This 12-day tour is special because it offers a calm experience of hiking to the roof of Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, and also exploring Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya’s most visited park known for its rich wildlife.
Make great memories as you start with the hiking adventure using the Machame route and finish with game viewing in Maasai Mara.
Mara & Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour Highlights
- Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Moshi
- Day 2: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Camp (5-6 hours)
- Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp (4-5 hours)
- Day 4: From Shira Camp to Lava Tower, then to Barranco Camp (5-6 hours)
- Day 5: From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (3-4 hours)
- Day 6: From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (3-4 hours)
- Day 7: From Barafu Camp to the Summit, then to Mweka Camp (12-14 hours)
- Day 8: From Mweka Camp to Moshi (3-4 hours)
- Day 9: Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport for a flight to Nairobi
- Day 10: Transfer to Maasai Mara and game drive
- Day 11: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara
- Day 12: Game drive and departure
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival and transfer to Moshi
On arrival, our driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in Moshi. You will arrive in the evening, check in, have dinner, and rest overnight.
Day 2: Transfer from Moshi to Machame Camp
Wake up early, have a good breakfast, check out, and meet your driver. Drive about 45 minutes through Machame village to Machame Gate. Here, you will meet your hiking team.
Notice the plants and animals while your guide explains them. The trail is often muddy and slippery, so gaiters and walking sticks are useful. After the hike, you will reach Machame Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 3: Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, leave the rainforest and hike through rocky areas and valleys. The path turns west to a river gorge before you reach Shira Camp. You will notice the air getting cooler as you climb.
Day 4: From Shira Camp to Lava Tower then Barranco Camp
Today is an important day for your body to get used to the altitude. You will hike east along a ridge toward Kibo Peak, then south-east to Lava Tower, also called Sharkâs Tooth. Have a picnic lunch here.
Then continue to the junction near Arrow Glaciers and descend to Barranco Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: From Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, climb the steep Barranco Wall, then head to Karanga Valley and the junction to Mweka Trail. This is a challenging part that tests your strength and spirit. Spend the night at Karanga Camp.
Day 6: From Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Wake early, have breakfast, and hike to Barafu Camp. Here, you complete the South Circuit and can see the summit from different views. Have an early dinner to rest before the midnight climb.
Day 7: From Barafu Camp to the Summit then to Mweka Camp
Start hiking at midnight or 2 am. This is the hardest part. Climb past Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, staying strong as you head northwest through loose rocks to Stella Point on the crater rim. Watch the sunrise here; some fast hikers may see it from the summit.
Continue one hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro and in Africa. Celebrate, take photos and videos, and reflect on how far you have come. Then start your descent.
Stop for lunch and rest at Barafu Camp before continuing down to Mweka Camp. Use gaiters and trekking poles as the path is rough. Stay overnight at Mweka Camp, your last night on the mountain.
Day 8: From Mweka Camp to Moshi
After breakfast, hike down through forest and slippery ground to Mweka Gate. Receive your hiking certificate. Then meet your driver and transfer to your hotel in Moshi.
Enjoy lunch, dinner, hot showers, and a good rest.
Day 9: Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport and fly to Nairobi
Have an early breakfast, check out, and drive to Kilimanjaro Airport. You may have lunch on the way. Fly to Nairobi where our driver will meet you and take you to your hotel for overnight.
Day 10: Transfer to Maasai Mara and game drive
After breakfast, check out and drive to Maasai Mara. Arrive in the afternoon, check in, have lunch, then go for an evening game drive. Look for lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, zebras, gazelles, and cheetahs. Return for dinner and overnight.
Day 11: Full day game drive in Maasai Mara
Wake early, have breakfast, and spend the day in the Mara searching for the Big Five: lions, leopards, buffaloes, elephants, and rhinos. Also spot giraffes, gazelles, impalas, hartebeests, topis, oribis, wildebeests, and more.
Watch the great migration of wildebeests and zebras crossing the Mara River, attracting predators like lions, cheetahs, hyenas, and leopards.
Enjoy a picnic lunch near the river. Return to the lodge after sunset for dinner and rest.
Day 12: Game drive and departure
In the morning, say goodbye to Maasai Mara. Check out and go for a last game drive to see any animals you may have missed. Later, drive to Narok town, home to the Maasai people.
Meet and interact with Maasai locals who will sing, dance, and share stories. Continue to Nairobi, stopping for lunch on the way.
Depending on your flight time, your driver will drop you at the airport or hotel. This marks the end of your tour.