This 13 Days Kilimanjaro, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Tour combined Mount Kilimanjaro, Serengeti National Park, Lake Manyara National Park and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. See detailed itinerary below.
Kilimanjaro, Serengeti & Ngorongoro Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania
- Day 2: Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut
- Day 3: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut
- Day 4: Horombo Hut – Acclimatization day
- Day 5: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut
- Day 6: Kibo hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut
- Day 7: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
- Day 8: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
- Day 9: Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti National Park
- Day 10: Full day exploration of the Serengeti National Park
- Day 11: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater full day exploration
- Day 13: Departure to Arusha
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania
Our company representative will meet and pick you up from the airport upon arrival in Tanzania. He will then drive and drop you at your hotel in Arusha where you will spend the night. Diiner and overnight stay at your hotel / lodge.
Day 2: Marangu Gate – Mandara Hut
Our company representative will pick you up from your hotel in Arusha / Moshi after your breakfast and drive you to Marangu gate. You will do all the formalities from here including registration before you start the climb. You will then begin your Kilimanjaro ascent by walking along a narrow trail through the rainforest of Kilimanjaro for most of the hike. Expect fog, rain, mud and some wildlife (monkeys).
Halfway the trek, you will have a short break and enjoy your lunch and thereafter continue your hike through the forest till you reach Mandara Hut, your first sleepover spot. Drinking and arm water is available. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hut.
Day 3: Mandara Hut – Horombo Hut
After your breakfast, you will continue your ascend through the forest until the trail leads you into open moorland where you will spot exotic plants like the giant lobelia and the groundsel.
Stop for a lunch break. You might get your first views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks if the day is clear. Soon after, continue your trek arriving Horombo Hut in the mid-afternoon. Relax as you enjoy the rest of your afternoon. Get in some good rest too and be prepared for a cold night. Dinner and overnight stay at the Hut.
Day 4: Horombo Hut – Acclimatization day
Wake up to yet another cold morning on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Have your breakfast as you take in the views. Today is set aside for acclimatization that is giving your body time to adjust to the changing altitude and environment.
You have 2 options for spending your day, 1: stay at the hut and rest or 2: go for a guided day trek on Mawenzi ridge, which is highly recommended as it helps with the body acclimatization. Lunch will either be served at the Hut or a picnic lunch at a designated spot depending on your preference for the day. After exploring the ridge, you will head back to Horombo Hut for dinner and overnight stay.
Day 5: Horombo Hut – Kibo Hut
Have breakfast, tighten your hiking boots and off you trek to Kibo Hut at the bottom of Kibo crater wall. You will pass by the last water point heading to the summit, so you will have to fill your bottles with water from here or you can still buy mineral water when you arrive at Kibo Hut.
On reaching the hut, you will settle in and relax. An early dinner will be served so that you get to be early and get enough rest as you will be attempting the final ascent to the summit this very night. Dinner and overnight stay at Kibo Hut.
Day 6: Kibo hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut
Final Summit Attempt. Your guide will wake you around 23:00 hrs for a cup of tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt. This portion of the trek is the most physically challenging, a lot of stone scree and really cold.
By dawn, you will be at Gilman’s point (5,685 m / 18,652 ft.) located on Kibo’s crater rim and you will witness the most beautiful and spectacular sunrise ever, well weather permitting. After a really short break at this point, we continue the ascent to Uhuru (5,895 m / 19,341 ft.), the summit. Reaching the Gilman’s point alone is a great achievement, but making it to the summit is the ultimate prize. Finally, you are at the highest point of the African continent. You have made it. Time spent at the summit will greatly depend on the weather conditions.
Take pictures as you enjoy the view and thereafter descend to Kibo Hut for a hot lunch under the warm sun a short break and then continue your descent to Horombo Hut where you will have your last dinner on the mountain and a sound sleep in night after a strenuous day.
Day 7: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate
Rise and stretch, time to leave the great Kilimanajaro. Have your last delicious breakfast on the mountain, pack your bags and descend to Marangu Gate through the tropical rainforest.
Reaching the gate, you will sign for departure and then those who made it to the highest points and summit will receive their certificates. Your driver will be there waiting to drive you back to your hotel in Arusha for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 8: Transfer to Lake Manyara National Park
Famous for its tree climbing lions, Lake Manyara National Park is an exciting park to visit. After your breakfast, your driver will pick you from your hotel in Arusha and you hit the road to Lake Manyara National Park for thrilling game viewing experiences. When it comes to spotting elephants in the wild, Lake Manyara NP is the place to be.
With packed lunch boxes, you will embark on an afternoon game drive on arrival at the park. Expect to see buffalos, cheetahs, impalas, giraffes, hippos and thousands of flamingos that flock the lake seasonally and other species of birds. Retreat from the game drive and drive to your lodge / camp for check in, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 9: Lake Manyara National Park to Serengeti National Park
Pre-sunrise game drive in Lake Manyara National Park for a chance to catch up with the predators and big cats on their morning hunt as they are more active in the cooler hours of the day. Watch the park come to life as the sun rises ad see the different animals prepare to start a new day. Drive back to your lodge / camp for a delicious breakfast, thereafter exit Lake Manyara NP and drive to Serengeti National Park.
Arriving the park in the afternoon, you will have your lunch then after head out for an introductory afternoon game drive in Serengeti National Park. Dinner and overnight stay at your lodge / camp.
Day 10: Full day exploration of the Serengeti National Park
After a delicious breakfast, you will set out for a full day game viewing experience in the endless plains of Serengeti National Park. Drive to different corners of the park at different times of the day for chances to spot the different animal species that inhabit the wilderness of Serengeti. With a little bit of luck, you might be able to witness the great migration happen (depends on the time of year you have visited the park).
You can opt to carry packed picnic lunch that you will have at a designated picnic spot for a full day game drive in the wild or choose to have a lunch break back at your camp / lodge. Animals in the Serengeti include the wildebeests, lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, black rhinos (rare sightings), gazelles, giraffes, zebras, elands, hyenas, cheetahs, antelopes and much more plus different species of birds. After the days’ activity, drive back to your camp / lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 11: Transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area
The early bird catches the worm. Wake up to an early morning game drive (pre-sunrise) in the park for a chance to spot the big cats and other predators feasting on their morning kill. Also watch as the park comes to life and the beautiful morning sunrise over the endless savannah plains of Serengeti NP. Optional activity for this morning: A Hot Air Balloon Safari (at an extra cost) for different view of the Serengeti plains. Drive back to your camp / lodge for breakfast.
After breakfast, transfer to Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to the famous Ngorongoro Crater. Arriving in time for lunch, you will enjoy your meal and later go for a scenic game drive around the crater rim of Ngorongoro Crater. Retreat and drive to your camp / lodge for dinner and an overnight stay.
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater full day exploration
This amazing and picturesque caldera is home to almost 30,000 animals. Endowed with an abundance of wildlife, a game drive at the floor of the crater. It gives you an opportunity to spot all the members of the big 5 African animals, that is. The lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos and black rhinos (endangered species). You will have around 6 hours of game viewing in the crater. With a break for lunch at a designated picnic spot with amazing views.
Other animals to spot include hippos, elands, wildebeests, zebras, oribis, waterbucks, Thomson gazelles, hyenas, cheetahs and different species of birds. Ascend to the crater rim after the activity and drive back to your camp / lodge for an evening of relaxation, dinner and overnight stay.
Day 13: Departure to Arusha
After your breakfast, check out and drive back to Arusha. Here your driver will drop you either at the airport for your flight back home or to your hotel / residence.
