Kilimanjaro & Serengeti Safari

Itinerary

• Tanzania

  Tanzania has a wealth of natural attractions. Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest peak, is situated in the northeast, near the tourist hub of Arusha. The nearby game parks of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, and Tarangire receive most of the visitor volume. Other notable game parks are Selous Game Reserve and Mikumi National Park in the south, and Gombe National Park in the west. Further to the west are the Great Lakes, Lake Victoria (Africa's largest lake) and Lake Tanganyika (the world's deepest lake). The capital city of Dar Es Salaam is located on the eastern shore, but the main attraction is the exotic island of Zanzibar lying just offshore, with its Swahili architecture, spice plantations and white sand beaches.

• Arusha

  Arusha is a city of northern Tanzania surrounded by some of Africa's most famous landscapes and national parks. Beautifully situated below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, it has a pleasant climate and is close to Serengeti, Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, and Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as having its own Arusha National Park on Mount Meru. International flights arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and regional flights use Arusha airport.

• Ngorongoro

  "The Ngorongoro Crater is often called ‘Africa’s Eden’ and the ‘8th Natural Wonder of the World’. A massive extinct volcano, the sheet walls drop thousands of feet to a "Noah's Ark" of animals on the verdant floor below. Large herds of zebra, buffalo, antelope and wildebeest graze nearby while sleeping lions laze in the sun. At dawn, the endangered black rhino returns to the thick cover of the crater forests after grazing on dew-laden grass in the morning mist.

• Serengeti

  Tanzania's oldest and most popular national park, the Serengeti is massive in size, 14,763 sq km (5,700 sq miles). Famed for its annual migration, when some six million hooves pound the open plains, as more than 200,000 zebra and 300,000 Thomson's gazelle join the wildebeest’s trek for fresh grazing. Yet even when the migration is quiet, the Serengeti offers the most diverse game-viewing in Africa.

• Kilimanjaro

  Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world. There are six official climbing routes by which to climb Mt Kilimanjaro: Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame. Of all the routes, Machame is by far the most scenic albeit steeper route up the mountain, which can be done in six or seven days. The Rongai is the easiest camping route and the Marangu is also relatively easy, but accommodation is in huts.

  There are 3 levels of climbing excursions in Kilimanjaro;

  Highlights:
  These climbs include a lightweight mess tent, table and stools, smaller client tent and foam pad. Clients must provide their own sleeping bag. This is the most adventurous tour level.

  Luxury:
  These climbs include a larger mess tent, backed chairs, larger client tentts with 3" foam mattress. A pillow and 18 degree celcius rated sleeping bag with liner are also included. There is a private portable toilet. Evening meals have an additional course (entree) and there is fresh coffee available.

  Exclusive:
  These climbs are similar to the Luxury specification, but with a larger walk-in client tent and a cot so that guests are raised off the ground when sleeping. On this specification, tips to all of the crew are included, offering the most comfortable and all-inclusive option.

• Kilimanjaro

  Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is an inactive stratovolcano in north-eastern Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres above sea level. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain as well as the 4th most prominent mountain in the world. There are six official climbing routes by which to climb Mt Kilimanjaro: Marangu, Rongai, Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe and Machame. Of all the routes, Machame is by far the most scenic albeit steeper route up the mountain, which can be done in six or seven days. The Rongai is the easiest camping route and the Marangu is also relatively easy, but accommodation is in huts.

• • Arusha
  • Arusha Hotel

  Day 1: Kilimanjaro - Arusha

  Private transfer between Kilimanjaro International airport and your Kili trek hotel.

  In the event of serious illness, all travellers are covered by Flying Doctors Insurance. This covers the cost of emergency air evacuation service needed to fly back to Nairobi for treatment. This insurance does not cover the cost of medical treatment.

  Accommodation: The Arusha Hotel

  Located in the very centre of town overlooked by the majestic shadow of Mount Meru, and only a few minutes walk from the Arusha International Conference Centre, craft markets and attractions of the town, the Arusha Arusha Hotel will immediately strike you with its warmth and welcoming aura.

• • Beginning Your Trek
  • Trail Camp

  Day 2: Kilimanjaro

  Every excursion team is equipped with a fully operational safety kit. The kit includes a portable altitude chamber (on crater ascents), first aid kids, pulse oximeters, oxygen with regulator & mask, neck brace, mobile phone, satelite phone (on shira & crater), water filter, stethascope, portable stretcher, guest & crew AMS monitoring sheets.
  
  Excursion guides and crews are specifically trained and instructed to ensure, wherever possible, that our guests can walk off the mountain, unaided, themselves. They are also trained extensively on monitoring systems and also management of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), and more advanced forms of mountain sickness such as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema).

  In the morning you are picked up at 8am from your hotel and drive to Machame gate to collect your permits. There is then an hour drive to the Umbwe gate where after checking in you set off up through the forest zone. This first day of hiking is not overly difficult but certainly steepens towards the latter end of the day. In the late afternoon you arrive in the first camp for dinner and overnight.

  Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

  An overnight camp area will be set up in a clearing on the trail. Clients must provide their own sleeping bag, however clients will be provided with:
  
  Client Tent: a lightweight 2-person "pup" tent used for 2 people (unless specifically booked for single occupancy), as well as a foam pad for sleeping. Tent is 52" high, 92" front to back, 82" across. Floor area: 48 sq. ft.
  
  Mess Tent: communal lightweight mess tent, lightweight table and stools.
  
  Cooks will be on site to provide meals.

• • Barranco Trail

  Day 3: Kilimanjaro

  The second day ascends from the forest zone into the heath zone and there are some very steep sections here. Taking it easy is essential to allow your body to acclimatise. A picnic lunch is taken on route and then in the afternoon you arrive into Barranco camp in time to relax for a while before dinner. The views of the Barranco wall and western breach pertain to events some 60,000 years ago when this whole part of the mountain collapsed.

  Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)
• • Barranco Trail

  Day 4: Kilimanjaro

  Today is a walk-high sleep-low day. You ascend into alpine desert and for those that are feeling strong you can even head up to Lava Tower before descending to the Barranco Camp. Lunch is taken as a picnic lunch on route. This is long day but pays dividends later on - great acclimatisation day!

  Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)
• • Approaching Mawenzi Peak

  Day 5: Kilimanjaro

  Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening.

  Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)
• • Kilimanjaro Summit

  Day 6: Kilimanjaro

  Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence is the name of game to reach the summit and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down and your goal today is to reach Mweka Camp before dusk.

  Accommodation: Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

• Day 7: Kilimanjaro - Arusha

  After breakfast you descend once again through montane forest and around mid day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transfer back to your accommodation.

  Accommodation: The Arusha Hotel
• • Crater Floor
  • Main House

  Day 8: Arusha - Manyara - Ngorongoro

  Your guide will drive you from Arusha to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. On the way you'll have a game drive in Manyara before continuing on to your lodge near Ngorongoro. Thris drive will take 4-5hrs or more depending on how long you spend on your game drive in Manyara.

  Stop in and visit the Manyara region, which is best known for its baboon population. This area also has many herbivores such as hippos, impalas, elephants, wildebeests, buffalo, warthogs and giraffes. Some lucky  visitors have even spotted the rare tree climbing lion here. The giant fig trees and mahogany trees are seen in the groundwater forest immediately around the park gates, which draw nourishment from the underground springs that replenished continuously from crater highlands directly above the Manyara basin. Afterward, continue on to your next destination.

  Accommodation: The Manor

  The Manor at Ngorongoro is reminiscent of an elegant, up country farm home in the Cape Dutch style of architecture. The Manor at Ngorongoro, with its 20 luxurious guest cottage suites, is a luxury safari experience fusing East African safari hospitality with old world Afro-European architecture, and decor. The Manor is located adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area within the 1500 acre, Shangri-La Estate.

• • Cheetah

  Day 9: Ngorongoro

  Private transportation and guide in the Ngorongoro national park.

  You'll be up early this morning as you drive approximately 20 minutes from your camp or lodge to the main gates of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. There are only three roads that connect the crater rim with the crater floor, one for driving down, one for driving up and another that goes both ways. The crater is roughly 20 km/12 mi wide and 600 m/2,000 ft deep, once you've reached the top of the caldera it takes about 45 minutes to descend to the crater floor. The floor is home to a rich and highly concentrated wildlife. Some 20,000 mammals of size live there, including about 20 black rhinoceros, making the crater the best place in Tanzania to see the rhino. The crater floor also has one of the highest carnivore densities in the world. Lions, cheetahs, hyenas and jackals are commonly seen, while leopards, servals and bat-eared foxes may be seen with some good luck. You'll spend most of the day in the crater.

  Accommodation: The Manor
• • Serengeti
  • Olduvai Gorge
  • Room at Migration Camp Serengeti

  Day 10: Ngorongoro - Serengeti

  Your guide will pick you up from the Ngorongoro Conservation area and drive you to the famous plains of the Serengeti. On this drive you have the option of stopping at Olduvlai gorge, the Serengeti welcome centre and lookout point, or stop for lunch at a picnic spot. After entering Serengeti park you will have the chance to enjoy game viewing as you drive through the park to your next accommodation. This drive takes 5 to 6 hours depending on the number of stops you make and how much game viewing you enjoy along the way. Expect longer trip times during the rainy seasons.

  The Olduvai Gorge or Oldupai Gorge is commonly referred to as "The Cradle of Mankind." It is a steep-sided ravine in the Great Rift Valley, which stretches along eastern Africa. Olduvai is in the eastern Serengeti Plains in northern Tanzania and is about 30 miles (48 km) long. The gorge is named after the Maasai word for the wild sisal plant Sansevieria ehrenbergii, commonly called Oldupai.

  Today head out with your guide to explore the wide expanse of the Serengeti. The park is well known for its healthy stock of resident wildlife, particularly the "Big Five", named for the five most prized trophies taken by hunters: lion, leopard, elephant, black rhinoceros, and African buffalo. Though there are now few black rhino in the park, you may still spot them. The Serengeti has the largest population of lion and giraffe in all of Africa and the largest concentration of topi and Coke's hartebeest (kongoni). Enjoy the challenge of spotting other game such as cheetah, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, eland, waterbuck, hyena, baboon, impala, African wild dog and giraffe. The park also boasts about 500 bird species, including ostrich, secretary bird, Kori bustard, crowned crane and marabou stork.

  Accommodation: Migration Camp Elewana

  The Migration Camp is considered the most exclusive and favorable getaways in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, situated conveniently in the north corridor of the park to ensure privacy. The lush haven, with 20 tents, still preserves its access to the wilderness, having exceptional access to the herd movements seasonally and year-round. Gourmet cooking provides feasts like no other, as elegant medleys of spices and fresh produce hit all the right spots. When you’re not venturing out on the plains through game drives, make sure to take a sundowner drink and watch the plains for some very colorful performances.

• • Elephant
  • Buffalo

  Day 11: Serengeti

  Head out into the park early in the morning as animals are more active in the early morning and afternoon. Tanzania's oldest and most renowned national park, the Serengeti offers the most expansive game-viewing in Africa: great herds of buffalo, smaller groups of elephant and giraffe, and thousands upon thousands of eland, topi, kongoni, impala and Grant’s gazelle. Explore this amazing park with the help of your expert guide.

  Spend the day taking in the spectacle of the famous wildebeest migration. This annual migration through the Serengeti and Masai Mara is one of the safari highlights of Africa. The wildebeest migration moves in a basic clockwise direction throughout the year in Serengeti eco-system and move north into Masai Mara, Kenya from June/July through to Sep/October. Sightings cannot be guaranteed as the herds move according to availability of food source and migration movements can be erratic. The herds are accompanied by zebra and Thomson's gazelle and are stealthily hunted by local predators such as leopard, lion and hyena.

  Accommodation: Migration Camp Elewana
• • Lioness

  Day 12: Serengeti - Arusha

  If time allows, your expert guide will squeeze in one more game drive before dropping you off at the airstrip. It will be your last chance to see the park's diverse range of animals.

  Take your flight from Serengeti to Arusha today. The flight will do more than one stop on the way. The flight duration is approximately 2hrs. (10h30 - 12h35)

  Stop for lunch at the Arusha Hotel in this tourism capital of Tanzania. Shop the local souvenir market.

  Includes opportunity to visit local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs.

  Airport transfer between your Arusha hotel and Kilimanjaro International airport with private vehicle and english speaking driver.

  Accommodation: Depart

  Depart from Kilimanjaro international airport - end of itinerary.

Accommodation

• Fun Facts

  Did you know? The Serengeti covers approximately 14,763 sq kilometres, making it Tanzania's largest national park. It is home to the world's largest concentrations of wildebeest and gazelle (which number over 1,000,000 each), as well as large numbers of zebras (200,000) and lions, elephants, and rhinoceros (3,000 each). Each year huge herds migrate across the virtually treeless Serengeti in search of grazing land.

• Culinary Moments

  Swahili Translations (a few basics!)
  
  Hello – Jambo / Habari
  Goodbye – Kwaheri
  Please - Tafadhali
  Thank you – Asante
  I’m pleased to meet you – Nimefurahi kukutana na wewe.
  I am traveling – Ninasafiri

• Wildlife Encounters

  Tree climbing lions are quite the attraction In Lake Manyara National Park – while most lions don’t climb trees, it is said that here lions are often spotted sprawled out on the stout branches of acacia trees – likely to avoid the biting flies and herds of buffalo and elephant. Keep your eyes peeled!

• • Arusha Hotel

  The Arusha Hotel

  Located in the very centre of town overlooked by the majestic shadow of Mount Meru, and only a few minutes walk from the Arusha International Conference Centre, craft markets and attractions of the town, the Arusha Arusha Hotel will immediately strike you with its warmth and welcoming aura.

  • More information
• • Trail Camp

  Lightweight Tent (B,L,D)

  An overnight camp area will be set up in a clearing on the trail. Clients must provide their own sleeping bag, however clients will be provided with:
  
  Client Tent: a lightweight 2-person "pup" tent used for 2 people (unless specifically booked for single occupancy), as well as a foam pad for sleeping. Tent is 52" high, 92" front to back, 82" across. Floor area: 48 sq. ft.
  
  Mess Tent: communal lightweight mess tent, lightweight table and stools.
  
  Cooks will be on site to provide meals.

  • More information
• • Main House

  The Manor

  The Manor at Ngorongoro is reminiscent of an elegant, up country farm home in the Cape Dutch style of architecture. The Manor at Ngorongoro, with its 20 luxurious guest cottage suites, is a luxury safari experience fusing East African safari hospitality with old world Afro-European architecture, and decor. The Manor is located adjacent to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area within the 1500 acre, Shangri-La Estate.

  • More information
• • Room at Migration Camp Serengeti

  Migration Camp Elewana

  The Migration Camp is considered the most exclusive and favorable getaways in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, situated conveniently in the north corridor of the park to ensure privacy. The lush haven, with 20 tents, still preserves its access to the wilderness, having exceptional access to the herd movements seasonally and year-round. Gourmet cooking provides feasts like no other, as elegant medleys of spices and fresh produce hit all the right spots. When you’re not venturing out on the plains through game drives, make sure to take a sundowner drink and watch the plains for some very colorful performances.

  • More information

The Fine Print

• Trip Operator

  Horizon & Co. (founded in 1963), is a privately-owned leading boutique travel company. Horizon designs and stages authentic and deeply personal travel experiences that are carefully choreographed to induce a life-long memory. In addition to offering published trips on seven continents, Horizon builds private custom trips for discerning individuals and small groups.

• Contact Information

  Horizon & Co.
  Tel: 1-800-387-2977
  Email: admin@horizon-co.com
  Web: www.horizon-co.com

• What's Included:

  • Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

• What's not Included:

  • Tips - Laundry - Soft drinks and alcoholic beverages unless explicitly noted - Optional activities/extras – Visas (unless noted) - Vacation insurance

• Trip Terms & Conditions

  • Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $250). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure. We accept payment via credit card, certified check, wire transfer or money order.
  • Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary
  • Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.
  • Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.
  • Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid fees (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of deposit. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 50% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to 100% of program price.
  • Payment of the program price constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions set out at www.horizon-co.com/terms-and-conditions
  • Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

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