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17 Days – Kilimanjaro Trekking, Wildlife Safari and Zanzibar
17 Days / 16 Nights Days
Arusha or Moshi, Tanzania → Zanzibar, Tanzania (international departure home on Day 17)
Adventure Tour
Why Choose This Safari?
This 17-day journey brings together three very different experiences in one trip: a mountain climb, a classic northern safari and a beach finish on the Indian Ocean. The seven-day climb follows the Machame Route, known as the “Whiskey Route”, which suits adventurous hikers. It passes through rainforest, moorland and high desert, with a gradual ascent that includes the Barranco Wall, and it ends at Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres. After a rest in Arusha, the six-day safari visits Tarangire National Park, Lake Manyara National Park, the Serengeti National Park, which covers about 14,763 square kilometres, and the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where the crater floor covers about 260 square kilometres. The trip finishes with four days in Zanzibar, including a guided tour of Stone Town, the spice markets and the old fort, and a snorkelling trip to Mnemba.
Safari Highlights
- We may have to re-route the itinerary or accommodation in similar Lodges/Tented Camps in case of non – availability
- Upgrades are available eg To Luxury Accommodation Safari
- Tour above can be customized based on your needs or requirements
Destinations to Travel
Arusha · Machame Gate and Machame Village · Mount Kilimanjaro (Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m) · Mweka Gate · Tarangire National Park · Lake Manyara National Park · Serengeti National Park · Ngorongoro Conservation Area · Zanzibar Stone Town · Zanzibar northern coast · Mnemba
Itinerary
Day 1 — Arusha or Moshi to Machame Camp
You are driven from Arusha or Moshi to Machame Village, which takes about two hours, and then walk through the forest to Machame Camp. The walk covers 10 km over five to seven hours, climbing 1,200 metres to 3,000 metres. Dinner and an overnight stay are at Machame Camp.
Trek: Drive about 2 hours · Hike 5 to 7 hours (10 km) · Altitude 1,800 m to 3,000 m (1,200 m ascent)
Day 2 — Machame Camp to Shira Camp
The trail covers 6 km over five to seven hours, with an ascent of 840 metres to 3,840 metres. Dinner and an overnight stay are at Shira Camp.
Trek: Hike 5 to 7 hours (6 km) · Altitude 3,000 m to 3,840 m (840 m ascent)
Day 3 — Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
This is a long walk of 10 km over five to seven hours, with a small ascent of 110 metres. You sleep at about 3,950 metres at Barranco Camp, where dinner is served.
Trek: Hike 5 to 7 hours (10 km) · Altitude 3,840 m to 3,950 m (110 m ascent)
Day 4 — Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
You walk 4.5 km in about three hours, with an ascent of 250 metres. You spend your first night above 4,000 metres, at about 4,200 metres, at Karanga Valley Camp.
Trek: Hike about 3 hours (4.5 km) · Altitude 3,950 m to 4,200 m (250 m ascent)
Day 5 — Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
This is another 4.5 km walk over about three hours, with an ascent of 500 metres to about 4,700 metres. You sleep at Barafu Camp, the highest night of the climb, ready for the summit attempt.
Trek: Hike about 3 hours (4.5 km) · Altitude 4,200 m to 4,700 m (500 m ascent)
Day 6 — Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and Mweka Camp
This is the toughest day of the climb. You wake in the middle of the night and set off in the dark, aiming to reach Uhuru Peak at sunrise. The summit push covers 5 km, but the altitude and steep ground make it take six to seven hours, with 1,186 metres of ascent. You reach the summit at 5,895 metres. After time at the top you descend to Mweka Camp, a total of 12 km over five to seven hours, and sleep at about 3,096 metres.
Trek: Hike 12 km total · Time 12 to 14 hours · Altitude 4,700 m to 5,895 m (summit), then 3,096 m (Mweka Camp)
Day 7 — Mweka Camp to Mweka Village and Arusha
You walk 10 km over three to four hours down to about 1,600 metres at Mweka Village, then transfer to Arusha. You have lunch and dinner, and an overnight stay in Arusha.
Trek: Hike 3 to 4 hours (10 km)
Day 8 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park
After breakfast you leave Arusha for Tarangire National Park. You stop at a picnic site for lunch at about 1 pm, then continue with an evening game drive before returning for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 9 — Tarangire to Lake Manyara National Park
After breakfast you leave camp for Lake Manyara National Park, where you stop at a picnic site for lunch. The afternoon game drive continues into the evening, and you return for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10 — Lake Manyara to the Serengeti National Park
You leave Manyara at 8 am and transfer to the Serengeti National Park for a game drive. Lunch is served at the picnic area around 1 pm, and the afternoon game drive runs until the evening, when you return for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 11 — Serengeti Central and Eastern Plains
After breakfast you leave with a packed lunch for a game drive across the acacia savannah of the central and eastern Serengeti. Around 12:30 pm to 1 pm you stop for a picnic lunch, then continue with an afternoon game drive. You return for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 12 — Serengeti to the Ngorongoro Crater Rim
You wake at 6 am for an early morning game drive and return to the lodge at about 8:45 am. After checking out, you drive with lunch and game viewing towards the Ngorongoro Crater rim. You can choose to stop at Olduvai Gorge, the archaeological site, at your own cost. You have dinner and an overnight stay on the crater rim.
Day 13 — Ngorongoro Crater and Return to Arusha
After breakfast you descend into the Ngorongoro Crater with a lunch box for game viewing. The crater is rich in wildlife, and each species keeps its own territory. At about 1 pm you stop at a picnic site near Lerai Forest or the hippo pool for lunch on the crater floor. At about 2 pm you climb out of the crater and drive back to Arusha town, where you spend the night.
Day 14 — Arusha to Zanzibar
You take a flight with Precision Air or a similar airline, departing Arusha at about 9 am and landing in Zanzibar at about 10:15 am. On arrival you are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in town for lunch, dinner and an overnight stay. Flight times and airline may change.
Day 15 — Stone Town and the Northern Coast
After an early breakfast you take a privately guided tour of Stone Town, including the traditional spice markets, the old fort and the slave museum. After lunch you drive about 45 minutes to the northern coast of the island and settle in for the night.
Day 16 — Mnemba Boat Trip and Beach Afternoon
You start the day with a half-day boat trip to Mnemba, a small island known for its white sands, clear water and colourful tropical fish. Lunch and snorkelling are included. In the afternoon you can relax on the beach or by the pool.
Day 17 — Zanzibar to Home
You are transferred to the airport for your flight back to your home country.
What's Included
Rate Includes
- Accommodation as stipulated in the Itinerary
- Airport transfers
- Domestic flight from Arusha/JRO – Zanzibar
- Sightseeing as specified in itinerary
- Transport on safari in a 4WD vehicle with an open roof
- All parks entrance fees
- Crater fees.
- Camping/Lodge fees.
- Mineral water 1.5lt per person per day.
- Salary for the Professional English Drive Guide.
- Accommodation after safaris in Arusha
- Three meals a day on Safari
- Service of an English speaking professional guide/Driver + Mountain Guide
- Camping fees, Mattresses (If Camping)
- Food, cook and all kitchen utensils (If Camping)
- Transport to and from mountain gates.
- Rescue fees.
- Guide and porters fees.
- All accommodations on the mountain based on three meals a day.
- Activities as per itinerary above
Rate Excludes
- International flights to/from your home
- VISA and any Airport Taxes
- The first night on your arrival Day in Arusha (book with us)
- Domestic flight from Zanzibar to Arusha/Dar es laam (book with us)
- Sleeping bags (If Budget Camping)
- Hot and cold drinks.
- Hot Air Balloon ride over Serengeti, book with us for USD 775 per person.
- Olduvai/Visit of Maasai Boma
- Flying doctors insurance, we can arrange for USD 50per person.
- Tips to the driver/guide and all items of personal nature/use.
- Airport transfers (book with us)
- Personal insurance
- Alcoholic drinks
- All Mountain Gears (we can arrange hire of this)
- And all not mentioned in the itinerary above.
Best Time to Go
No travel period was given for this trip, so the guidance below is based on general seasonality. For Kilimanjaro, the dry seasons from about January to March and from June to October are generally the easiest for trekking, with clearer skies and drier trails. The long rains from March to May and the short rains in November and December make the trails wetter. For the safari, June to October is the usual dry season for game viewing in the Serengeti, Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater. Zanzibar is warm year round, with the drier months from June to October and again from December to February being the most comfortable for beach time. June to early October is the best overall window for this combination. Our team can advise the best dates. You can read more on the Tanzania National Parks Authority and Ngorongoro Conservation Area Authority sites.
Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this trip start and end, and how long does it last?
It starts in Arusha or Moshi and ends with a flight home from Zanzibar on Day 17. The trip runs for 17 days and 16 nights, made up of seven days on Kilimanjaro, six days on safari through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, the Serengeti and the Ngorongoro Crater, and four days on Zanzibar.
Is the Machame Route suitable for beginners?
The Machame Route suits adventurous hikers, with long days and steep sections. Please tell our team about your fitness and any previous hiking before you book. Acclimatisation is built into the route, but we advise you to speak with your doctor about altitude before you travel.
Is the Mnemba boat trip included?
Yes, the half-day boat trip on Day 16 includes lunch and snorkelling. Access to Mnemba is controlled, so please ask our team about permits and any equipment before you travel.
Are the flights to Zanzibar included?
The Arusha to Zanzibar flight on Day 14 is included, and our team will confirm the airline and times when you book. The international flight home on Day 17 is not included.
Is the Olduvai Gorge stop included?
No. The stop is optional and carries an extra cost, so please ask our team for the entry price if you would like to add it on Day 12.
What happens after the trip ends in Zanzibar?
You are transferred to Zanzibar airport on Day 17 for your flight home. Accommodation after Day 17 is not included, but our team can arrange it on request.