12 Day Mt. Kilimanjaro, Machame & Masai Country

DAY TO DAY PROGRAM

Day 1 Nairobi - Arusha
Arrival into Nairobi in the morning hours. Meet on arrival and immediately transfer to Arusha.
On arrival in Arusha, you will be met by our Tanzanian team and transferred to the Impala Hotel.
Check-in on a bed and breakfast basis.

Impala Hotel
The Impala Hotel is set in a beautifully landscaped garden full of flowers, greenery and birds and make a good base to start or end any safari. It’s comfortably furnished and a short walk from the town center. Food is good quality and the rooms are clean and spacious.

Day 2 Arusha - National Park Gate (approximately 21/2 hours)
The climb starts from Machame Gate (1,800m) after a short walk through the attractive banana and coffee farms of the Machame village. The path follows a ridge through dense mountain forest. This is the richest forested area on the mountain and also the zone from where 96% of the water on Kilimanjaro originates. On sunny days and especially in the dry season, this section is very lush and beautiful; it can also be a very muddy experience, particularly if it has rained. We have lunch at ‘halfway clearing’, a small opening in the trees, and then continue climbing steadily. The gradient becomes gentler as the forest slowly merges into giant heather, close to the next camp near the ruins of Machame (3,000m.) We may get our first closer look at the glacier dome of Kibo, if the evening clouds permit. (6-8 hours)
Overnight on the mountain, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 3
A shorter day that begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as Panic Rock. Here, there are excellent views of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau. It’s a good rest point too! The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau. We camp near Shira Cave (3,7200m.) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro; close to the huge volcanic cone of Kibo, the spectacular rock formations of Shira Plateau and looking across to Mt. Meru floating on the clouds. (4-6 hours)
Overnight on the mountain, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 4
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic views, leaving the moorland plateau behind to walk on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (4,550m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3,900m.), sheltered by towering cliffs, with extensive views of the plains far below. (5-7 hours)
Overnight on the mountain, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 5
A steep climb up the Barranco Wall leads us to an undulating trail on the southeastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga, the last water point, in a steep valley. After lunch, the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600m.) by mid afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent, before a very night. (6-8 hours)
Overnight on the mountain, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 6
We start our ascent by torchlight at about 1 a.m. so we can be up on the Crater Rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735m.) in about five to six hours. We rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,100m) at the edge of Mweka Forest. (11-15 hours)
Overnight on the mountain, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 7 National Park Gate - Arusha (approximately 2 ½ hours)
A sustained descent through lovely forest with lush undergrowth takes us to the National Park gate at Mweka (4-6 hours). When we finish the climb, there will be a vehicle waiting to meet you and transfer you back to your hotel based in Arusha Town Centre.
Overnight at the Impala Hotel, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Day 8 Arusha - Longido
Drive from Arusha to Longido - the real Masai country.
Here you will interact with the Masai’s and learn more about the ancient customs and traditions.
Overnight at the Longido Campsite - Camping

Day 9 Longido - Ngorongoro
After breakfast, drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area and descend into the Crater for a full day game drive.

One of the wonders of the world, it is difficult to give a fair description to the enormity and beauty of the Crater. There is no comparison, if only the Garden of Eden! A steep wall of thick forest surrounds the circumference, which looks like a natural amphitheater 260 km2 in size.

An incredible ecosystem consisting of grasslands, swamps, lakes, rivers, woodlands, forests and an arid area of shifting dunes exists here, and thus the crater is able to sustain a vast resident population of game including elephant, buffalo, lions, hippos, wildebeest, gazelle, leopard, black rhino, monkeys and hyena.

Picnic lunch in the heart of the crater.
Evening ascend back to the Crater Rim and continue to Gibbs Farm.
Check-in, dinner and overnight stay.

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Day 10 Gibbs Farm
Day at leisure, possibly day treks to nearby waterfalls.
All meals at the lodge

Day 11 Gibbs Farm - Arusha - Nairobi
After breakfast transfer back to Arusha and onwards to Nairobi.
Lunch en-route
Arrive Nairobi by mid-afternoon
Check-in at the Nairobi Safari Club - overnight

Day 12 Nairobi - Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure and evening departure.