11-day Kilimanjaro Machame climb and Tanzania safari

Summit Africa's highest peak, then descend into the crater for lions and elephants

This 11-day tour combines a trek up Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame Route with a 3-day private safari through Tanzania's most wildlife-rich parks. You climb with professional mountain guides, sleep in tented camps on the mountain, then transition to game drives in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, where you may see all five of Africa's big cats and herds of elephants. The itinerary pairs high-altitude acclimatization with lowland wildlife viewing, moving from the rainforest zone through alpine meadows to the 5,895-meter summit, then into open savanna and crater ecosystems.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and preparation in Moshi

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport
• Transfer to hotel in Moshi
• Briefing with mountain guide and gear check
• Relax at hotel

Day 2: Start Kilimanjaro climb to Machame Camp

• Drive to Machame Gate
• Hike through rainforest
• Arrive at Machame Camp

Day 3: Hike to Shira Camp on volcanic plateau

• Ascend to heather and moorland zone
• Cross valleys and ridges
• Reach Shira Camp and acclimatize

Day 4: Climb to Lava Tower and descend to Barranco

• Hike to Lava Tower for acclimatization
• Descend to Barranco Camp

Day 5: Scramble Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp

• Climb Barranco Wall
• Continue to Karanga Camp

Day 6: Climb to Barafu Camp and rest

• Climb to Barafu Camp
• Rest and prepare for summit

Day 7: Summit Uhuru Peak and descend to Mweka

• Start climb at midnight
• Reach Uhuru Peak by sunrise
• Descend to Mweka Camp

Day 8: Descend to Mweka Gate and transfer

• Breakfast at Mweka Camp
• Descend through rainforest to Mweka Gate
• Receive summit certificate
• Transfer to hotel in Moshi or Arusha

Day 9: Safari game drive in Tarangire Park

• Depart for Tarangire National Park
• Game drive spotting elephants and wildlife
• Overnight at lodge or tented camp

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater full-day safari

• Travel to Ngorongoro Crater
• Descend for full-day game drive
• Picnic lunch inside crater
• Return to lodge in Karatu or Manyara

Day 11: Lake Manyara game drive and departure

• Morning game drive in Lake Manyara Park
• Return to Arusha or Moshi
• Hotel or airport transfer

The experience

You arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Moshi for a night at a comfortable hotel, where your mountain guide briefs you on the trek ahead and checks your gear. The next morning, you drive to Machame Gate and begin climbing through dense rainforest filled with birdlife and occasional monkeys, reaching Machame Camp at 3,000 meters for your first night under the stars. Over the following days, you ascend through heather and moorland zones, cross the volcanic plateau at Shira Camp, tackle the iconic Barranco Wall, and push higher to Barafu Camp at 4,640 meters, your staging point for the summit attempt.

Summit day starts around midnight. You hike through the arctic zone under starlight and reach Uhuru Peak (Africa's highest point at 5,895 meters) by sunrise. After celebrating at the summit, you descend through scree and moorland to Mweka Camp in the forest zone, then finish the climb the next morning at Mweka Gate, where you receive your summit certificate. A night back in Moshi or Arusha lets you rest and recover before the safari begins.

The safari portion moves you through three of Tanzania's most rewarding parks. Tarangire is known for its massive elephant herds and giant baobab trees. A game drive there puts you among lions, giraffes, and zebras. The Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a full-day descent into one of the world's most concentrated wildlife zones. You may see all five big cats and countless herbivores, with a picnic lunch inside the crater. Lake Manyara closes the tour with tree-climbing lions, flamingos, hippos, and baboons before your return to Arusha or Moshi for departure. Professional English-speaking guides lead both the mountain climb and the safari drives. Guides also speak Spanish, French, and German.

What’s included

• Transportation to and from the mountain gates and between safari parks.
• all Kilimanjaro park fees and rescue fees.
• two hotel nights in Moshi.
• five mountain tented camp nights.
• professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters.
• game drives in Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara.
• safari lodge accommodation.
• and hotel pickup from Kilimanjaro International Airport.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 to 75 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be included in the booking

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 2 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportPublic transport nearby

Operated by Africa Comfortable Tours

Is this one for you?Your guide speaks English, Spanish, French, or German. Choose the language that lets you follow the mountain briefings and safari commentary comfortably. The 11-day structure pairs the Machame Route's acclimatization schedule with a full three-day safari, so you get both the technical climb and unhurried wildlife viewing without rushing between parks.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (4 to 11 years). Under 4: they can't be included in the booking.

What is the Machame Route like compared to other Kilimanjaro paths?

The Machame Route is one of the most scenic climbs on Kilimanjaro, passing through rainforest, heather moorland, and alpine zones before reaching the summit. It takes seven days to climb and includes acclimatization days that help your body adjust to altitude. The route is considered moderately challenging and rewards you with diverse landscapes and wildlife sightings along the way.

How much time do I spend actually hiking each day on the mountain?

Daily hiking times vary depending on altitude and terrain. Early days in the rainforest involve 4 to 6 hours of walking. Higher camps require shorter days to allow acclimatization. Summit day is the longest push, starting around midnight and reaching Uhuru Peak by sunrise, then descending to Mweka Camp the same day.

What animals might I see on the safari portion?

Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara together hold all five of Africa's big cats (lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, and servals) plus elephants, rhinos, giraffes, zebras, hippos, flamingos, and baboons. The Ngorongoro Crater is particularly dense with wildlife because animals concentrate in the caldera.

What kind of accommodation do I get on the mountain versus on safari?

On the mountain, you sleep in tented camps provided by your trekking crew at Machame, Shira, Barranco, Karanga, Barafu, and Mweka camps. On safari, you stay at mid-range lodges or tented camps near the parks: Burunge Tented Lodge or Marera Valley Lodge near Tarangire, and Eileen's Trees Inn or Country Lodge Karatu near Ngorongoro.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes transportation to and from Kilimanjaro National Park gates; all park fees and rescue fees; two nights of hotel accommodation in Moshi before and after the climb; five nights in mountain tented camps; professional English-speaking mountain guides, cooks, and porters; and all game drives during the safari portion.