Kenya and Tanzania: The Ultimate Safari and Cultural Experience!

Welcome to Nairobi! After all the time you've spent planning and dreaming about going on safari, this is where it finally starts. Your guide will meet you, explain everything you need to know, and answer any questions you might have. And then we'll go out on safari together.

Thanks to its buzzing nightlife, well-regarded restaurant scene, and excellent shopping, Nairobi could be East Africa's most exciting city. And it's more than just a gateway to the safari parks elsewhere in the country. Nairobi also has stellar wildlife and other attractions that make it worth visiting.

Spend some time in Arusha, the gateway city for most safaris in northern Tanzania. It's a fascinating place to explore. Enjoy good restaurants, energized streets, and snapshots of vibrant Tanzanian city life. It’s everything you look for in an urban pit stop. 

Watch for Mt. Kilimanjaro to appear above the rooftops to the north - the best time is usually when the clouds clear in the early morning or late afternoon. Moshi is quieter than Arusha and is a pleasant place to stroll, with good shops, restaurants, and bustling markets.

Unesco World Heritage-listed Serengeti National Park will almost certainly be one of the highlights of your safari, and it's the kind of place that very quickly becomes a favorite. That's partly because of the wildlife: this is one of the best places anywhere to see lions, leopards, and cheetahs. 

Although every big cat sighting is special, they're only a part of the story here: there's a good chance you'll also see elephants, zebras, giraffes, wildebeest, buffaloes, spotted hyenas, and much more. Many travelers love the Serengeti because of its landscapes: expect vast savannah grasslands, acacia trees, and pretty hill country. 

Departure to / arrival in Zanzibar:
Zanzibar Island is a fascinating place to explore. The long, beautiful beaches that hem in this tropical Indian Ocean island are a big part of its appeal. Offshore, a series of fringing reefs and coral gardens offers a snorkeling and diving paradise! 

OR 

OPTIONAL Mt. Kilimanjaro extension: 
You will be transferred to Arusha, where you will begin your mountain trek preparations.

Enjoy the atmospheric old Stone Town, a time-warped knot of winding alleys that leads past some fine historic buildings and bustling spice-laden markets. 

OR

Mt. Kilimanjaro Extension Option: Transfer 45 mins by road to  Kilimanjaro National Park. After our permits have been issued at the gate, you'll go hiking with us in Mount Kilimanjaro and enjoy being surrounded by nature while out on foot. MACHAME GATE ➡️ MACHAME CAMP: 10.75K /7MI | 5-6 HRS | RAINFOREST - Elevation: 1811m/5942ft to 3021m/9911ft. Altitude gained: 1210m.

Non-Kilimanjaro Climbers: Goodbye, for now, Tanzania! Transfer to Zanzibar Airport to catch your flight home. 🛫

OR

Mt. Kilimanjaro Extension Option:  MACHAME CAMP ➡️ SHIRA CAMP: 5.3KM/3MI | 4-5HRS | MOORLAND. Elevation: 3021m/9911ft to 3839m/12,595ft. Altitude gained: 818m.

After a good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast, we emerge from the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the valley along a steep rocky ridge. The route now turns west onto a river gorge until we arrive at the Shira campsite. Temperatures begin to drop. 

SHIRA CAMP ➡️ LAVA TOWER ➡️ BARRANCO CAMP: 10.75KM/6MI | 5-6HRS | SEMI-DESERT. Elevation: 3839m/12,595ft to 3986m/13,077ft. Altitude gained: 147m.

Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization. From Shira Plateau, we continue east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the Kibo peak before continuing South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev. 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower, we came to a second junction, which leads to the Arrow Glacier, then continued to descend to Barranco Camp.

BARRANCO CAMP ➡️ KARANGA SEECAMP ➡️ BARAFU CAMP: 8.5KM/5 MI | 6-8HRS | ALPINE DESERT. Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft. Altitude gained: 676m.

After breakfast, we continue on a steep ridge up to the adventurous Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail. This is one of the most impressive days to see your crew's power, agility, and strength zip over this wall with what appears to be such ease. We continue up toward Barafu Camp, and once you have reached it, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers a variety of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. We have an early dinner and rest as we prepare for summit night. 

Summit Attempt, Uhuru Peak -BARAFU CAMP ➡️ SUMMIT: 4.86KM /3MI UP | 5-7HRS | ➡️ MWEKA CAMP: 13 KM /8MI DOWN | 5-6 HRS | GLACIERS, SNOW CAPPED SUMMIT. Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft. Altitude gained: 1233m. Descent to 3106m/10,190ft. Altitude lost: 2789m.

Excitement is building as morning comes with an early start between midnight and 2 a.m. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. Congratulations: One step at a time, you have now reached Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the entire continent of Africa! After the world's ultimate photo-op, we will descend to picturesque Mweka Camp for an overnight.

MWEKA CAMP ➡️ MWEKA GATE ➡️ MOSHI: 9.1KM/6MI | 3-4HRS | RAINFOREST. Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft. Altitude lost: 1473m. 

After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue descending to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates! 📜

A vehicle will meet you at the gate at Mweka Village and drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long-overdue hot shower, dinner, and celebrations!

Chemka Hot Springs, also known as Kikuletwa Hot Springs, is a popular destination for relaxing after strenuous activities like climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

After our flight from Kilimanjaro, we will celebrate on Zanzibar Island, a fascinating place to explore! The long, beautiful beaches surrounding this tropical Indian Ocean island are a big part of its appeal. Offshore, a series of fringing reefs and coral gardens offer a snorkeling and diving paradise! 

Experience the riches of Indian Ocean history and Swahili culture in Zanzibar Stone Town during our 1/2 day tour.

In the evening, celebrate your Kilimanjaro adventure with the group on our final night with a gorgeous sunset cruise!⛵

Goodbye, for now, Tanzania! Transfer to Zanzibar Airport to catch your flight home. 🛫