Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro is one of the best feeling one will ever have. This Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Safari will lead you on a hike to the roof of Africa and Zanzibar beach holiday. Kilimanjaro is the highest free standing Mountain in the whole world with three volcanic cones and their names are; Shira, Mawenzi and Kibo, we shall use Machame route also known as Whiskey route because it’s the driest and gives beautiful scenic views while hiking to the summit.
You will visit Zanzibar which is an Island in Indian ocean – east coast of Tanzania’s mainland. After hiking Kilimanjaro, you will visit Zanzibar Island for relaxation and mind blowing experience.
Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Safari Highlights
- Day 1. Transfer from Machame Gate to Machame Camp 5-6 hours
- Day 2. Transfer from Machame Camp to Shira Camp 4-5 hours
- Day 3. Transfer from Shira Camp to Barranco Camp 5-6 hours
- Day 4. Transfer from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp 3-4 hours
- Day 5. Transfer from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp 3-4 hours
- Day 6. Transfer from Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp 10-13 hours
- Day 7. Transfer from Mweka Camp to Mweka gate then to Moshi 3-4 hours
- Day 8. Transfer from Moshi to Kilimanjaro airport. Fly to Zanzibar
- Day 9. Full day relaxation on white sand beach
- Day 10. Full day relaxation
- Day 11. Visit Prison Island
- Day 12. Stone town tow and transfer to Zanzibar Airport
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1. Transfer from Machame Gate to Machame Camp 5-6 hours
Our driver guide will pick you from Moshi through Machame village which is 45 minutes drive to Machame Gate where you will find the fellow hikers and set off after briefing and acquiring all the necessary equipments and the porter. You will go through the rainforest as you meet some primates and birds, you will have lunch picnic and proceed to Machame Camp.
Day 2. Transfer from Machame Camp to Shira Camp 4-5 hours
Wake-up in the morning, have a delicious breakfast and embark on hiking for a relatively short but steep distance. You will go through a valley rocky ridge, you will have lunch en-route, proceed westward along the river gorge. Here the temperatures start lowering as you approach Shira Camp. Have dinner, relax and have an overnight stay.
Day 3. Transfer from Shira Camp to Barranco Camp 5-6 hours
This is another tiresome hiking but very important for acclimatization, you will depart from Shira Camp, proceed eastward of the ridge, proceed to the junction that joins Kibo, continue to Eastwards to the Lava Tower also known as Shark’s Tooth, you will have lunch as you enjoy the scenic views and proceed to Barranco Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 4. Transfer from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp 3-4 hours
After breakfast, you will have the most interesting exercise where you will prove your hiking strength and resilience by hiking the Barranco wall and Karanga valley where you will proceed to the junction that joins Mweka trail. You will continue hiking, have lunch picnic and proceed to Karanga Camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5. Transfer from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp 3-4 hours
Wake-up for breakfast and then proceed to Barafu Camp, you will have a clear view of the summit from all the angles. You will have an early dinner as you get ready for the hike in the night.
Day 6. Transfer from Barafu Camp to Mweka Camp 10-13 hours
You will start the trek at midnight or 2 am, this is the most challenging and hope giving trail, you will go through the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, trying to warm up and keeping the sense of hiking to the summit that will be achieved at the end of this trek. You will go through loose stony debris towards the Stella point and later you will be struck by the sunrises and you are on the Uhuru Summit.
Celebrate and take as many pictures and videos as you can while you’re standing at Africa’s highest point. After all this, you will embark on a steep descent to Mweka Camp, with lunch enroute at Barafu Camp and a short rest. You will proceed to Mweka Camp where you will have your last night stay on the mountain. You will arrive at Mweka Camp in the late evening, have dinner and have a good time to rest.
Day 7. Transfer from Mweka Camp to Mweka gate then to Moshi 3-4 hours
After a morning breakfast and celebrations with your fellow hikers, you will descend to Mweka gate through a warm environment but muddy and slippery, here you are always advised to use Gaiters and walking sticks. Ascend to Mweka gate, receive your hiking certificate and meet your guide driver who will be waiting for you and transfer you to Moshi which is a 30 minutes’ drive. You will have lunch and dinner at the hotel in Moshi.
Day 8. Transfer from Moshi to Kilimanjaro airport. Fly to Zanzibar
After a lazy breakfast, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport to set off for Zanzibar, arrive in Zanzibar in the afternoon. Check-in at the hotel, have lunch and relax at the hotel.
Day 9. Full day relaxation on white sand beach
On this day, you will spend most of the time sunbathing on the white sand beaches, or in the swimming pool taking a clear view of the vast azure blue oceanic waters. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Day 10. Full day relaxation
On this day, you will spend the time walking and sunbathing on the white sand beaches of Zanzibar, or you might decide to stay in your luxury villa which overlooks the Indian ocean. Breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel.
Day 11. Visit Prison Island
Wake up at leisure for breakfast, have lunch and at around 2:30 pm, you will visit the historical Prison Island which is full of fun like swimming, snorkelling, and is home to giant tortoises. You will return to stone town in the evening by 5:30 pm as you enjoy the sunset.
Day 12. Stone town tow and transfer to Zanzibar Airport
After morning breakfast, you will embark on the Stone town tour where you will visit the slave trade markets which stands as an Anglican church that was built in 1871, visit Zanzibar markets, memorial museum, visit house of wonders built in 1883 (Beit-Al-Ajab), Old Arab Fort, visit spice plantations and taste on the tropical fruits. Later go back to the lodge, have refreshments and then be transferred to Zanzibar Airport for departure.
End of 12 Days Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Safari
