Itinerary Highlights
- Duration in days: 10
- Itinerary Category: Combo (Trekking and Beach Holiday)
- Destinations: Mt Kilimanjaro via Machame Route and Zanzibar
- Major Attractions: Mt Kilimanjaro the roof of Africa, Zanzibar Beach, Jozani Forest and Red Colobus Monkey
- Budget Level: Standard
- Guiding Language: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
- Start point: Arusha
- End point: Dar es Salaam
- Essential items: DigitalCamera with enough memory space and extra batteries, binoculars, light clothes, safari boot, mosquito repellents, sunhat, sunglasses with ultra violet radiation filtering etc
Itinerary Description by Day
Day 1: Registration at Machame Gate and climb through Montana forest
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Perform registration formalities at Machame Gate. The climb starts from Machame gate (1800m) after a short walk through the attractive banana and coffee farms of Machame village. The path follows a ridge through dense Montana forest. This is the richest forested area on the mountain, and also the water on Kilimanjaro originates. On sunny days, and especially in the dry season is very lush and beautiful. It can also be a very muddy experience, particularly if it has rained recently. We have lunch at halfway clearing, a small opening in the trees, and continue climbing steadily.
Day 2: Trek through Shira Camp
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 4-6 hours
Zone: Moorland
Our shorter day begins by climbing up a steep ridge to reach a small semicircular cliff known as picnic rock. There are excellent views of kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau from here and it is a good rest point. The trail continues less steeply to reach the Shira Plateau. We camp near Shira Hut (3840m) which has some of the most stunning views on Kilimanjaro.
Day 3: Trek Kilimanjaro through Moorland Plateau
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Trekking time: 6-8 hours
Zone: Alpine desert
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 lava camp (4540m) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3900m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.
Day 4: Trek through Southern Ice Fields.
Distance: 9 Km
Trekking time: 8-10 hours
Zone: Alpine desert
A steep climb up the Barranco wall leads us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the southern ice fields. Lunch is normally taken at camp, the last water point, in a steep valley. After lunch, the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu Hut (4600m.) by mid afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.
Day 5: Trek through Mawenzi and Uhuru Peak
Distance: 5 km
Trekking time: 7-8 hours ascent/ 4-6 hours descent
Zone: Arctic
We normally start our ascent by torchlight around midnight so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steeply climb over loose volcanic scree has some graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella point (5735m.), in about 5-6 hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the 2hours round trip from here along the Crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5895m.). The descends to Barafu campsite is surprisingly fast. After lunch and other refreshments, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3100m.). Most of us will be too tired to notice the beauty of the forest surrounding the crowed campsite.
Day 6: Retracing through Tropical Forest
Distance: 10 km
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rain Forest
A sustained descend on a well maintained trail through lovely tropical forest alive with birdcalls and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. We will start our route to the National Park Gate at Mweka (1650m.) and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. We will be transferred to Arusha for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 7: Transfer from Arusha to Zanzibar for Beach Holiday
Travel time: 1 h 28 min
Distance: 426 Km
After breakfast, we will make our way to the airstrip where an aircraft will be waiting to take us on a flight to Zanzibar where we will stay at the Reef and Beach resort. Having lunch and dinner and relax in Zanzibar beach after trekking Mt Kilimanjaro for about six days.
Day 8: Beach relaxation at Zanzibar Reef and Beach Resort
After breakfast Relaxing in the Reef and Beach Resort, swimming in the pool or in the Indian Ocean, snorkeling, romantic beach walk, participation in one of the optional excursion, such as swimming with dolphins, sailing trip in an original ‘dhow’,walking through the alleys full of shops and restaurants of the historic Stone Town, Prison Island with the giant tortoises, Joozani Forest with the Red Colobus monkeys and Spice Tour. Return to comfortable room with shower and toilet in the evening for dinner and a rest in hotels in Stone Town.
Day 9: Continue with Beach relaxation at Zanzibar Reef and Beach Resort
After Breakfast you will be picked up for City Safari to visit the historical sites of Stone Town. Do some shopping in the Antique and gift shops. Have lunch in the afternoon at Mtoni Marine Restaurant. After lunch proceed to Spice farms looking for spices and tropical fruits. Take a short tour to Kizimkazi for Dolphins tour. Have dinner and overnight stay at the Beach Resort.
Day 10: Transfer from Zanzibar to Dar es Salaam
Non game-viewing travel time: 4h 11 min
Distance: 114.4 km
After breakfast in the morning depending on the time of your flight, you can relax and transfer from Stone Town harbor with ferry to Dar es Salaam city where you will take a taxi to the Dar es Salaam Airport for a return to your home country.
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