7 Day Machame, 2 Day Tarangire & Ngorongoro Safari

Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi

On Arrival guests will be greeted and transferred to Ilboru Lodge  for dinner and overnight stay.

Dinner and overnight stay 

Day of Leisure in Machame & Equipment Check Day

Enjoy a day of leisure at the hotel. Check out the town. Mt Kilimanjaro guides will come and have a pre-briefing with Tour Leaders, followed by a briefing with guests and final equipment check and bag weigh before the trek.

Dinner and overnight at Hotel.

Once the main alternative to the Marangu Route, Machame is a very scenic camping route which is becoming busier as people try to avoid the well-beaten paths of the “Coca-Cola” Route

Arusha / Moshi to Machame

After breakfast transfer to Machame Gate. The tarmac ends and you drive through a market place and a small village with tiny mud houses flanking the sides of the road. A sign with a red paint marks start here at about (6 400ft). The route winds up through the verdant rain forest, a breathtaking environment of chattering birds and monkeys. Packed lunch en route, the forest gives out into the heather at about 10 000 ft / 3000 m, (5-6 hrs). The Camp is about 50 meters to the West and water is plentiful from a stream 5 minutes down in the valley. Dinner and overnight at Machame Camp.

Machame to Shira

From the Camp, we cross a small valley and the route continues up the long steep ridge ahead. From the ridge Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira -the three peaks of Kilimanjaro - can be seen with Mt. Meru visible to the West on a clear day. It is gentle trekking on the rock ridges and through heather until the route turns west into a river gorge at 2,000ft/3,500m, (3-4 hrs). From here continue to the west, gradually ascending until the Shira Plateau is reached at 12,500 ft / 3800 m. Another 1/2 hr. brings you to the Shira camp. Even at this altitude, Eland and Klipspringer can be seen. There is a small stream 5 minutes above the Camp, where water can be collected. Dinner and overnight at Shira Camp

Shira Camp to Barranco

Continue walking east and the looming form of the Kibo massif ahead. Shortly after the junction from where the Kibo North Circuit turns off, the route crosses a wide valley.

From here the lava tower can be seen, which is also called the Shark Tooth. South to the glacier streams and, shortly before the Tower, we turn off towards Barranco Camp situated at 13,000ft/ 3,900m, 5-6 hrs. Dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp

Day 4: Barranco to Karanga

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 Ice fields. Lunch is usually taken at Karanga, the last water point, in a steep valley. Dinner and overnight at Karanga Camp [3- 5 hours walking]

Day 5: Karanga to Barafu

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 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 Camp (4,600 m) by mid afternoon. The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [6-8 hours walking]

Barafu to Mweka

An early start is required (01.00 am) for the summit attempt and Uhuru Peak the highest point in Africa at 19,340ft/5,895m. The trail is tougher than anything experienced on the ascent with a sustained switchback climb through steep scree. Slowly and with regular stops is the best way to do it. After Stella Point on the

Crater Rim, it is a very short but very long walk to Uhuru Peak. From the summit it is a sustained descent to Mweka Camp and a day of some 12-15 hours of high-altitude trekking. Lunch, dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp

Mweka to Gate - Kigongoni Lodge or similar

A sustained descent on a well constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m). Here we sign out from the national park before walking on for a further 15 minutes through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village where our vehicle awaits. [4-6 hours walking]. Transfer to Ilboru Lodge in Arusha for a well deserved shower, celebration dinner and overnight stay.

Arusha to Tarangire National Park - Ngorongoro Crater Rim

After breakfast depart on safari to Tarangire National Park. Enjoy a full day in the park and lunch at one of the many picnic areas. In the latter stages of the afternoon exit the park and make your way to Ngorongoro Wildlife Lodge or similar for dinner and overnight stay.

Ngorongoro Crater to Arusha

Rise before dawn for breakfast, descending shortly after into the Ngorongoro Crater for a morning of game viewing (6hrs). Lunch at the Hippo Pool, before ascending shortly after and heading back to Arusha for a final night stay.

Kilimanjaro International Airport

After breakfast transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport to meet onward flight.