10 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Ascension, Lodge Safari & Sightseeing Tour
We have created this Kilimanjaro - Safari combination package for those who want to get a taste of some of Tanzania's most famous attractions but don't have a lot of time on their hands.
On this ten-day adventure you can combine the thrill of climbing Africa's highest peak via the shortest and most comfortable route to the summit, with the excitement of visiting 2 of Tanzania's most famous wildlife parks : Tarangire National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To make this intense journey a little less tiring, we have added a relaxing day trip to Materuni village and waterfalls after your trek and before the start of your safari, as well as a relaxing afternoon at Chemka Hot Springs on your last day.
Itinerary
On the day before the start of your adventure with Safari John Tours, you will be picked up at Kilimanjaro Airport and taken to your hotel in Moshi (hotel not included in package price, although it can be added if you wish)
Days 1 to 5 : Mount Kilimanjaro Marangu Route
The Marangu Route is perhaps the easiest, shortest and most comfortable route to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. The route is well developed and the climb is constant and moderate making it more accessible than other routes. Only the approach to the summit is more demanding, albeit shorter than the other routes. Marangu Route is the itinerary that allows you to see animals along the way, as well as waterfalls and rich flora with fruit trees, ferns and much more.
Marangu Route is 20 kilometres long and you will walk approximately 6 hours per day, except on the second to last day where you will continue for 10 hours. The difference in altitude goes from + 720 meters to + 1020 meters per day.
It should be noted that the ascent trail is exactly the same as the descent trail. This means that the scenery does not change much on the way down as compared to other routes. It also means that the route can get very crowded in the peak season as the climbers going up and those going down cross paths.
Day 1 : Transfer from Moshi to Marangu Gate / Climb to Mandara Hut (2700 m)
Early morning transfer from your hotel in Moshi to the Kilimanjaro National Park entrance which passes through the village of Marangu, located on the lower slopes of the mountain. Once at the park entrance, all hikers will be asked to register at the park office and make final preparations for the climb. Our guides will give you a briefing before departure and will always be available to answer any questions you may have. We will then leave the park gate and and begin our journey on a trail that crosses the rainforest in direction of Mandara Hut. This hut is located in a clearing in the forest and is your first stop for the night.
Day 2 : Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (3720m)
From Mandara Hut, the trail passes through a short section of forest, then skirts the base of Maundi Crater and then transitions from rainforest to moorland. It is worth taking a short detour to climb the rim of Maundi Crater to get your first good view of Kibo Crater. On a clear day, the majestic glacier of Kibo will sparkle in the morning sun. Once you are on open moorland, you will see some of Kilimanjaro's most spectacular plants such as the endemic giant lobelia, which grows up to 3m high, and the giant ragwort, which can grow up to 5m high. After a trek of about 6 hours, we will reach Horombo Hut, where we will have access to hot water to wash ourselves before a meal and a good night's rest.
Day 3 : Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (4700 m)
After breakfast, we will start our ascent to Kibo Hut. The ascent becomes more and more difficult as the oxygen at these altitudes starts to become more and more scarce. We will have a choice between two different paths to the "Saddle", located between the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo. We typically like to choose the lower path, which is much easier and has the advantage of taking us to the last waterhole. It is advisable to stock up on water here, as the next waterhole will be at Horombo Hut when we return there on our descent the following night. It will take us between 5 and 7 hours to reach Kibo Hut where we will rest and have dinner. This is an arid area with extreme conditions where the night-time temperatures can sometimes drop below zero. The Kibo hut is a large stone house that can comfortably accommodate 60 hikers in bunk beds - remember that there is no water in this hut. Spend some time this afternoon preparing your gear as we will be making our final ascent tonight - you will need your walking sticks and thermal clothing. Also make sure your headlamp and camera batteries are in good condition and make sure you have spare batteries. Carry your water in a thermal flask, otherwise it will freeze during the climb.
Day 4 : Kibo Hut to the summit (5895 m) then down to Horombo Hut (3720 m)
You wake up at around midnight and after a quick breakfast, you will head out into the dark and cold night. This is where the climb gets really difficult... We will set off on a rocky path to Hans Meyer Cave at 5150 meters – we will rest here for a short while before continuing our climb to Gillman's point at 5680 meters. This is probably the most challenging section of the entire route as it is very steep and rocky - take it slow and careful. From Gillman's Point onwards, it’s more than likely that we will be walking in the snow for the following 2 hours, until we finally reach Uhuru Point at 5895 meters.
Once you have reached the summit, the cold and fatigue will set in quickly and you may find it difficult to get moving again. So take a little time to enjoy your victory, take in the view and don’t forget to take some pictures! After this short stop, we will start our descent towards Kibo Hut which will take around 3 hours. After a short stop for a well-deserved breakfast, we will start the second part of our descent to Horombo Hut arriving in the afternoon after 3 additional hours of walking. Here we will have a hot lunch and spend the rest of the evening and night getting our strength back for the last leg of our journey.
Day 5 : Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate then transfer to your hotel
After breakfast, we will continue our descent passing by Mandara Hut once again and then onwards to Marangu Gate. This will take approximately six hours. Once at Marangu Gate you will sign the register to mark the end of your adventure; and to make your achievement official, you will receive a certificate. You will then be transferred back to your hotel in Moshi.
Both lunch and dinner will be served at your hotel.
Day 6 : Materuni Waterfalls
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Hotel
You will be picked-up at your hotel in Moshi after breakfast, at around 10:00 a.m. and then drive approximately 30 minutes to Materuni village, passing through beautiful scenery along the way. Here you will see how the Chagga people native to the area live, and learn about their culture while walking through the village.
You will also visit a coffee farm and learn how coffee is grown and produced, while partaking in a traditional coffee ceremony with singing, dancing and preparing your own delicious coffee from bean to cup.
We will then head to the nearby Materuni Waterfalls.
With a height of 150 metres, the waterfall is nestled in the extraordinary foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro through which we will pass on our short but scenic hike.
Upon arrival, you will enjoy your boxed lunch to the sound of the many bird species flying by, and take in the clean and refreshing air of the Tanzanian forest. You may also decide to take a refreshing dip in the cool waters of Materuni.
Following our time at the waterfalls, we will head back to Moshi where you will be dropped off at your hotel and be able to spend some free time resting or discovering Moshi town on your own.
Dinner will be served at your hotel.
Day 7 : Moshi – Tarangire National Park
Activities: Travel to Tarangire National Park (3.5 hours) / Half-day game drive in Tarangire
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
You will be picked up at your hotel after breakfast and receive a short briefing about your tour before starting your journey in direction of Tarangire National Park. We will arrive at Tarangire around noon and immediately head out on our first game drive in this beautiful reserve.
Tarangire National Park runs along the Tarangire River and is made up of low-lying hills on the Great Rift Valley floor. The park is defined by lush grasslands studded with giant baobab trees and sun-baked termite hills. Tourists who prefer to visit its more famous neighbours often ignore this lesser-known game reserve; yet during the dry season, it has a greater concentration of wildlife per square kilometre than any other park in Tanzania.
The huge swamp areas in the south attract large numbers of animals such as zebras, wildebeest, buffalos and giraffes, to name just a few. Moreover, the reserve is not only notorious for having some of the largest elephant herds in Africa, but also for being home to three very rare species that are almost impossible to find in other Tanzanian parks – the Oryx, the Elk and the Greater Kudu.
We will have a late lunch at a picnic area inside the park before our exploration of Tarangire continues. Our game drive will end at sundown when we retire to our tented lodge for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8 : Tarangire National Park - Karatu
Activities: Half-day game drive in Tarangire / Drive to Karatu (3 hours)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
This morning we will wake up very early in order to get a taste of Tarangire at sunrise. Capturing the sun rising over the baobab and acacia trees is an extraordinary sight and one not to be missed while on safari. After all, Africa is famous for her spectacular sunrises and sunsets, so get your camera ready, sit back, relax and enjoy! Sunrise is also a time when many big cats go hunting, so with a little luck we could witness some action in the bush…
After the early morning excitement, we will stop for a bush breakfast inside the park before continuing on our journey through the beautiful and diverse landscapes of Tarangire until lunchtime, after which we will leave the park and move on to Karatu where we will be spending the night.
Day 9 : Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater - Karatu
Activities: Travel (1 hour) to Ngorongoro Crater / Game drive in Ngorongoro / Travel back to Karatu (1 hours)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Lodge
After breakfast, we hit the road for a short drive to the astounding Ngorongoro Crater for the next leg or our safari.
Upon arrival at the gate, we will enter the misty rainforest and drive on the rim of the crater for approximately 45 minutes. Here, we may already get a chance to see some wildlife, depending on the season, as well as have great views of the crater from above. We then enter the majestic Ngorongoro Crater - the world’s largest intact and unfilled caldera - for an incredible adventure!
The crater alone is home to approximately 25,000 game animals, all of which live together in this natural enclosure including some of Tanzania’s last remaining black rhinos. Here you will spot the Big Five (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhinoceros) as well as a multitude of other wild animals, from the pink flamingos of Lake Makat, to large herds of wildebeest, zebras, buffaloes, elands, and warthogs. Another big attraction in this picturesque national park is its dense population of predators, which include hyenas, jackals, cheetahs and leopards, although the latter often requires a trained eye to spot.
After an event-filled day, we will head back to our lodge in the town of Karatu for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 10 : Karatu - Chemka Hot Springs
Activities: Travel (4 hours) to Chemka Hot Springs / Chemka Hot Springs / Travel back to Moshi (1 hour)
Meals: Breakfast & lunch
After breakfast at the lodge we will head to Chemka Hot Springs where we will arrive for lunch. Here, you will be amazed by the vibrant blue waters, which contrast stunningly against the tropical green ferns and palms leaves that hang over the water. When the rays of sunlight stream through the trees in the afternoon and touch the water, the effect is truly astounding.
There are two main areas at the Chemka Hot Springs. The first area is a small lagoon where there is a slight undercurrent. Here you will find dead trees under the water and small fish that nibble at your feet when you dip your toes in. The more adventurous travellers will enjoy jumping into the lagoon from the large tree branches or from the rope on which you can swing like Tarzan before diving in!
The second area is a larger lagoon where you can lay around in the sun or explore the underwater cave if you feel capable of free diving 5-6 meters down to inspect the depths of the cavern.
Throughout the small complex, there are many chairs and tables for you to relax beneath the shade of the huge trees that tower over the hot springs. A toilet block and a changing area are also available so you can get in and out of your swimming gear before and after you enjoy your swim.
At the end of this relaxing afternoon, you will be driven to the hotel of your choice in Moshi where you will say goodbye to your guide.
Included in package
- Professional English-speaking mountain guides
- Team of porters to carry your luggage and other supplies for the group
- All park fees
- Rescue fees
- All camping equipment
- Government taxes, VAT and all related service charges
- Emergency oxygen
- Professional English speaking driver/guide while an safari and other day trips
- Pick-up at Kilimanjaro Airport on the day before the start of your trek
- Pick-up at your hotel in Moshi on Day 1
- Drop-off at your hotel in Moshi on Day 10
- All meals except breakfast on Day 1 & dinner on Day 10
- Bottled water
- Mid-range lodge accommodation while on safari or in town
Not included in package
- Flight tickets
- Visa fees for entry into Tanzania
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, beverages or any other items of a personal nature)
- Portable toilets while trekking on Kilimanjaro
- Your personal clothing, footwear and climbing gear while trekking on Kilimanjaro (warm clothing and other mountain gear can be rented in Moshi the day before your departure)
- Additional nights requested by traveller for acclimatisation purposes while trekking on Kilimanjaro
- Tips for your climbing crew - Suggested amount: Guide: $25/day, Assistant Guide: $15/day, Cook: $15/day, Porters $10/day
- Tip for your safari guide - Suggested amount : $30 per day per vehicle
- Your hotel accommodation in Moshi on the day before the start of your Kilimanjaro trek and on Day 10


Day 1 : Transfer from Moshi to Marangu Gate / Climb to Mandara Hut (2700 m)
Day 2 : Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (3720m)
Day 3 : Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (4700 m)
Day 4 : Kibo Hut to the summit (5895 m) then down to Horombo Hut (3720 m)
Day 5 : Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate then transfer to your hotel
Day 6 : Materuni Waterfalls
Day 7 : Moshi – Tarangire National Park
Day 8 : Tarangire National Park - Karatu
Day 9 : Karatu - Ngorongoro Crater - Karatu
Day 10 : Karatu - Chemka
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