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18 Days Combined Special Itinerary

Itinerary Briefing

Combo Special Itinerary

18 Days Combined Special Itinerary for Mt. Meru, Mt. Kilimanjaro/Machame Route & Lodge Safari in Tanzania.

Itinerary Day Description

Day 1: Arrival Day in Arusha

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport you will meet and greet by your Driver/Guide. We will take you to your hotel in Arusha.

Our safari manager and mountain climbing (Mt. Meru & Mt. Kilimanjaro) expert will come to meet you and to provide you with a safari briefing. Dinner included.

Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge on half board basis (HB)

Mt. Meru Trek (4 days)

 Day 2: Mt. Meru, Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut

after breakfast, you will be picked at 8:00 am and you will proceed to the office for equipment check-up. The entire luggage’s which won’t be needed for the trek will be stored in our office / hotel. At 9.15 am we will depart for Momella gate (approximately 2hrs). Momella gate is located near shamba la mbogo natural glade in Mt. Meru Reserve: it is situated at 1,500m above sea level. Two routes are available from Momella gate: the first route goes through the forest towards the crater floor and then through the grassland direct to Miriakamba Hut. After all formalities, we begin trekking accompanied by armed ranger.

We will ascend up to Miriakamba Hut, suited at 2,500m above sea level. The trekking takes approximately 3 hours. We will be walking amidst the montane forest. Various species of flora and fauna can be found on this part of the mountain. There are beautiful views of Arusha National Park, various landscapes that can be seen from this trek and, depending on the weather, spectacular views of Mt. Kilimanjaro can be seen.

Day 3: Mt. Meru, Saddle Hut & Little Meru

From Miriakamba Hut the path is steep, compared to other mountains in the region. We continue our ascending on a narrow winding trail through a thick montane forest, where various species of vegetation can be seen. There are water streams that we cross before approaching the moorland zone. A good view of little Meru can be seen on a clear day, just as you approach Saddle Hut. Buffalo footprints can be seen, besides some bird species, and plenty of Africana Masaica, a shrub plant which stings can also be seen on both sides of the trail.

The ascend takes approximately 4 hours. After our arrival at Saddle Hut (3.500m), you have the option to embark on 45 minute walk to little Meru (3,820m): it has a meandering trail which is aided with grass cover to give you good grip. One can see the Kenyan border from the peak of little Meru, NgaraNanyuki – a town that lies after the Arusha National Park, as well as gorgeous views of west  Kilimanjaro and Longido.

Day 4: Mt. Meru, Big Meru to Miriakamba Hut (via Saddle Hut)

Our ascent to big Meru, the summit of Mt, Meru (4.566m) begins at around midnight and takes us from the moorland zone to alpine desert zone. The trek will take approximately 6-7 hours. Along we will pass Rhino point as we walk around the rim of Meru crater. Climate is cold and windy, and during the rainy season ice and snow can occur in this section of the route. From the summit, we return to Saddle Hut, we have breakfast and then we proceed to Miriakamba hut for lunch, dinner and overnight (2500m).

Day 5: Mt. Meru, Miriakamba Hut to Momella Gate

after breakfast, we proceed with a morning trekking to Momella gate. Lunch en route. You have two routes as option. Route one is a straight descend to Momella gate same way as you went up (3hrs). Route two is a scenic route through the Meru crater down the montage forest ending up at Momella gate (6hrs). You will be transferred from Momella gate and drive to your hotel.               

MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB / MACHAME ROUTE

Day 6: Depart Arusha – Machame Gate – Machame Camp.

In the morning after breakfast, around 08:30, from your hotel, we’ll transfer to the Machame Park Gate (5,950 ft./ 1,815 mt.). After registering with the park authority, we’ll begin our climb through the lush forest. Trekkers will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above, and many even see black & white colobus monkeys and sykes monkeys as they hike along the knotted roots. We’ll continue on to some heath land before reaching our overnight camp at Machame Camp (9,850 feet, 6-7 hours of walking), just above the forest zone. The trek is quite long, thus not steep. All meals included

Day 7: Mt Kilimanjaro – Machame Camp to Shira Camp.

Today’s segment of the ascent will continue across beautiful heath land and alpine moorland with magnificent views of KilimanjaroPeak. We begin up the steep track through a savannah of tall grasses, and trees of Giant Heather and Erica. Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by lobelia and senecio plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases. We’ll overnight at Shira Camp (12,600 feet, 5-6 hours of walking). All meals included

Day 8: Mt Kilimanjaro – Shira Camp to Barranco Camp

we will draw nearer the peak as we get closer to the Lava Tower. The trek becomes a bit more strenuous as the trail steepens on the approach to the lavaTower, a 300 foot tall volcanic plug which marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet in the afternoon, descend the steep track into the GreatBarrancoValley. Barranco Camp is set on a col (flat area) enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself.

Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjaro), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Then, we slowly ascent to our overnight stop at Barranco Camp (12,950 feet, 5-6 hours of walking). This day and the following day will be your acclimatization day. All meals included

Day 9: Mt Kilimanjaro – Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp

The day will begin with a descent into the Gorge, before we climb its eastern wall where we will enjoy views of Kilimanjaro’s ice fields, an equatorial anomaly. We will continue trekking until we reach our camp in KarangaValley (13,900 feet, 4-5 hours of walking). All meals included

Day 10: Mt Kilimanjaro – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp

We’ll trek up through the Karanga Valley, the trail turns steadily uphill, following the lava ridge to the Barafu camp. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting as a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. Barafu camp (15,200 feet, 6-7 hours of walking) . All meals included

Day 11: Mt Kilimanjaro – Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp

Just after midnight we start of a challenging trek(12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking at 12:30 to 1am, passing between the Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to the rim at Stella Point. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between 10 deg. F (-12 deg. C) to –10 F. (-23 deg. C) just before dawn at the summit. As dawn nears, we’ll summit at UhuruPeak, the highest point in Africa at 19,340 feet.

Uhuru will be the culmination of – and the reward for – 6-7 hours of strenuous hiking. We’ll then descend back to Barafu Camp, resting for a while before continuing our descent to Mweka Camp (9,840 feet, 3-4 hours of walking on the descent). All meals included

Day 12: Mt Kilimanjaro -Mweka Camp to Park Gate

We’ll make our final descent to the park gate, a walk of about 3 or 4 hours. After bidding our farewells to our guide and porters, we’ll drive to Arusha for dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge (Meals on half board basis).

Day 13: Arusha – day at leisure…

a day of rest at your hotel where you can unwind and relax from your strenuous climb.

Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge (meals on half board basis)

Day 14: Arusha – Lake Manyara National Park

After breakfast, at 08:30 we depart for to Lake Manyara. Nestling at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment, the park is recognized for its incredible beauty. You can see many game animals such as Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, hippo and others.

Dinner and overnight at Bougainvillea Safari Lodge in Karatu nearby .All meals included

Day 15: Lake Manyara- Serengeti National Park

After breakfast you start on your way to Serengeti National Park. After stopping for your picnic lunch on a kopje (rock outcropping) in Serengeti you will continue further into the park and go on a game drive.

Diner and overnight at Serengeti Acacia Camp   all meals included.

Day 16: Serengeti National Park / a day in the life of Wildebeest migration

A full day of game drives around Serengeti. Depending on the time of year and the migration of the herds you can expect to see wildebeest, lions, elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys, baboons, hippos, rhinos, antelopes and many birds and other species.

Dinner and overnight at Serengeti Acacia Camp  All meals included.

Day 17: Serengeti National Park – Ngorongoro Crater & Conservation Area

After breakfast you drive to Ngorongoro Conservation Area. After arrival you will decent into the crater for a wonderful game drive (with a picnic lunch) inside the Ngorongoro Crater. As very few animals migrate in and out of the crater with its 2000 ft. high walls, you can expect to see lions, elephants, zebras, hippos, flamingos, jackals, rhinos, antelopes, many birds and other species. Your Driver/Guide will be in contact with other safari drivers and will amaze you with his skill at locating the hidden animals.
Dinner and overnight at Ngorongoro Rhino Lodge All meals included.

Day 18: Ngorongoro Crater – Arusha

After leisurely breakfast you return to Arusha for a delicious lunch at the charming Shanga River house Restaurant and later on, depending on your international flight, you will drive to the airport.

—- End of service — *** routing subject to changes if necessary ****