This 12-day safari offers the ultimate hiking challenge and a big game safari experience. On the hiking adventure, you will climb the Machame route to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain at 5895 meters. Amboseli National Park lies to the northwest of Kilimanjaro, along the border of Kenya and Tanzania.
Amboseli is one of Kenya’s most popular wildlife destinations, famous for its large elephant herds. The park covers only 392 square kilometers but shelters many animals like lions, impalas, buffaloes, and more than 400 bird species.
Birds you may see include long-toed lapwing, African swamp hen, rufous-bellied heron, Dickinson’s kestrel, Eurasian thick-knee, lesser flamingos, and yellow-necked spurfowl.
Kilimanjaro & Amboseli Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
- Day 2: Transfer to Machame Gate
- Day 3: Hike to Shira Camp (3840m)
- Day 4: From Shira Camp to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp (3950m)
- Day 5: Trek to Barafu Camp
- Day 6: Final climb to Uhuru Peak (5895m)
- Day 7: Descend to Mweka Gate (1980m)
- Day 8: Cross to Amboseli National Park via Loitokitok border
- Day 9-10: Game drives in Amboseli National Park
- Day 11: Transfer from Amboseli National Park to Nairobi
- Day 12: Departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Transfer to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park
After breakfast, meet your Tanzania driver-guide who will welcome you warmly. You will start your trip to Mount Kilimanjaro National Park.
Pick up will be from a hotel in Moshi or Arusha. Spend a relaxed day at the camp or lodge at the base of Kilimanjaro.
Day 2: Transfer to Machame Gate
Meet your driver-guide for transfer to Machame Gate. Here you will get a briefing about your hike. The hike starts from the park gate at 1490 meters and climbs to Machame Camp at 2980 meters.
If you have heavy luggage, you can hire porters at the briefing center. After registration, start the hike with packed lunch and water.
The path goes through rainforest and wet, slippery areas depending on the season. Spend the night at Machame Camp.
Day 3: Hike to Shira Camp (3840m)
Start a 6-hour trek from Machame Camp through moorland. You will climb a gentle slope through the moorland zone for about 2 hours.
Stop for lunch and rest, then continue to the rocky ridge leading to Shira Plateau. Here, you will get views of the glaciers. Enjoy dinner and stay overnight at Shira Camp.
Day 4: From Shira Camp to Lava Tower and Barranco Camp (3950m)
Today’s trek takes you east of the volcano through semi-desert and rocky terrain near Lava Tower. You will climb to about 4630 meters in about 5 hours. Have lunch at Lava Tower.
It will be a tough day but you will enjoy great views of the surrounding areas. After reaching Lava Tower, descend to Barranco Camp where you can take photos of the Western Breach and valley below.
Don’t miss the sunset here before dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Trek to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, hike about 7 hours through alpine desert to Barafu Camp. On this day, you will see the beauty around Mount Kilimanjaro. Descend through Karanga Valley, looking over valleys and ridges before reaching the summit area.
Barafu Hut is at 4550 meters. The name Barafu means ice in Swahili. The terrain changes here and you should prepare before dark. From Barafu Camp, it is 1345 meters to the peak.
Day 6: Final climb to Uhuru Peak (5895m)
Start your climb from Barafu Hut to Uhuru Peak early with snacks and water to stay strong. Stop briefly at Stella Point at 5685 meters, then continue for about 2 hours to Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro and Africa. It is very cold at the top and you will only stay a short time. After celebrating, start descending to Mweka Hut at 3100 meters.
Day 7: Descend to Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hike from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, about 3 hours. At the gate, meet park officials and receive your summit certificate. Climbers reaching Stella Point get green certificates, while those reaching Uhuru Peak get gold certificates. Transfer to your lodge or hotel for a relaxing dinner and overnight stay.
Day 8: Cross to Amboseli National Park via Loitokitok border
Leave Kilimanjaro and cross into Kenya at Loitokitok border. Travel to Amboseli National Park, which covers 392 square kilometers. The park has rocky bush, acacia woodlands, swamps, and marshes. Wildlife includes zebras, buffaloes, elephants, lions, and many bird species.
Day 9-10: Game drives in Amboseli National Park
Spend two days exploring Amboseli on game drives. Look for animals such as giraffes, large elephant herds, zebras, lions, antelopes, leopards, and many birds.
Day 11: Transfer from Amboseli National Park to Nairobi
After breakfast, drive about 3 to 4 hours to Nairobi. Check into your lodge. Later, enjoy a city tour including the giraffe center, elephant orphanage, and the national museum.
Day 12: Departure
Have a relaxed breakfast, check out, and transfer to the airport. Clear customs and board your flight home.
End of safari.