden Resort. For those who will arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Kenya, we will pick them up and transfer by Shuttle bus to Moshi.

After having your breakfast you will make a short journey from the hotel to Marangu National Park gate for the necessary formalities at the gate. You will start the climbs through fascinating tropical rain forest; we reach the first hut at Mandara for dinner and overnight. An alternative is to simply rest and relax the beautiful forest around the camp.

Approx walking hours: 5-6 hrs.

Zone: Rainforest.

Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

The first part of the walk is a steep ascent through forest, but the path soon opens out into moorland and in clear weather, there are great views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We arrive at Horombo Hut mid-afternoon, where you can relax and enjoy the stunning scenery around the camp.

Zone: Low Alpine Zone.

Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

You will climb very gradually towards the lunar desert of the Saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. These 6-7 hours walking will be taken at a slow pace until we reach Kibo Hut (4,700m), where you spend the night in a comfortable hut. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.

Approx walking hour’s 4-6 hrs.

Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

You will wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness and begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to the rim of the main crater, Gillman’s 5,685 m. You will rest there for a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the three hour round trip from there along the crater rim to Uhuru peak 5,895 m. which is the highest point in Africa. After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment we descend to Kibo Hut.

Descend pass Mandara hut to Marangu National Park gate, and transfer to your hotel for summit certificate and preparation for 4 days safari trip.

Accommodation: Bed, Breakfast, and Lunch

On this day your safari will start at 8:00 AM in the morning with your guide and drive to Lake Manyara National Park. The park offers a mosaic of vegetation habitats which can sustain a high density of wildlife. Its groundwater forest which acts like a giant filtering sponge which gradually releases water so it can flow gently into streams, instead of running off, prevents the soil from eroding. From its high concentrations of animals such as elephant, buffalo, and antelopes to its dense forests of Trichilia, ficus, and Acacia species, the park is diverse with both wildlife and vegetation. With its location at the base of the east African rift valley along the Gregory rift, it offers spectacular viewing of the escarpment. Lake Manyara is one of those national parks which offer rich and diverse game viewing within a reasonably small area. It is one of the best areas for elephant viewing and tree climbing lions.

After breakfast, you will drive towards the Serengeti National Park via the beautiful high lying farmland of Karatu and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Serengeti National Park is the endless plains, rolling into the distance as far as the eye can see. You will continue with a game drive to the central park area, known as the Seronera area, one of the richest wildlife habitats in the park, featuring the Seronera River, which provides a valuable water source to this area and therefore attracts wildlife well representative of most of the Serengeti’s species.

You will wake early in the morning and having breakfast then start a game drive at 7:00 AM to see nocturnal predators returning from hunting. Continue with a game drive to Ngorongoro and pass through Naabi Hill Gate towards Ngorongoro conservation area. Proceed with a game drive and visit the Maasai village where you will experience the Maasai traditions and culture and later in the evening will drive to overnight at Ngorongoro Sopa Lodge

After breakfast around 7:30 AM you will descend into the crater for a wonderful game drive with picnic lunch. The Crater (World Heritage site) holding a permanent population of more than 30,000 animals, with its 2000 ft, high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds, and other species. The crater is also home of the rare black rhino almost extinct in Tanzania. With a bit of luck, you will see the “Big Five” during the game drive.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and drive to the airport you will be there 2 hours before your flight time.