2024/2025 US $4,850 $3,950 $3,595 $3,395
per person, double occupancy (single supplement US $300)
• Discover a part of Tanzania few tourists ever see
• One circuit among the Chagga along the verdant lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro
• One circuit among the Maasai on the open grassland of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
• Game drives to Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater
KILIMANJARO WALK
We walk 7 – 22 kilometers per day on mountain trails between 1400m and 2200m elevation. The walking is strenuous on steep trails that can be slippery when wet. The route includes some challenging hiking as there are many ridges and valleys, but your guide will set a slow pace appropriate for your group. Trekking poles strongly recommended. Overnights are spent in our comfortable camp with spacious walk-in tents for 1-2 people or families, and locally-inspired meals served in a dining tent and prepared by our expert mountain cooks.
Day 2: Mbahe Village to Kidia. Hiking distance: 13.6mi / 22km.
Day 3: Kidia to Tema. Hiking distance: 5.6mi / 9km.
Day 4: Tema to Wondo. Hiking distance: 4.3mi / 7km.
Day 5: Wondo to Mweka. Hiking distance: 4.9mi / 8km.
Day 6: Mweka to Kibosho. Hiking distance: 9.3mi / 15km.
Day 7: Kibosho to Machame. Hiking distance: 11.5mi / 19km. Kaliwa Lodge.
WILDLIFE SAFARI
Day 8: Lake Manyara National Park. Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge.
Day 9: Ngorongoro Crater. Nanokanoka Camp.
NGORONGORO WALK
Day 10: Nanokanoka to Empakaai Crater. Hiking distance: 15.4mi / 25km.
Day 11: Empakaai Crater to Nairobi Village. Hiking distance: 4.3mi / 7km (not including crater hike).
Day 12: Nairobi Village to Lake Natron. Hiking distance: 14.8mi / 24km.
Day 13: Arusha Town. Departure.
We pick you up upon arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and bring you to Mbahe Village, located in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro at 1800 meters. Accommodations are in SENE’s private cottages at Simon Mtuy’s Mbahe Village Farm.
Overnight: Mbahe Farm Cottages.
Meals: B,L,D.
Drive time: 2 hours
Day 2: Mbahe Village To Kidia
On our first day hiking, the path is long but easy, perfect for a start and letting us enjoy the landscape. We reach several superb viewpoints overlooking Moshi Town and up toward the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, which emerges as we leave Mbahe Village. Camp on primary school grounds high on a ridge.
Overnight: Fumyuhu School Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 13.6mi / 22km.
Day 3: Kidia to Tema
The trail proceeds through more colorful mountain villages, past coffee and maize farms and rivers where you can refresh in the cool and crystal clear water. We pass Kidia village, the site of the first European settlement in the Kilimanjaro region. There are many large Catholic and Lutheran churches on the mountain, each with its own story of missionary work among the Chagga people. Camp is at another primary school high up the mountain.
Overnight: Tema School Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 5.6mi / 9km.
Day 4: Tema to Wondo
This hiking day pass through a dramatic landscape of high ridges and deep valleys, all covered by tropical rain forest. We may spot blue monkeys hanging in the trees above our route. The trail passes several villages, one with an ingenious electrical system using the water channel. At the end of the day, we will inhale the sweet smell of the eucalyptus trees that create a natural border between the Kilimanjaro National Park and the villages.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro View Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 4.3mi / 7km.
Day 5: Wondo to Mweka
Today, we alternate passing through villages and back into the forest, crossing many rivers on small wood bridges or jumping from rock to rock to reach the other side. We encounter the traditional irrigation channels, used by local farmers for more than 100 years to grow coffee, bananas and many other fruits and vegetables. A walk along the Rau river valley bring us to a high waterfall. Camp at Simon’s Mweka Farm.
Overnight: Mtuy Farm Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 4.9mi / 8km.
Day 6: Mweka to Kibosho
As we pass through the farms and forests, you will hear from your SENE guide about his own knowledge of the mountain on which he grew up. Tonight is a break from camping as we stay at the Kibosho Camp. Nestled within natural vegetation, the camp is rich with birds and butterflies visiting the abundant flowers of the area.
Overnight: Kibosho Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 9.3mi / 15km.
Day 7: Kibosho to Machame
On our last mountain hiking day, we continue along the trails used by villagers to access their fields from the village. Overnight at Kaliwa Lodge, set amongst the exotic tropical mountain vegetation and the old eucalyptus, banana and coffee trees. We will be lulled to sleep by the sounds of the night, including the chirr of the crickets and the laughing of the bushbabies.
Overnight: Kaliwa Lodge.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 11.5mi / 19km.
After breakfast the wildlife safari portion begins. We drive to Lake Manyara National Park, a small gem nestled below the 1,000 foot western wall of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The soda lake for which the park is named appears tinted pink by its huge flocks of flamingoes. Picnic lunch and afternoon game drive. As the sun sets ascend the Rift Valley Wall to the Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge.
Overnight: Ngorongoro Farm House Lodge.
Meals: B,L,D.
Drive time: 3.5 hours to Lake Manyara
Day 9: Ngorongoro Conservation Area – Ngorongoro Crater
In the morning drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area for a game drive in the crater, often referred to as “Africa’s Eden.” The descent into the crater, 2,500 feet below the rim, is an unforgettable experience. Its 100 square miles is home to almost 30,000 animals, creating a density and diversity of wildlife unseen anywhere else in Africa. Ngorongoro is the best location for viewing the rare black rhino and to observe huge old bull elephants who come here to “retire.” In the afternoon, ascend to the Ngorongoro crater rim and to the northeast side through the Maasai Village of Irkeepusi to the edge of the Olmoti Crater and the Nanokanoka wilderness camp.
Overnight: Nanokanoka Campsite.
Meals: B,L,D.
Drive time: 45 minutes to Ngorongoro Crater
Day 10: Nanokanoka to Empakaai Crater
Today begins the 3-day Maasai-guided trek through the Conservation Area to Lake Natron. Camping gear and provisions will be carried by donkeys, the traditional hauler for the Maasai. On the first day we cross the Embulbul Depression to the Empakaai Crater, then following the crater rim counter clockwise to the campsite on the northeast rim. The rim is heavily forested and buffalo, monkey, and antelope are likely seen there or on the crater floor.
Overnight: Empakaai Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 15.4mi / 25km.
Day 11: Empakaai Crater to Nairobi Village
Morning hike to explore the Empakaai crater, where there is a small soda lake often brimming with flamingoes. Lunch at camp before doing the short hike to Nairobi Village on the edge of the Conservation Area.
Overnight: Nairobi Village Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 4.3mi / 7km (not including crater hike).
Day 12: Lake Natron
The hike today heads north through grassy hills before descending off the escarpment and its lush vegetation to scrubland and eventually to the dry flat plain surrounding Lake Natron. Impressive Ol Doinyo Lengai (“Mountain of God”) will be in constant view today. Overnight in a comfortable tented camp with full beds and hot showers.
Overnight: Lake Natron Halisi Camp.
Meals: B,L,D.
Hiking distance: 14.8mi / 24km.
Day 13: Arusha
Morning to explore the area with a walk along the lake shore or up the Ngare Sero Gorge to the nearby freshwater waterfall where you can swim, cool off, and relax. After your lunch at the camp, drive back through Arusha Town to see this bustling commercial center of northern Tanzania, shop, and visit the Cultural Heritage Center before continuing on to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
Meals: B,L.
- All accommodations
- All meals as indicated (B.L.D.)
- Bottled or filtered water (by Katadyn Expedition® filter) and coffee, teas, cocoa
- Services of hiking guide and camp crew
- All camping equipment (excluding sleeping bag)
- Portable private toilet with bio-degradable waste system (Cleanwaste®) at all camps
- Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro International Airport, Moshi, Arusha
- Private safari for your group
- On safari, services of a professional English-speaking guide trained in East African wildlife and ecology
- Park fees and unlimited mileage on safari game drives in fully-equipped 4WD safari vehicle with pop-top
- Bottled drinking water in vehicle
