Kilimanjaro - Marangu Route & Serengeti Adventure
12 days
From $ 4949
Duration12 days

For many travellers, Africa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If you’re only going to go once, take this incredible 12-day adventure that wraps mighty Kilimanjaro, the sweeping Serengeti, and the stupendous Ngorongoro Crater together in one unbeatable package. Kick things off with a four-day ascent to the very roof of Africa, then return to Moshi to meet with residents of an isolated Maasai village and members of a local G Adventures for Good project before heading out into the wild lands in search of the "big five" and camping under the stars. This is quintessential Africa.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 12 days
    Service level: Camping
  • Physical Grading: Challenging
  • Ages: 12+
Kilimanjaro - Marangu Route & Serengeti Adventure - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Moshi
Arrive in Moshi and head to the hotel. Attend a pre-departure meeting with the local guide to go over last minute details of the trip.
Arrive at any time. Please note: While it is our intention to adhere to the route described, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable, to make alterations. On Day 1 of the tour you will be advised of any amendments.
Day 2: Moshi/Mandara Huts
Most days the hiking will begin early in the morning, with hikes of around 5 to 6 hours. The guides will set a moderate pace, so as to allow for time to acclimatize to the altitude changes. Guides will continually repeat the words, “pole pole” (po-ly, po-ly), which means “go slowly” in Swahili.
Hike through the forested, lower slopes to Mandara escarpment.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 3: Mandara Huts/Horombo Huts
Hike through the heather and moorland zone to Horombo Hut.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Horombo Huts/Kibo Huts
Proceed onto the Kilimanjaro Saddle, through a desertlike alpine zone, to Kibo Hut.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5: Kibo Huts/Horombo Huts
Night hike to the summit via Stella Point. Appreciate the beautiful sunrise from the roof of Africa, then descend back to Horombo Hut.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6: Horombo Huts/Moshi
Transfer by shuttle bus to Moshi. Time to relax, take a shower, and celebrate with a drink. Cheers to climbing Mt Kilimanjaro! Before dinner, you will be welcomed and congratulated on your climb by the mamas of the Moshi Women’s Cooperative, a project supported by G Adventures. They will present you with a gift and a certificate to remember all your efforts on the mountain.

Opt to pre-book the Moshi Mamas Massage by adding it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Descend the mountain, passing through villages and plantations on the slopes en route to Moshi. Meet the mamas of the Moshi Women’s Cooperative, a G supported project, for a climbing ceremony.
Meals: B, L
Day 7: Moshi/Arusha
Travel to the picturesque town of Arusha. En route, stop at the Moshi Women’s Cooperative to learn about what this project offers. Meet the women, learn more about their lives, and opt to purchase some souvenirs.

In the evening, you may be joined by other G Adventures travellers arriving from Kenya or starting the safari portion of their Tanzania trip. Check for details of the time and location of a welcome meeting, typically around 18:00.
En route to Arusha, enjoy an included stop at the G Adventures-supported Moshi Women’s Cooperative. Pick up any last-minute supplies in Arusha.
Meals: B
Day 8: Arusha/Mto wa Mbu
Travel to Mto wa Mbu village and take part in a cultural walk to learn about village life in the area. Meet the women who run the village tours and enjoy a delicious home made traditional lunch.

Spend the afternoon viewing wildlife along the main road that winds through a lush cool forests of Lake Manyara National Park, overgrown with ficus trees and covered with bromeliads.

This area is truly stunning, as the western wall of the Rift Valley escarpment provides a gorgeous backdrop. Search for the phenomenal birdlife, tree-climbing lions, elephants, giraffes, and hippos.
Experience the Mto wa Mbu village with a guided cultural walk and traditional lunch with a local family. Take a wildlife safari drive in Lake Manyara NP. Enjoy a traditional lunch of plantain and okra with a local family.
Meals: B, L
Day 9: Mto wa Mbu/Serengeti National Park
Drive through the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and on to Serengeti National Park. En route marvel at the sheer vastness of this territory, and spot the multitude of animal and birdlife while cruising through this acacia-accented savanna.
Enjoy a wildlife safari drive en route to the central Serengeti.

End place: Serengeti National Park

Meals: B, L, D
Day 10: Serengeti National Park

Start place: Serengeti National Park

Rise early for a morning wildlife safari drive, returning in time for lunch. Continue the search for the "big five" in the afternoon while taking in the vastness of the Serengeti plains. If you have pre-booked a Serengeti Balloon Safari, your flight will be in the morning. You will miss the morning wildlife safari drive with the group, but you will have spectacular views from above. If you have not yet pre-booked, add it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.

End place: Serengeti National Park

Meals: B, L, D
Day 11: Serengeti National Park/Ngorongoro

Start place: Serengeti National Park

The rich pasture and permanent water of the Crater floor supports a resident population of more than 20,000 to 25,000 large mammals.
Take a morning wildlife safari drive as you depart the Serengeti, then continue wildlife viewing in the Ngorongoro Crater, before getting a spectacular view of the crater from your campsite on its rim. Please note that due to the high-altitude location of our camp, temperatures can drop at night. We recommend bringing extra layers to wear during the evening and following morning.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Ngorongoro/Arusha
Visit an authentic Maasai village and the G Adventures-supported Clean Cookstove Project, then return to Arusha where the tour ends on arrival. Onward flights can be booked from 6pm, or extend your stay in Arusha by a night, or two.
Meals: B, L

Inclusions

Included

  • Your G for Good Moment: Moshi Women's Cooperative Visit, Moshi Your G for Good Moment: Mto wa Mbu Village Visit and Lunch, Mto wa Mbu Your G for Good Moment: Clean Cookstove Project Visit, Mto wa Mbu Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group
  • Mt Kilimanjaro's Marangu Route trekking permits and guides, cooks, and porters
  • Lake Manyara wildlife safari drive
  • Serengeti wildlife safari drives
  • Ngorongoro Crater wildlife safari drive
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Transport

    7-seat 4x4 safari vehicle, Private minibus, Trekking
  • Accommodation

    Simple hotels (3 nts), Full-service camping (4 nts), Alpine huts (4 nts)

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