Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi
Your Kenya adventure kicks off with a 6 pm welcome meeting in Nairobi. If you're arriving earlier in the day, you'll have time to check out the National Museum of Kenya, the Karen Blixen Museum, or Bomas of Kenya where you can see traditional tribal homesteads. Grab your leader's recommendations for dinner and start meeting the other people on your trip.
Optional Activities
- Visit National Museum of Kenya
- Visit Karen Blixen Museum
- Visit Bomas of Kenya (traditional homesteads of Kenyan tribes)
Landmarks National Museum of Kenya Karen Blixen Museum Bomas of Kenya - Day 2
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
You'll board an overland vehicle and head to Amboseli National Park, known for having Kenya's largest elephant population. On clear days the views of Mt Kilimanjaro are excellent. Once you arrive, you'll head out on a game drive to see what wildlife the park has to offer, with a good chance of spotting some of those big tuskers the park is known for.
Included Activities
- Amboseli National Park - Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Landmarks Amboseli National Park Mount Kilimanjaro 
- Day 3
Amboseli to Mto wa Mbu
The day starts at the Kimana Ranger Project where you'll meet rangers working to protect the Kimana Sanctuary for migrating elephants and learn about their conservation work at the training academy. After that, you'll travel toward the Kenya-Tanzania border to reach Mto wa Mbu village for a guided walk through farms and homes. You'll have a traditional dinner before settling into your campsite for the night.
- Meals
- Dinner (Traditional dinner with local community)
Included Activities
- Amboseli - Kimana Ranger Project
- Mto Wa Mbu - Village walk & local dinner
Landmarks Kimana Sanctuary Mto wa Mbu 
- Day 4
Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park
Starting early, you'll enter the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and switch to open roof 4WDs for the descent into the crater. Down at the bottom you can spot wildebeest, lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffalo, gazelles, and black rhinos across lakes, rivers, and woodlands. Later you'll head toward the Serengeti's open plains, take a picnic lunch break, and then settle into your campsite as evening comes.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Included Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater - 4x4 Game Drive
Landmarks Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti National Park 
- Day 5
Serengeti National Park
After an early dawn game drive when animals are most active, you'll return to camp around 11 am for brunch. If you've booked ahead, there's an optional hot air balloon ride with a safety briefing and bush breakfast afterward. The middle of the day is for relaxing during the heat, then you'll head out again at dusk for another game drive before dinner back at camp.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Brunch at camp around 11 am)
Included Activities
- Serengeti National Park - Morning Overland Vehicle Game Drive
- Serengeti National Park - Afternoon Overland Vehicle Game Drive
Optional Activities
- Serengeti National Park - Balloon Ride (from USD 599)
Landmarks Serengeti National Park - Day 6
Serengeti National Park to Karatu
You'll do a relaxed game drive and stop for a picnic lunch while heading out of Serengeti National Park. Take in those final views before making the longer drive to Karatu, a small town that'll be your home base for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Lunch (Picnic lunch)
Landmarks Serengeti National Park 
- Day 7
Karatu
This is your free day to move at your own pace. Consider visiting a local coffee plantation, or if you want more action there's an optional game drive available in Lake Manyara National Park. Another option is hiking through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to the Elephant Caves with a local guide who can point out animal tracks and wildlife.
Optional Activities
- Optional game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
- Visit local coffee plantation
- Hike through Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to the Elephant Caves
Landmarks Lake Manyara National Park Ngorongoro Reserve Forest Elephant Caves - Day 8
Karatu to Moshi
After breakfast, you'll board your overland truck one last time and head back to Arusha. You'll say goodbye to the truck and crew at the Impala Shuttle Office, then take an unescorted shuttle to Moshi around 9 am, which sits in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. At 6 pm there's a second welcome meeting where an experienced climber will brief the group and do a kit inspection. You'll have a hearty dinner with your fellow trekkers and get some rest before starting the climb tomorrow.
- Meals
- Dinner (Hearty dinner with fellow trekkers)
Included Activities
- Mount Kilimanjaro - Trek Briefing
Landmarks Mount Kilimanjaro 
- Day 9
Machame Gate to Machame Camp
Meet your guides and porters after breakfast, then spend time organizing your gear before heading to Machame Gate. There's a stop at a clothes lending office where you'll learn about the porter assistance program. Your hike starts around lunch time through the rainforest, where you can watch for colorful birds and different plant life. By mid-afternoon you'll set up camp at Machame for your first night on the mountain.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Meal prepared by the porters)
Included Activities
- Visit Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Projects office
- Hike through rainforest to Machame Camp
- Bird watching in rainforest
Landmarks Machame Gate Mount Kilimanjaro National Park - Day 10
Machame Camp to Shira Camp
This day takes you out of the rainforest and up a steep ridge into moorland terrain. As you climb higher, the vegetation thins out noticeably and you'll see giant groundsel and lobelia plants across the landscape. You're heading toward the Shira Plateau where you'll spend the night camping. The golden sunset views over the snow-dusted peaks of Kibo from this elevation are something to look forward to.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Machame to Shira Plateau
- Acclimatization walk
Landmarks Shira Plateau Kibo 
- Day 11
Shira Camp to Barranco Camp
After breakfast you'll walk through rolling landscape with deep river valleys, and there's a packed lunch stop partway through. The up-and-down terrain on this day works well for acclimatization to the altitude. You'll get great views of the Kibo Massif and the surrounding scenery as the terrain becomes more rugged the higher you go. By evening you'll reach Barranco Camp for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Packed lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike through rolling landscape and river valleys
- Acclimatization walk with views of Kibo Massif
Landmarks Kibo Massif - Day 12
Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
Breakfast comes first at Barranco Camp before you begin hiking. From Karanga you'll head up to where the South Circuit and Mweka route intersect, then climb a ridge to reach Barafu Hut around lunchtime. This gives you the afternoon and evening to rest and prepare yourself mentally. Keep in mind the nights here are very cold because of the altitude, so bring proper layers and sleeping gear.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike from Barranco to Barafu Camp via Karanga
Landmarks Barafu Camp - Day 13
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Around midnight you'll get woken with hot tea and biscuits before starting the long, difficult push to the summit. The ascent goes over scree and sometimes snow as you pass the giant Rebmann Glacier on the way to Stella Point. If timing works out, you'll arrive at Stella Point for sunrise and get to see the crater views from the top. From there it's another hour along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak at 5895m, the highest point in Africa. After celebration and photos, you'll head back down to Barafu for lunch, then continue to Mweka Camp where you can finally rest properly.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Hot tea and biscuits at midnight), Lunch (Well-earned lunch at Barafu Camp), Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit attempt from Barafu to Uhuru Peak
- Hike to Stella Point (5780 m)
- Hike along crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5895 m)
- Descent to Mweka Camp
Landmarks Uhuru Peak Stella Point Rebmann Glacier - Day 14
Moshi
You'll make your way down the mountain through alpine meadows and rainforest, heading toward the Mweka park gate. After you grab lunch and complete the checkout process at the park, it's back to your hotel where you can finally take that shower. This evening, your trekking group gets together for dinner so everyone can swap stories from the six days you've spent on Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner (Group dinner with trekking companions)
Included Activities
- Descent through alpine meadows and rainforest to Mweka park gate
- Lunch after checking out of park
- Return transfer to hotel
- Group dinner with trekking companions
Landmarks Mount Kilimanjaro Mweka Park Gate - Day 15
Moshi (Departure)
There are no scheduled activities today, so you can depart whenever works for you. Talk to your leader at the welcome meeting about arranging transfers to Kilimanjaro Airport or a shuttle to Nairobi based on your plans.
