Kilimanjaro Trek & Safari Experience

Embark on the ultimate adventure with our Kilimanjaro Trek and Safari experience! Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, stand on Africa’s roof, and witness the breathtaking landscapes. Then, venture on an extraordinary safari, encountering majestic wildlife up close. Join us for an unforgettable journey that will test your limits and leave you in awe of Africa’s wonders.

This trip is led by Otto van Andel, International mountain leader.

What’s the plan?

Here is our detailed itinerary:

Day 1: Wednesday, 29 November

Arrival at Kilimanjaro at 7:40 am.

Airport transfer: We will pick you up at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and take you to the hotel in Moshi.

Accommodation: Chanya Lodge – Standard Room (Bed and Breakfast) for 1 night

Location: The Chanya Lodge is located in a quiet area, 4 km from the centre of Moshi, making it an ideal starting point for mountain tours, as well as for safaris and excursions in the Kilimanjaro region. The lodge operates with a good sustainability concept and is easily accessible by inexpensive taxi from the city centre. The international Kilimanjaro airport can be reached by transfer in 45 minutes. Arrivals and departures are possible at any time of day.

Facilities: The 25 spacious rooms are all friendly, bright, and decorated in modern African decor. All have comfortable beds with mosquito nets, fan, storage, seating, and private spacious bathroom with hot water and toilet.

Restaurant: The restaurant offers a delicious selection of international and Indian dishes and in the bar, you have the opportunity to cheers to an unforgettable tour. Free Wi-Fi is available for every visitor in the restaurant area.

Day 2: Thursday, 30 November

Park Gate Machame 1790m – Machame Camp 3100m

From Moshi, you will drive with your team to the Machame Gate. After all luggage is stored, the ascent begins later in the morning. After a beautiful hike through the rainforest and partly heathland, you will reach the Machame Camp at 3100 meters above sea level. From here you have a fabulous view of the Shira peaks and the Kibo.

Walking time: 5-6hrs – Distance: 9km – Ascent: 1220m

Day 3: Friday, 1 December

Machame Camp 3010m – Shira Camp 3845m

After breakfast, you leave the rainforest, follow a steep path through a valley, and continue your way along steep cliffs. From there, you can see the three peaks of Kilimanjaro: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. After four to five hours, you pass the “Shira Cathedral” and reach the camp on the Shira Plateau at 3840 m after a short walk.

Walking time: 5-6hrs – Distance: 7km – Ascent: 835m

Day 4: Saturday, 2 December

Shira Camp 3845m – Barranco Camp 3960m

This six-hour stage is for active acclimatisation, as on this tour you slowly climb up to the Lava Tower (about 4600 m) and then descend to the Barranco Camp. Enjoy the magnificent landscape through lush vegetation and the view of the far-reaching southern glaciers of Kibo.

Walking time: 6-7hrs – Distance: 10km – Ascent: 700m – Descent: 600m

Day 5: Sunday, 3 December

Barranco Camp 3960m – Karanga Camp 4035m

Today the stage can start a bit later. While others are already busy packing, you can enjoy the warming sunrays. After a relaxed breakfast, the one-hour section up the Barranco Wall follows. The view into the Karanga Valley is stunning. After a short break, the path leads slightly downhill, then up and down again. The landscape is characterized by riverbeds and rocky meadows. After about three hours, you will see the Karanga Camp behind the valley of the same name.

Walking time: 3-4hours – Distance: 15km – Ascent: 250m – Descent: 175m

Day 6: Monday, 4 December

Karanga Camp 4035m – Barafu Camp 4640m

Today’s stage, which takes about four hours, can also be started in peace and quiet. The easy ascent quickly allows you to find the right walking rhythm. On the left, the gigantic Karanga Valley opens up. Meanwhile, the view of the south-eastern ceilings and Rebmann Glacier becomes free. Soon you can see the stage destination. You cross one last valleys and finally the steep ascending meters to the Barafu Camp. The sudden view of the 5100 meter high peaks of Mawenzi is spectacular. The Barafu Camp, the stage destination, is located elevated on the ridge of a volcanic outlet.

Walking time: 3-4hours – Distance: 4km – Ascent: 600m

Day 7: Tuesday, 5 December

Summit day! Barafu Camp 4640m – Uhuru Peak 5895m – Millennium Camp 3790m

You will start your ascent to the summit at midnight. The steady, steep climb over loose rocks leads to Stella Point (5745m), located on the crater rim. The ascent is not technically difficult, but it is quite strenuous due to the high altitude. Here, you can enjoy a fantastic sunrise. After climbing 150 vertical meters, you will reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak (5895m). The descent will lead you back down to Millennium Camp via Stella Point.

Walking time: 11-13 hours – Distance: 16km – Ascent: 1255m – Descent: 2105m

Day 8: Wednesday, 6 December

Millennium Camp 3790m – Park Gate Mweka 1680m

The last day in Kilimanjaro National Park does not require much effort. The trail leads through densely forested areas. After a five-hour descent, you will reach Mweka Gate. After receiving your summit certificate, we will take you back to Moshi.

Walking time: 4-5 hours – Distance: 13km – Descent: 2110m

Chanya Lodge – Standard Room (Bed and Breakfast) for 1 night

Kilimanjaro Tour / Mountain Camping Services

• All transfers according to the itinerary
• Full board during the trek
• All national park and camping fees
• Wages and fees for porters, cooks, and mountain guides according to KPAP
• Professional, English-speaking mountain guide
• Assistant guide depending on group size
• Cook and porter team
• Kitchen and camping equipment (except sleeping pad and sleeping bag)
• Water filter
• Oxygen saturation monitor
• Mountain rescue (by land)
• First aid kit and emergency oxygen
• Tour briefing and on-site support
• VAT taxation
• English-language tour briefing and on site support

We work with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) and MountainExplorers.org to ensure the best possible working conditions for the entire crew.

Day 9: Thursday, 7 December

Lodge Safari – Big Five Compact (L3-7) – Lake Manyara

You will be picked up from the hotel in Moshi and drive to Lake Manyara National Park at the foot of the East African Rift Valley. With some luck, you can observe the tree-climbing lions for which the park is known. The sparsely wooded plain around the salt lake Lake Manyara offers you an unobstructed view of the natural spectacle with baboons, giraffes, zebras, hippos, and numerous elephants.

Pembeni Rhotia – Standard Room (Full Board) for 1 night Location: Pembeni Camp is located in Rhotia on a hill with a beautiful view of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.

Accommodation: The 15 tents are built of local materials such as wood, brick, and canvas. A backup generator is available for power outages, and Wi-Fi is available. Each tent offers a stunning view from the balcony and a usable area of 48 square meters. In the room, there is a wardrobe, a nightstand, a bed with mosquito netting, and a luggage rack. Hot water is available at any time.

Restaurant: The restaurant offers fresh ingredients from the region and alcoholic beverages.

Day 10: Friday, 8 December

Lodge Safari – Big Five Compact – Ngorongoro

Early risers can enjoy the spectacular sunrise over the crater. Then you drive down the steep crater rim. Keep your camera handy as nowhere else is the animal density higher than here. Almost all species of East African wildlife frolic in the crater, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With some luck, you can see the endangered black rhinoceros, which, along with buffalo, lion, elephant, and leopard, is a member of the “Big Five”! After the game drive, you will drive to Tarangire National Park for an overnight stay.

Tarangire Simba Lodge – Standard Room (Full Board) for 1 night Location: The “Tarangire Simba Lodge” is a tented camp lodge near the northwestern entrance to Tarangire NP. The facility is located on the edge of Lake Burunge. The view from the pool, observation deck, or your terrace is breathtaking.

Facilities: The 16 comfortably equipped tents have large double beds, a seating area, a large bathroom with indoor and outdoor showers, hot water, and 24-hour power supply. Each tent has a veranda. There is a pool and a bar.

Restaurant: The restaurant offers excellent international and local cuisine. You also have a great view of the beautiful landscape from here.

Day 11: Saturday, 9 December

Lodge Safari – Big Five Compact – Tarangire – Moshi

Today you will drive to Tarangire National Park, which is particularly known for its high number of elephants. The name of the park comes from the river of the same name, which is the only water source for the wild animals during the dry season. The national park is a long, varied park with a landscape of hills, savannah, and swamps. During the safari, the huge baobab trees are particularly impressive. You will leave the Tarangire National Park around noon and drive back to Moshi.

Return flight from Kilimanjaro with Qatar Airways at 6:15 pm.

Lodge Safari / Big Five Compact Services

• Safari according to the tour itinerary
• Transport in a 4×4 vehicle with a safari photo roof
• Guided safari with an experienced, English-speaking driver
• English-speaking driver on request / no extra charge
• Game drives with guaranteed window seat
• All national park, camping, and transfer fees
• English-speaking briefing and on site support
• 3 litres of water per person and per safari day
• 1 pair of binoculars
• Catering as indicated in the tour itinerary (Breakfast = breakfast, Half board = half board, Full board = full board)

Notes: With 4 participants in one vehicle, hard-shell suitcases must be avoided due to limited storage space. All guests require a soft bag limited to a total weight of 15 kg.

For the safari, we recommend bringing comfortable, sturdy shoes, beige, green or brown comfortable clothing with long-sleeved pants and shirts. Additionally, you should definitely bring sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher, a hat with a brim, and sunglasses. A small travel pharmacy and insect repellent are recommended. Please make sure you have a good accident and health insurance, such as travel insurance (which also provides good coverage for this trek).

Requirements

Requirements on Kilimanjaro Climbing Kilimanjaro does not require high mountaineering skills, but it requires a high level of endurance and altitude tolerance. The walking times of each daily stage are approximately 5-7 hours (usually 12-14 hours on the summit day) in extremely varied terrain. Marshes, thickets, rocks, and scree must be overcome. The increasingly thin air, cold, and steeply ascending path of the last stage to the summit demand good physical fitness and conditioning. It is recommended to have your heart and circulation checked before your trip since exertion and high altitude significantly strain the body.

Additional Notes: Traveling to a developing country can involve unforeseen circumstances. Tolerance, patience, and camaraderie are important requirements for a good tour and unforgettable experiences. An adventurous spirit will help you overcome tour delays or even changes due to bad weather, governmental orders, technical malfunctions, or other reasons. On the Kilimanjaro climb, there are very simple squat toilets at the camps. We offer a mobile, private toilet for an additional fee of 250 USD.

Insurance

It is the participant’s responsibility to get health and accident insurances that cover for this trip.

How to get there

If you are traveling from Zurich by public transport, we recommend you take the following:

• 28 November 2023 (Zurich Airport 15:55) – 29 November 2023 (07:40 Kilimanjaro Airport)
• 9 December 2023 (Kilimanjaro Airport 18:15) – 10 December 2023 (06:25 Zurich Airport)

Equipment rental

We rent sleeping bags for 55 USD, sleeping mats for 35 USD, trekking poles for 25 USD, and headlamps for 15 USD per person. Please inform us in advance of the climb about what is needed.

Pricing

The price for this event is CHF 4’200

CHF 200 non-refundable deposit to pay upon registration

CHF 1’000 deposit to pay within 2 weeks after registration

Included in price

• All inclusions mentioned above under:
  • Kilimanjaro Tour / Mountain Camping Services
  • Lodge Safari / Big Five Compact Services

Not included in price

• Flights to and from Kilimanjaro
• Meals, drinks, and snacks other than those specified in the itinerary above

By signing up for this event, you agree that you have read, understood and will adhere to our Terms and Conditions.