East Africa Wildlife Safaris With Adventure Africa Expedition Mount Kilimanjaro

Depart Nairobi by morning shuttle; this drive normally takes 5-6 hrs from Nairobi to Moshi. Arrive in Moshi, Tanzania late afternoon. Hotel accommodation in Moshi Osy Grand.

Drive to Machame Park Gate. The Kilimanjaro trek in this world heritage site begins at the end of the tarmac road, walking for about 6 hrs gradually ascending through the cloud forests of Kilimanjaro and onto giant heather forested hills at Machame Camp (3000m).

Trekkers ascend an enjoyable ridge, traverse along a stream gorge and finally emerge on the Shira plateau volcanic moorland (3840m). Total trekking time is approximately 6 hrs.

A half day is spent acclimatizing by trekking to 4200 m and then gradually descending back to Shira Camp. A half-day is available to site see and relax as part of the acclimatization process.

Trekkers follow the trail to Lava Towers (>4500m), have lunch prior to spending an hour at Lava Towers, and then descend into the scenic Barranco gorge. Continue to Barranco Camp at 3950m. Total trekking time is approximately 6 hrs.

Trekkers cross the Barranco Valley, ascend the well known and fascinating Barranco wall (not technical climbing), then follow the Kibo South Circuit. Descend and ascend again for about 2 additional hours to arrive at Karanga Camp for lunch and overnight.

Another half day trek takes you across some splendid volcanic lands with Kibo Volcano (highest of the Kilimanjaro volcanoes) and its remaining glaciers as the backdrop. Enjoy the final ascent up to Barafu Camp! After lunch and a couple of hours rest time, you begin a short trek up to Kibo Camp for further acclimatization, and then descend for dinner. Sleep until 11:00 p.m. and then begin all night ascent. The summit is attainable since you will be properly acclimatized by now.

Trekkers shuffle (“poly poly” – slowly) in a north-western direction with mountain guides at their side up a defined trail towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour trek to Stella Point is the most mentally and physically challenging on the route. Temperature is usually -10 Celsius and winds can make it more challenging. At Stella Point the group re-nourishes, enjoys the famous Kilimanjaro sunrise and then continues for another hour to the true summit of Africa, Uhuru Peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. Photos and celebration ensue. A slow descent back to Stella Point followed by a quicker descent on scree slope trails back to Barafu Camp for a well deserved rest and brunch. Break camp and hike down to Lower Mweka Camp by mid-afternoon. This is the day you appreciate your trekking poles and honour your guides and porters, trust me – you descend over 2800 meters from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp.

This is the last day of the trek. The descent to Mweka Gate is very enjoyable and provides good views of yesterday’s accomplishment, and provides excellent photo opportunity of Mount Kilimanjaro’s unique vegetation of the cloud forest. Check-out at Mweka trail head and then shuttle to a welcoming Sinka Court Hotel in Arusha.

Enjoy the morning market of Arusha, and then depart to Tarangire National Park. Baobab studded Tarangire stretches southeast of Lake Manyara around the Tarangire River. It is one of the highest concentrations of wildlife of any of Tanzania’s parks.Overnight at the MTO Wa Wambu Camp Site near Lake Manyara. Facilities include dining area, showers and swimming pool. Whistling bats are an added feature of the night life.

Lake Manyara National Park is visited this day. This vegetative diverse park is set beneath the dramatic western escarpment of the Rift Valley. See the amazing Baobob tree, an assortment of Ficus and Acacia trees and all the life that inhabits them. This is a birding paradise, along with all the standard East African mammals other than rhinoceros. The group enjoys a safari tour to the back-end of the park, noted for its hot springs, abundance of giraffe and African bush elephant. Don’t be surprised if you see mongoose, clip springer and the elusive rock hyrax. Lake Manyara is a soda lake and is noted for its flamingos. Overnight at the MTO Wa Wambu Camp again.

A must see Conservation Area within this massive collapsed volcano, one of the largest calderas in the world. Ngorongoro’s grasslands, forest, swamps, saltpans, and Lake Magadi provide for an assortment of wildlife and viewing opportunity. You will see blank rhinos, jackals, spotted hyena, lions, and their prey of wildebeest, water buffalo, and various gazelle species. Birding is good as well. The not too common serval cat is a bonus feature. Overnight at the Sinka Court Hotel in Arusha.

The safari group travels to the Tanzania/Kenya border at Namanga, then proceeds to Amboseli National Park within Kenya. Permanent safari canvass tents with 2 beds and thatch over-roofs are serenaded by weaver birds and cicadas by day and massive crickets by night. Don’t be surprised to be awakening at night by a wondering elephant or two just outside the large fenced in camp facility.

Mount Kilimanjaro is the backdrop of this elephant haven and you will not be disappointed by this first class safari experience. You will have no trouble in getting up close and personal with the monolithic beasts of Africa, in the safety of your pop-up canopy safari vehicle

Travel day to Lake Naivasha on your way to Masai Mara. This is an opportune time to enjoy the countryside of Kenya and all its people. Part of the trip is along the Great Rift Valley with a stop over to view the escarpment. Lake Naivasha is a major agricultural production area in Kenya and a welcomed break to the day’s travel. Dinner and overnight at the Cray Fish Camp with luxurious bed accommodation.

Just when you thought you may have been safaried out, then you enter the world-renowned Masai Mara, the northern extension of the equally famous Serengeti Plains. The productivity of the rolling grasslands and tree studded woodlands are to be witnessed first hand. Countless numbers of wildebeest, zebra, and water buffalo are guaranteed, even after mass migration to the Serengeti. Elephant, giraffe, warthog, lion, cheetah, hyena, jackal, the list goes on. Numerous antelope species are readably photogenic including hartebeest, topi, impala, eland, suni, bush duiker, steinbok, dikdik, Grant’s and Thomson’s gazelle. Numerous lion kills make for some great vulture viewing. The Masai Mara safari will be based out of the Masai run Mara Sidai tented camp among a beautiful forested setting. The white-browed Robin-Chat’s lovely song at camp will wake you up in the morning and call you to your tent in the evening.

You will be overwhelmed and satiated by the abundance of wildlife viewed in this park. The safari takes you to the Mari River where you will see and photograph hippos and large crocodiles laying in wait. Masai Ostrich, crowned crane, helmeted guinea-fowl, kori bustard and the secretary bird will have you wondering what’s next on the fascinating bird list.

Part of the morning will be spent visiting a local Masai village, witnessing current village life, being entertained with dance and Masai hospitality. It is a colorful event and optional for guests to attend. Arrival to Nairobi and drop off to the Marble Arch Hotel where the adventure comes to an end.