10-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Trek and Tarangire Ngorongoro Safari

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you'll be warmly welcomed by our friendly guide, who will accompany you on a scenic drive to the lively town of Moshi. Along the way, enjoy stunning views of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, serving as a majestic backdrop to your adventure.

After checking into the hotel, take some time to check your gear. If anything is missing, we will go to the shop to hire it. As an option, you may also explore the vibrant streets of Moshi, experiencing the local culture and the renowned hospitality of the Tanzanian people.

Main Destination: Moshi (Town)

Accommodation: Camping

Distance: 11km/7mi

Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Montane Forest

Drive from the hotel to Machame Gate. The journey passes through the village of Machame, which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

We depart the park gate and walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach Machame Camp.

Distance: 5km/3mi

Walking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, you will start trekking up to the second high-altitude camp, Shira Camp. On this day, you will emerge from the rainforest and, for the first time, be able to see stunning views of the Shira Plateau laid out in front of you.

Technically speaking, trekking is not very difficult, but you may feel the changes in altitude, so pay attention to your body and remember that choosing the proper pace is extremely important for good trekking. When you reach the camp, you will have lunch and some rest, after which the group will go on an acclimatization hike towards Lava Tower Camp with a 400 m/1,312 ft gain in altitude. Back down at Shira Camp, you will be served a hot dinner.

Distance: 10km/6mi

Walking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Semi-desert

After breakfast, you will leave Shira Camp and start your way to the key point of the route: Lava Tower. This section of the route has a lot of ascents and descents that end in a camp at over altitude. Portions of the trek may be difficult, and it is common to experience some discomfort, but in order to successfully acclimate to the altitude, you have to spend at least 1-2 hours here. For this reason, our groups enjoy lunch at the top of Lava Tower.

After lunch, you will descend to Barranco Camp. Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, impressive in both its massive size and steepness. The next day you will be climbing it, but don't worry: it features a very simple hiking trail and is not intimidating at all.

Distance: 9km/6mi

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Your group will have an early start this morning. After enjoying a filling breakfast, you will begin climbing Barranco Wall. We recommend you leave the camp as early as possible to avoid crowds from other groups, which can slow you down. Hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb, you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp, which features numerous ascents and descents during the route, but don't worry: our guides are experts at choosing an optimal pace for the group. After reaching the camp, you will be offered a warm lunch. After a couple of hours, you will ascend to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before the night summit.

Down to 3090m/10,150ft

Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down

Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!

From the summit, we begin our descent by continuing straight down to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Distance: 10km/6mi

Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

We make the final descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Here we will have lunch and say goodbye to our mountain crew before leaving Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.

Drive back to the hotel in Arusha for a hot shower, a celebratory dinner, and overnight. As we continue on a safari the following day, that's another adventure, so get ready, relax, and have a good sleep for another adventure tomorrow.

Main Destination: Moshi

Accommodation: Camping

We will depart for Tarangire National Park early in the morning. Once we arrive in Tarangire, we will begin exploring the enormous termite mounds and the ancient baobab trees. This park is renowned for its diverse bird species and extensive population of elephants.

There are regular sightings of ferocious lions, giraffes, warthogs, ostriches, impalas, cheetahs, mongooses, buffaloes, and mischievous baboons. After viewing the wildlife in Tarangire in the afternoon, we will continue and be transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Arusha

Accommodation: Camping

In the morning, after breakfast, we will transfer to Ngorongoro Crater. This unique natural wonder is home to an incredible array of wildlife, from herds of grazing antelope to majestic lions and towering elephants. Journeying through the crater on a game drive, you'll have the chance to spot some of the park's most iconic species, including black rhinoceros, hippos, and wildebeest. Your experienced guide will share insights into the ecology of the region, as well as stories and facts about the fascinating behaviors of the park's many species.

The Ngorongoro Crater is a particularly special location for a game drive due to its enclosed nature. Surrounded by towering walls, the crater forms a natural amphitheater that makes it easy to spot a wide range of wildlife. You'll travel through lush forests and open savannahs, taking in breathtaking views of the crater floor and its many inhabitants. As your safari adventure concludes in the afternoon, we'll drive en route to Arusha for your dinner and overnight.

Main Destination: Arusha

Accommodation: Camping

Today, after breakfast, relax at the lodge, and if you have free time, take a short tour in Arusha for shopping with our guide. Then you'll be transferred to Arusha or Kilimanjaro Airport for your flight back home.