This 12-day safari takes you to the top of Africa by hiking Mount Kilimanjaro. You will also experience the dry conditions of Tsavo National Park, once called Taru Desert, where you can see wildlife and enjoy the landscape. The trip starts with climbing Kilimanjaro and ends with relaxed game drives in Tsavo.
Kilimanjaro and Tsavo Safari Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Moshi hotel
- Day 2: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Gate, then hike to Machame Camp (5-6 hours)
- Day 3: Hike from Machame Camp to Shira Camp (4-5 hours)
- Day 4: Hike from Shira Camp to Lava Tower, then to Barranco Camp (5-6 hours)
- Day 5: Hike from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (3-4 hours)
- Day 6: Hike from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (3-4 hours)
- Day 7: Hike from Barafu Camp to the Summit, then down to Mweka Camp (10-14 hours)
- Day 8: Descend from Mweka Camp to Moshi (3-4 hours)
- Day 9: Cross to Kenya and transfer to Tsavo East National Park
- Day 10-11: Full days exploring Tsavo East National Park
- Day 12: Transfer to Nairobi and departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Moshi hotel
Your guide will meet you at the airport, greet you, and give you a short briefing about the trip. Then you will be driven to Moshi for an overnight stay to prepare for the adventure ahead.
Day 2: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Gate, then hike to Machame Camp
Wake early, have breakfast, check out, and drive to Machame Gate to meet the hiking team. You will start hiking through wet forest that can be slippery and muddy.
Watch out for animals like baboons, bushbucks, and birds.
Use gaiters and trekking poles if you have them. After a picnic lunch, continue to Machame Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Hike from Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, leave the forest behind and hike over rocky ridges and through a valley. The trail turns west toward a river gorge before reaching Shira Camp.
Meals and accommodation are at the camp.
Day 4: Hike from Shira Camp to Lava Tower, then to Barranco Camp
Today’s hike is important for your body to get used to the height. You will hike the ridge toward Kibo Peak, then continue southeast to Lava Tower, also called Shark’s Tooth.
Enjoy a picnic lunch here. Afterward, head to the junction near Arrow Glaciers, then continue to Barranco Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Hike from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, climb a steep ridge called the Barranco Wall, then head to Karanga Valley and the junction to Mweka Trail. This is a challenging part that tests your strength.
Meals and overnight stay are at Karanga Camp.
Day 6: Hike from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, continue to Barafu Camp. This marks the end of the southern circuit and offers good views of the summit from different angles.
Have an early dinner and rest to prepare for the night hike.
Day 7: Hike from Barafu Camp to the Summit, then down to Mweka Camp
Start hiking at midnight or 2 am. Climb past Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Keep strong as you make your way northwest through steep scree to Stella Point on the crater rim.
From there, hike one hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Celebrate and take photos. Then start descending.
Stop for lunch and a short rest at Barafu Camp before continuing down to Mweka Camp.
Use gaiters and trekking poles as the terrain is rough. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Camp will be your last night on the mountain.
Day 8: Descend from Mweka Camp to Moshi
After breakfast, hike down through forest and slippery paths to Mweka Gate. You will receive your hiking certificate.
Then meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Moshi for lunch, dinner, and overnight.
Day 9: Cross to Kenya and transfer to Tsavo East National Park
After a relaxed breakfast and check-out, drive to Tsavo East National Park in Kenya. This dry park is home to large herds of elephants, lions, leopards, rhinos, buffaloes, the Big Five.
Arrive in the evening, check into your lodge, have dinner, and rest.
Day 10-11: Full days exploring Tsavo East National Park
Spend these two days on game drives in Tsavo East. Look for the Big Five and many other animals. The park is home to over 500 bird species. Visit Mzima Springs and enjoy a picnic lunch by the Athi-Galana-Tsavo River, where animals come to drink and cool off.
Day 12: Transfer to Nairobi and departure
Enjoy a hearty breakfast, check out, and transfer to Jomo Kenyatta Airport in Nairobi for your flight home or onward travel.
This marks the end of your 12-day Kilimanjaro and Tsavo safari.