13-Day Itinerary
Machame Route + Tarangire, Serengeti & Ngorongoro
13 days from $4,680 per person: seven days on Africa's most popular Machame Route, two recovery days in Arusha, and four days of safari across Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater.
Duration
13 Days / 12 Nights
Climb Route
Machame (7 days)
Safari Parks
Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
From Price
$4,680 per person
Day-by-day itinerary
Two distinct experiences woven into one seamless trip. Days 1-8 on the mountain, days 9-10 in Arusha recovery, days 11-13 across the northern safari circuit.
Day 1 — Arusha to Machame Gate, climb to Machame Camp
We collect you from your Arusha hotel after breakfast and drive to Machame Gate (approximately 1.5 hours). Your guide handles park registration whi...
Colobus monkeys in the rainforest canopy — a guaranteed sighting on Day 1.
Day 2 — Machame Camp to Shira 1 Camp
A shorter day that pays big dividends. You leave the rainforest behind and enter the heath and moorland zones — the landscape transforms from dense green to open shrubland dotted with giant heather and wildflowers. The trail climbs steadily to Shira 1 Camp (3,500m) on the Shira Plateau. The altitude is noticeable here — breathe deeply, drink water continuously, and move slowly. From camp, you have your first unobstructed view of Kibo's southern face. The plateau can be exposed and cold in the evening.
Kibo volcano revealed for the first time — the peak you will stand on in six days.
Day 3 — Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
A shorter, more gradual day across the Shira Plateau — one of the most extraordinary landscapes on Kilimanjaro. The plateau is a high-altitude desert of volcanic rock, scattered with everlastings flowers and the bizarre groundsel trees that only grow at this altitude. You reach Shira 2 Camp (3,900m) by early afternoon, giving you time to rest and acclimatise before tomorrow's demanding acclimatisation hike. The camp has far-reaching views in all directions and can be surprisingly windy.
The Shira Plateau at sunset — a vast, silent landscape with Kibo floating above the clouds.
Day 4 — Shira 2 Camp — Acclimatisation Hike to Lava Tower
This is the most important day on the mountain. You climb from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower (4,600m) — the highest point of the entire climb at 4,600...
Reaching Lava Tower at 4,600m — the highest point of your entire climb, and the moment your body truly begins to adapt.
Day 5 — Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Today you tackle the Barranco Wall — a steep, spectacular rock scramble that is the most technically engaging section of the Machame route. It is n...
The Barranco Wall at sunrise — climbing it in the morning light before the Wall heats up.
Day 6 — Karanga Camp to Kosovo Camp
A short, steep climb to Kosovo Camp (4,800m) — the smallest and most atmospheric camp on the mountain. There are no trees here, no shelter from the...
Kibo Crater rim visible from camp — Stella Point directly above you, Uhuru Peak to the right.
Day 7 — Kosovo Camp to Uhuru Peak, descend to Millennium Camp
Summit night. You wake at 23:00, layer every piece of clothing you own, and begin the final ascent. The first section is a steep zigzag on loose sc...
Uhuru Peak at sunrise — 5,895m above sea level. You are standing on the highest point in Africa.
Day 8 — Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate, transfer to Arusha
The final descent is long — 12km of trail through moorland and forest — but your body is moving downhill, which is far easier than ascending. The t...
Your summit certificate — the proof of what you just accomplished on the mountain.
Day 9 — Recovery day in Arusha
Full recovery day. Your legs are sore, your body is adjusting to sea-level oxygen, and sleep may come easily or not at all. We arrange a comfortabl...
A long hot shower, a cold Kilimanjaro beer, and the satisfaction of having climbed the mountain.
Day 10 — Arusha coffee tour and cultural visit
A gentler second recovery day. We arrange a morning coffee tour at a local Arusha coffee plantation — you will learn about the entire process from...
Fresh Tanzanian coffee at the source — and the realization that you just climbed the mountain visible from here.
Day 11 — Arusha to Tarangire National Park
Your safari begins. We depart Arusha after breakfast and drive to Tarangire National Park (approximately 2.5 hours). Tarangire is the most underrated of Tanzania's northern circuit parks — it contains some of the oldest baobab trees in Africa and supports enormous elephant herds, particularly in the dry season from June to October. The park has the highest concentration of wildlife outside the Serengeti during these months. You will do a full game drive with a picnic lunch in the park, then exit in the late afternoon and drive to your tented camp near Karatu, on the edge of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Elephants crossing the Tarangire River at sunset — dozens of them, led by the matriarch.
Day 12 — Karatu to Serengeti National Park
After breakfast, we drive into the Serengeti (approximately 4 hours including the Ngorongoro crater crossing). The Serengeti is the jewel of Tanzania's safari circuit — 15,000km² of savanna, riverine forest, and granite outcrops supporting the greatest concentration of large mammals on earth. Your first game drive begins immediately on entry. Between December and July, you are in the heart of Great Migration territory — over a million wildebeest moving across the plains in a continuous circuit of birth, death, and renewal. Even outside migration season, the Serengeti has exceptional year-round predator density. You will reach your camp by late afternoon.
Lion pride on a morning kill in the central Serengeti — the circle of life in front of you.
Day 13 — Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater, then to Arusha
A pre-dawn departure for your final game drive in the Serengeti — the cool of the early morning is when predators are most active. After approximately 2 hours, you begin the drive to Ngorongoro Crater. After settling briefly at a rim lodge, you descend into the crater for an afternoon game drive. The Ngorongoro Crater is the world's largest intact volcanic caldera — a 264km² self-contained wildlife theatre. The soda lakes, marshes, and open grassland support one of the highest densities of wildlife in Africa, including the critically endangered black rhino. Late afternoon, you ascend the rim and drive back to Arusha (approximately 4 hours), where your Tanzania adventure ends.
Black rhino on the Ngorongoro crater floor — the rarest sighting in all of Tanzanian safari.
The Great Migration — December through July, over one million wildebeest cross the Serengeti plains.
Is the 13-day right for you?
Thirteen days is the most popular length for our Kilimanjaro and Safari combo — it gives the mountain the respect it deserves, allows proper recovery between the climb and safari, and provides enough time to genuinely explore three major wildlife parks.
Choose 13 days if...
- —You want the most popular Kilimanjaro route with a proper 4-day safari
- —You are a first-time climber wanting the best possible summit odds
- —You want two full recovery days between climb and safari
- —You have 2 weeks — this is the ideal Tanzania experience
Choose a different itinerary if...
- —You have 10 days or fewer in Tanzania — see our 10-day Machame + Safari
- —You prefer hut accommodation over camping — see the 12-day Marangu Route
- —You want the absolute premium climb experience — see the 14-day Lemosho
Not sure which itinerary is right for you? Compare all our combo itineraries or message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and group size.
What is included
Included
- ✓All Kilimanjaro park fees, rescue fees, and safari park fees
- ✓Professional English-speaking guide (mountain and safari)
- ✓All meals on the mountain and safari
- ✓Camping accommodation on the mountain; tented lodge on safari
- ✓Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with pop-up roof
- ✓All airport and gate transfers
- ✓Pre-climb briefing and gear check in Arusha
- ✓Two recovery days in Arusha with activities
- ✓Summit certificate
Not included
- —International flights
- —Visa fees ($52 for most nationalities)
- —Travel insurance (required — ensure it covers helicopter mountain evacuation)
- —Personal hiking gear (boots, sleeping bag, layers, gaiters)
- —Tips for mountain and safari guides
- —Alcoholic beverages and personal purchases
- —Zanzibar extension (available on request — add 3-5 nights)
Frequently asked questions
Ready to start planning?
Tell us your travel dates, group size, and fitness level. We will confirm availability and send you a detailed itinerary and quote within 24 hours.
Or email: travel@safarikilimanjaro.com
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Safari Kilimanjaro
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