12 DAYS TANZANIA
WILDLIFE SAFARI TO LAKE MANYA/SERENGETI/NGORONGORO/MOUNT KILIMANJARO
CLIMB MACHAME ROUTE
Day 1.
Lake Manyara.
Depart Arusha to Lake Manyara national park to arrive in time for
lunch. After lunch depart for an afternoon game drive and game
viewing. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions and
birdlife. Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland
is the favoured haunt of Manyaras? legendary tree- climbing lions
and impressively tusked elephants squadrons of banded mongoose dart
between the acacias while the diminutive Kirk?s dik dik forages in
then shade, pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the
rocks above a field of searing hot springs that streams and bubbles
adjacent to the lake shore in the far south of the park. Dinner and
overnight at a lodge.
Day 2. Ngorongoro Crater.
Morning game viewing and drive in Manyara. After breakfast depart to
one of the natural wonders of the world, Ngorongoro crater. The
Crater is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles; its
magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral
visitors. It borders the Serengeti National Park to the north and
west. Arusha is known as the gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation
Area and the Northern Parks. Dinner and overnight at a lodge.
Day 3. Ngorongoro crater.
After breakfast you will be taken 2000ft down the crater by a 4wheel
drive vehicle for a full day crater tour, picnic lunch at crater,
Also referred to as ?the eighth wonder of the world? and stretching
across some 8,300 sq km, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in
northern Tanzania boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and
archaeology that is unsurpassed in Africa. The volcanoes,
grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance
of animals and to the Maasai. In the evening ascend to the lodge for
dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Serengeti.
After breakfast depart for Serengeti passing through Olduvai Gorge
the site of Leakey?s family discovery of fossils of human and animal
ancestors dating back to almost two million years. The Serengeti
ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of
climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past
million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge
about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death,
adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves. Meals
and overnight at lodge.
Day 5. Serengeti.
Full day in Serengeti plains with morning and afternoon game viewing
and drive. Search for wild game you might have missed the previous
game drive. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most
famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow
south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short
rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north
after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the
ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile
infested river can hold them back. Meals and overnight at lodge.
Day 6. Arusha-Mohi
After breakfast depart to Arusha town- Safari Destination; it is a
starting point for safaris in the northern circuit arriving in time
for lunch. After connect for transfer to Moshi arriving in the
afternoon overnight
Springlands
hotel (B&B).
Day 7. Machame
Gate to Machame Camp
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate
takes
about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame
which is
located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park
gate and walk through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge.
Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and
trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance
untilwe reach the Machame Camp.
Day 8. Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue
on
an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep
rocky
ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now
turns
west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the
Shira
campsite
Day 9. Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing
the
junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction
changes
to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's
Tooth."
Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings
us up to
theArrow Glacier at an altitude of 4876m / 15,997 ft. We now
continue down
to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3860m / 12,664 ft. Here we
rest,
enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same
elevation as
when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and
will help your body prepare for summit day.
Day 10- Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up
the
Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at 4200m / 13,779
ft),
and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up
to the
Barafu Hut. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views
of
the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest,
enjoy
dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and
Kibo are to
be seen from this position.
Day 11. Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to
the
summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a
northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards
Stella Point on the
crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging
portion of the
trek. At Stella Point (5685m / 18,652 ft), you will stop for a short
rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are
ever
likely to see (weather permitting).From Stella Point, you may
encounter snow
all they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you
have
reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of
Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can
be very cold
at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end
of the
hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From
the
summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the
Mweka
Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters
and
trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is
situated in the
upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and
a
well-earned sleep.
Day 12- Mweka
Camp to Moshi
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate
to
receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet
and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts
will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing
handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A
vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in
Moshi. Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for
celebration! overnight at
Springland hotel.
