Itinerary
- Day 1
Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
You'll drive from Moshi to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate, which takes around 50 minutes and passes through Machame village. After that, the hiking starts on a winding trail through rainforest as you head up a ridge toward Machame Camp. Fair warning: the lower sections get muddy and slippery, so watch your footing.
- Start point
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Machame Camp)
Included Activities
- Hike through rainforest to Machame Camp
- Trek from Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate through rain forest on winding trail up ridge
Landmarks Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Machame - Day 2
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
Leaving the rainforest behind, you'll continue climbing on a steep rocky ridge with heather coverage. The trail crosses a small valley and follows a river gorge before turning west. By evening you'll reach Shira campsite at a higher elevation.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Shira Camp)
Included Activities
- Ascend from Machame Camp through moorland to Shira campsite
Landmarks Shira Plateau - Day 3
Shira Camp to Barranco Hut
Starting from Shira Plateau, you head east along a ridge toward Kibo peak. The route then shifts southeast to Lava Tower, called the 'Shark's Tooth' locally, then on to Arrow Glacier at 16,000 feet. You'll descend to Barranco Hut afterward. This day matters a lot for your body's acclimatization even though you finish at roughly the same height where you started.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Barranco Camp)
Included Activities
- Trek from Shira Plateau to Lava Tower
- Trek to Arrow Glacier
- Descend to Barranco Hut
Landmarks Kibo Lava Tower Arrow Glacier - Day 4
Barranco Hut to Karanga Valley
After breakfast at Barranco, you've got a shorter day ahead. You'll trek up a steep ridge, pass through the Barranco Wall, and reach Karanga Valley campsite. This lighter schedule gives your body time to adjust before the final push.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Karanga Camp)
Included Activities
- Trek from Barranco Hut through Barranco Wall to Karanga Valley
Landmarks Barranco Wall - Day 5
Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut
From Karanga, you'll hike to where the Mweka Trail connects, then continue uphill to Barafu Hut. This completes the South Circuit route, which gives you views of the summit from different angles. You'll see both Mawenzi and Kibo peaks from camp, so take time to rest and mentally prepare for tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Barafu camp)
Included Activities
- Trek from Karanga Valley to Barafu Hut
- Complete South Circuit trek
Landmarks Mawenzi Kibo - Day 6
Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Hut
Very early start between midnight and 2am for the summit push. You'll climb through heavy scree between Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers toward Stella Point on the crater rim at 18,600 feet. Sunrise happens here before you tackle the final stretch to Uhuru Peak at 19,345 feet, Africa's highest point. After reaching the top, you'll descend the same day back to Mweka Hut for lunch, hiking down loose gravel through upper forest sections.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hut (Mweka Camp)
Included Activities
- Summit trek from Barafu Hut to Stella Point
- Ascend to Uhuru Peak (19,345ft)
- Descend to Mweka Hut campsite
Landmarks Stella Point Uhuru Peak Rebmann Glacier Ratzel Glacier - Day 7
Mweka Hut to Moshi
Continuing down from Mweka Hut to Mweka Park Gate, where you'll pick up your summit certificate. The lower trail gets wet and muddy, so pace yourself. After the gate, you'll hike another hour to Mweka Village where a vehicle is waiting to drive you back to your Moshi hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Parkview inn hotel)
Included Activities
- Hike descent to Mweka Park Gate
- Receive summit certificates
- Transfer from Mweka Village to Moshi hotel
Landmarks Mweka Park Gate - Day 8
Moshi to Lake Manyara National Park
A vehicle picks you up from your Moshi hotel and heads to Lake Manyara National Park for an afternoon game drive. The park sits dramatically below the Great Rift Valley's western escarpment, with a massive shallow soda lake covering roughly two-thirds of the area. You'll see large elephant groups, tree-climbing lions, and pink flamingo flocks drawn by the algae in the water.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping (Fanaka Campsite)
Included Activities
- Afternoon game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
Landmarks Lake Manyara National Park - Day 9
Lake Manyara to Ngorongoro Crater
After breakfast, you'll descend 600 meters into Ngorongoro Crater for a morning game drive. This wildlife-packed area holds about 30,000 animals including Tanzania's remaining black rhinos. Year-round water and vegetation support huge herds of wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, and hippos, plus lions, hyenas, jackals, cheetahs, and harder-to-spot leopards. You'll have a picnic lunch inside the crater.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch in the crater), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Camping ( Simba Campsite)
Included Activities
- Morning half-day game drive in Ngorongoro Crater
- Picnic lunch in the crater
Landmarks Ngorongoro Crater - Day 10
Ngorongoro to Tarangire National Park to Moshi
After breakfast, you'll head into Tarangire National Park for a morning game drive along the Tarangire River through acacia woodland and giant baobab trees. The park holds some of Africa's largest elephant herds and rare animals like Greater Kudu, Fringed-eared Oryx, and Ashy Starlings. Picnic lunch happens in the park, then you'll continue driving after the break. By afternoon you'll climb back up the crater walls and return to Moshi.
- End point
- Kilimanjaro, Tanzania (Kilimanjaro International Airport)
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning game drive in Tarangire National Park
- Picnic lunch in the park
Landmarks Tarangire National Park Tarangire River
