Ultimate Kilimanjaro: safari, trek and beach break

Itinerary in brief:

• 5 nights discovering Maasai culture and the world’s finest game viewing in the Serengeti.
• 9 nights trekking Kilimanjaro on the Lemosho Route  
• 5 nights luxury beach hideaway at Manta Resort, Pemba Island

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flights

Day 2: Arrive Tanzania

On arrival in Tanzania, you’ll be met at the airport and taken to Amini Maasai Lodge, conveniently located around 1.5 hour drive from the airport.  You’ll be welcomed by local Maasai who run the lodge. Take the afternoon to relax, enjoy a splosh in the pool, a nature walk, or simply soak up the magnificent views of the savannah.

Included: Transfers, dinner, Amini Maasai Lodge

Day 3: Travel to the Serengeti National Park

Wake up to a majestic view of Kilimanjaro in your beautifully prepared earth hut (with full facilities). Your Maasai hosts will serve freshly made coffee to enjoy the morning sunrise. After breakfast you’ll be collected and drive to Arusha airport for your onward safari flight to Kogatende in the northern Serengeti.  From July to October this region is packed with game as the great migration Wildebeest and Zebra herds head north to cross the Mara River, this is traditionally an excellent area to witness this unique spectacle. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way, then arrive at camp for sunset and dinner at Mara River Post.  There's a lovely swimming pool with a spectacular view overlooking the Mara River, this is an incredibly special spot to start your Tanzania safari.  This is classic ‘glamping’ luxury tented safari with all facilities.

Included: Safari vehicle with expert driver-guide, all meals, game drives, Mara River Post          

Day 4: Mara River in Serengeti National Park

Located in the northern Serengeti, from mid July the great migration herds traditionally head north towards the beautiful Mara River.  Time this right and this area is known for some spectacular river crossings, where huge herds of wildebeest attempt to navigate the Mara River whilst avoiding local predators.  The river here carries water all year round, with elephants, crocodiles and hippos frequent visitors.

Included: Safari vehicle with expert driver-guide, all meals, game drives, Mara River Post          

Day 5: Drive to Togoro Plains

After breakfast head south to the Togoro region, a region with a high concentration of big cats.  Your lodge tonight is the gorgeous new Togoro Plains lodge, conveniently located around 40kms north of Seronera.   Here you're in the central Serengeti, so the lodge benefits from good year-round game viewing, with big cats resident in this region.  Comfortable safari tents are dotted around the rocks of the kopje, with glorious views of the savannah and there's a refreshing swimming pool too.

Included: Safari vehicle with expert driver-guide, all meals, game drives, Togoro Plains River Camp          

Day 6: Hot Air Balloon in the Serengeti

This morning you’ll get the chance to experience an unforgettable hot air balloon safari over the Serengeti.  It’s an early start as dawn breaks, this gives a rare chance to experience the awakening of wildlife and a magical sunrise.  The scenery is breathtaking, with uninterrupted views across Africa’s most famous plains.  This is all followed by a memorable champagne bush breakfast in central Serengeti.

From here you’ll head west to the Grumeti region which is just outside the Serengeti NP.  The sunset at Ikoma Hills camp is a thing of beauty, perched on a hillside with a lovely pool.  The Grumeti region also offers the opportunity for an exciting night safari in an electric 4x4 to minimize disturbance, which is all included.

Included: Safari vehicle with expert driver-guide, all meals, hot air balloon flights, game drives, Ikoma Hills Camp          

Day 7: Fly to Kilimanjaro

In the morning it’s an early start for a bush walk with a local guide and ranger.  This is quite something, the terrain is flat and local game watch curiously.  Finish with a bush breakfast before heading to Fort Ikoma to fly back to Arusha where you’ll meet your Kilimanjaro lead guide and fellow trekkers for the first time. 

A Kilimanjaro trek is a once in a lifetime experience, this is why we opt for the Lemosho route. The acclimatisation and duration is excellent, which means it has a high success rate by comparison with other routes.  Enjoy a hot shower and a good night’s sleep before the trek starts next morning.

Included: Safari vehicle with expert driver-guide, all meals, Moivaro Coffee Lodge          

Day 8: Begin ascent to Lemosho Forest

After breakfast, the driver will go via Moshi to pick up some last minute supplies, before heading to the Lemosho gate.  After completing the necessary registration formalities, you will be driven for a short distance through farmland and plantations to reach the Lemosho roadhead. The last 3 miles of the road to the park gate is poor quality, particularly after rain, and the drive there should be considered part of the adventure. Enjoy lunch on the glades before starting your first day of walking. It is an easy day of walking through lush forest, looking out for buffalo. Tonight you’ll camp at Lemosho Forest camp (8,695ft/2,650m).

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 9: Explore the Shira Plateau  

The trail starts in lush montane forest before ascending into the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with views across the plains opening out as we reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if the afternoon mists come in. You’ll camp in the centre of the plateau at Shira One (11,645ft/3,550m).

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 10: Walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral

Enjoy a day to help acclimatisation and explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. You’ll walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. The views from the camp near Shira Hut (12,600ft/3,840m) of Mount Meru floating on the clouds are unforgettable. The afternoon is free to relax.

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 11: Descend to camp at Great Barranco Valley     

Spend the morning enjoying the gentle ascent and panoramic views, walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch near the Lava Tower junction (14,930ft/4,550m), you’ll descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (12,795ft/3,900m), sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive views of the plains far below.  This 'trek high sleep low' approach is great for acclimatisation.

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 12: Over the Barranco Wall to Karanga

A short steep climb up the famed Barranco Wall leads to an undulating trail on the southeastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the southern icefields. The terrain changes to volcanic scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a powerful sense of mountain wilderness. Your next camp is at Karanga (13,125ft/4,000m) a short distance away. The valley floor has the last water point on the approach to Barafu and you’ll camp on the higher sides of the valley with views towards the glaciers of the southern icefields.

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 13: Steep ascent to Barafu campsite           

The trail follows a path on compacted scree with wide views ahead including the Barafu Ridge where the camp lies. The trail climbs unrelentingly to reach the Barafu campsite (15,090ft/4,600m) for lunch, after which there is a short acclimatisation walk to the plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (15,750ft/4,800m). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent and includes a very early night.

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 14: Summit Kilimanjaro

You’ll start your ascent by torchlight around midnight so you can reach the crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take you to Stella Point (18,815ft/5,735m) in about five or six hours. You’ll rest there for a short time to enjoy sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (19,340ft/5,895m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshments we continue to descend to reach the final campsite (12,470ft/3,800m) at Millennium Camp. Often climbers will be too tired to notice the beauty of the forest surrounding the crowded campsite: this is an extremely long, hard day at high altitude.

Included: Full service camping including kit, multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals

Day 15: Trek to Mweka Gate, transfer to Arusha         

This day is a sustained descent on a well-constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the national park gate at Mweka (5,415ft/1,650m) and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village. The shower, beer and swimming pool are tantalisingly close! We return by bus to Arusha (a distance of about 62mi/100km).  Back at the lodge enjoy a last meal together with your fellow trekkers.

Included: Multiple trekking guides, porters, chef and all meals, Moivaro Coffee Lodge

Day 16: Fly to Pemba Island

By now deserve to relax and be pampered!  After breakfast you’ll head back to Arusha airport for your onward flight to your Pemba paradise (via Zanzibar).  You'll be met on arrival at Pemba and transferred to your home for the next week at the Manta Resort.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, internal flights, Manta Resort

Day 17: Manta Resort in Pemba Island

Switch off from your usual environment and enter a completely different one. Manta Resort is a treasured, remote island hideaway where you can feel the simplicity of a naturally evolved traditional Swahili island culture – and timeless peace and quiet. All-inclusive at Manta is truly all-inclusive. Everyone can even enjoy a free daily spa or massage treatment of your choice, with trained therapists in Manta's rustic Kipepo Spa.  After your epic Kilimanjaro adventure this is just perfect. Relax with just the sound of rustling palms or gentle breaking waves to help unwind each day.

Breathe in, breathe out and embrace a new pace. Feel part of Manta's Pemba family.  With local staff trained from scratch, this is a group of good people who proudly endeavour to make Manta the special place it is. The resort lies in the Kwanini marine conservation area, so the snorkelling is exceptional.   All stays actively contribute to the Kwanini foundation, this is an inspiring initiative created by Manta Resort to make a positive contribution to the future of Pemba Island. They achieve this by working alongside local communities to help everyone understand and conserve the natural world on which they depend. Manta Resort is an incredibly special place.

Included: All-inclusive, Manta Resort

Day 21: Depart Pemba Island       

After breakfast take the leisurely journey back to Pemba airport for the short (30 mins) flight back to Zanzibar and your onward overnight flight home.       

Included: Breakfast, international flights

Day 22: Arrive UK