13-Day Kilimanjaro Machame Trek and Tanzania Safari with Uhuru Peak

• Arrive in Kilimanjaro and transfer to your hotel in Moshi.

• In the evening, receive a briefing about the climb and review your gear to make sure nothing additional is needed.

• Get picked up from your hotel in Moshi after breakfast and drive for about an hour to Machame Gate, where the trek starts.

• From the Machame Park Gate, enjoy a gentle climb through the dense rainforest to Machame Camp.

(9,927 feet/3,026 m), 7 miles/11 km (5 to 7 hours)

• Start the morning with a personal introduction to your trekking team.

• Hike through the jungle as the landscape gives way to zones of giant heather and moorland.

• If time allows, take a short hike to the Shira Caves after reaching camp.

(12,355 feet/3,766 m), 3 miles/5 km (4 to 6 hours)

• Leave Shira Camp in the morning and climb toward the main peak, Kibo, with the western glaciers clearly visible across the rugged high-altitude desert of volcanic rocks and boulders.

• The trail ascends to the Lava Tower site (15,000 feet/4,600 m) before descending into Barranco Valley. The walk takes 6 to 7 hours, and although the total ascent is only 110 m, climbing higher and then dropping back down helps with acclimatisation.

(13,066 feet/3,983 m), 6 miles/10 km (5 to 8 hours)

• Start the day with a challenging climb up the steep Barranco Wall. There is some scrambling, but it is not technically difficult, before descending into the Karanga Valley for a lunch break.

• If you decide to add an extra day, it will be spent at Karanga Camp.

• Those on the regular itinerary continue after lunch to Barafu Hut, hiking a total of 5 to 8 hours and ascending 650 m. This is the highest camp, and the push to the summit begins at 11 pm when you start preparing your gear.

(15,239 feet/4,645 m), 5 miles/9 km (5 to 8 hours)

• Start the day at midnight with the final push to the summit. It is a cold six-hour hike up a steep slope to the summit rim. The trail is steep but manageable, with many switchbacks. The summit rim is reached at about sunrise, followed by a fairly level hike around the rim to Uhuru Peak, the ultimate summit and highest point in Africa.

• On the descent, return to Barafu Hut for a short nap and snacks before continuing down to Mweka Camp (3,068 m/10,065 feet). One reason for such a long trekking day is to avoid problems with acclimatisation and get you back down to a lower elevation quickly.

(5,895 m/19,340 ft) 3 miles/5 km ascent + 7 miles/12 km descent (10-16 hours)

• From Mweka Camp, descend for 4 to 5 hours through the forest to Mweka Gate to collect your certificates and meet the vehicle.

• Return to Moshi for the night and enjoy a final farewell dinner with your guides.

• Depart for Ngorongoro, arriving in time for lunch at the campsite.

• Enjoy an afternoon game drive.

Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

• Have breakfast at the camp and descend to the crater floor for a full day of game viewing.

• Enjoy a picnic lunch in the crater, which hosts an unbelievable variety of wildlife. This is an experience to treasure always.

Ascend back to the campsite for dinner and overnight.

• Have breakfast at the campsite and depart Ngorongoro for the vast Serengeti National Park.

• Stop at Olduvai Gorge, the site of the famous archaeological finds by the Leakey family.

• Enjoy lunch at the campsite in Serengeti.

• Go for an afternoon game drive inside the park.

Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

• Have breakfast followed by a morning game drive to different parts of the park. Serengeti is famous for its annual migration, when millions of wildebeest (gnus) and zebras set off for Masai Mara in search of better grazing grounds and water. Serengeti boasts more than 35 species of plains game, including the 'Big Five', as well as extensive birdlife.

Meals and overnight at the campsite.

• Have an early breakfast in Serengeti and proceed to Lake Manyara National Park.

• Enjoy lunch at the campsite near the park.

• Take an afternoon game drive inside the park, looking for and photographing the curious tree-climbing lions. Lake Manyara has a marvelous concentration of game, including 350 species of birds.

• See the Simba River, populated with schools of hippos and birdlife.

Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

• After breakfast, according to your flight time, get dropped off at the airport.