Itinerary
- Day 1
Nairobi
Your Kenya adventure begins with a 6 pm welcome meeting in Nairobi. If you're arriving earlier in the day, check out the National Museum of Kenya, Karen Blixen Museum, or Bomas of Kenya to see traditional tribal homesteads before the group gathers. You'll get to know your fellow travelers over dinner at a local restaurant.
Optional Activities
- Visit National Museum of Kenya
- Visit Karen Blixen Museum
- Visit Bomas of Kenya (traditional tribal homesteads)
Landmarks National Museum of Kenya Karen Blixen Museum Bomas of Kenya 
- Day 2
Nairobi to Amboseli National Park
Board your overland vehicle headed to Amboseli National Park. The park covers about 392 square kilometers and has Kenya's largest population of African elephants, including many with large tusks. On clear days you'll see Mt Kilimanjaro in the distance. Once you arrive, get on a game drive to see the wildlife and get a feel for the park.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Amboseli National Park overland vehicle game drive
Landmarks Amboseli National Park Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 3
Amboseli to Mto wa Mbu
Start at the Kimana Ranger Project where you'll meet the rangers protecting Kimana Sanctuary, an important area for migrating elephants. They'll talk about conservation efforts and the difficulties of protecting the Greater Amboseli ecosystem. Then drive toward the Kenya-Tanzania border to Mto wa Mbu, a charming village. A guided walk takes you through farms and homes to see local life. End the day with a traditional dinner and settle into your campsite.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional dinner with local community)
Included Activities
- Kimana Ranger Project visit
- Mto wa Mbu village guided walk
- Traditional dinner with local community
Landmarks Kimana Sanctuary Mto wa Mbu 
- Day 4
Mto wa Mbu to Serengeti National Park
Wake early to enter the Ngorongoro Conservation area. You'll trade your overland vehicle for open roof 4WDs at the crater rim, taking in the views before heading down to the crater floor. Watch for wildebeest, lions, zebras, cheetahs, buffalo, and endangered black rhinos. Later you'll drive to Serengeti's vast plains with their seasonal color shifts. Grab a picnic lunch and settle into your campsite within the park, listening to nocturnal sounds as you rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ngorongoro Crater 4x4 game drive
Landmarks Ngorongoro Crater Serengeti National Park 
- Day 5
Serengeti National Park
Head out early on a dawn game drive while animals are most active, then return to camp around 11 am for brunch. If you pre-booked the hot air balloon ride, you'll have a dawn pickup to the launch site, a scenic flight over the plains, and bush breakfast included. During the warmer afternoon hours, relax at camp. At dusk, board your overland vehicle for another game drive, returning in time for dinner.
- Meals
- Brunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Serengeti National Park morning overland vehicle game drive
Optional Activities
- Hot air balloon ride over Serengeti with bush breakfast (must be pre-booked)
Landmarks Serengeti National Park 
- Day 6
Serengeti to Karatu
Take a leisurely game drive and have a picnic lunch as you leave Serengeti National Park, soaking in the final views of this landscape. The drive to Karatu is long, but this small town will be your base for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Serengeti National Park afternoon overland vehicle game drive
Landmarks Serengeti National Park 
- Day 7
Karatu
This is your free day to relax or do things on your own. You could visit a local coffee plantation, take an optional game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, or hike through the Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to the Elephant Caves with a local guide. If you hike, you'll learn about the rainforest and might spot wildlife and birds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit local coffee plantation
- Optional game drive in Lake Manyara National Park
- Guided hike through Ngorongoro Reserve Forest to the Elephant Caves
Landmarks Lake Manyara National Park Ngorongoro Reserve Forest Elephant Caves - Day 8
Karatu to Marangu
After breakfast, board your overland truck one last time and head to Arusha. You'll be dropped at the Impala Shuttle Office to say goodbye to your truck and crew. Then take an unescorted shuttle bus to Marangu in the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro (1300 m), departing around 9 am. At 6 pm there's a welcome meeting for a full briefing and kit inspection with an experienced Kilimanjaro climber. Have a hearty dinner with fellow trekkers and rest before the climb.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Hearty dinner)
Included Activities
- Mount Kilimanjaro trek briefing
Landmarks Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 9
Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
After breakfast, head to Marangu Gate where your guides and porters will be waiting. From there, you'll start trekking the Marangu Route, which is the oldest established path up Kilimanjaro. Keep an eye out for wildlife as you walk through the landscape, and you'll reach Mandara Hut by the end of the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut on the Marangu Route
- Meet guides and porters at Marangu Gate
Landmarks Marangu Gate Mount Kilimanjaro - Day 10
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
This is a solid hiking day covering about 12 kilometres over 5 to 6 hours. As you climb, the rainforest gradually opens up into alpine meadows, and you'll spot Kibo and Mawenzi's snow-capped peaks ahead. The route crosses several ravines before you reach Horombo Hut, where you'll stay for the next two nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut (12 kilometres, approximately 5-6 hours)
- View Kibo and Mawenzi peaks
- Cross several ravines
Landmarks Kibo Peak Mawenzi Peak - Day 11
Horombo Hut - Acclimatization Day
After breakfast, walk to Mawenzi Hut and keep an eye out for the distinctive Zebra Rocks along the way. The climb up a grassy slope is steep but the views toward Kibo make it worth it. Head back to Horombo for lunch, then spend the afternoon resting and letting your body adjust to the altitude. Talk to your guides about short walks in the area and make sure you're drinking plenty of water since the harder days are coming up.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Walk toward Mawenzi Hut and view Zebra Rocks
- Optional short walks in the area (available on request)
Landmarks Zebra Rocks Mawenzi Hut - Day 12
Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut
You'll trek for about 5 to 6 hours covering 10 kilometres, and the terrain gets noticeably more rugged and rocky. The air thins out considerably, so you'll move slower than previous days. Watch for giant groundsels and lobelias as you cross the moorland, and after skirting Mawenzi Peak, you'll enter the stark, lunar-like landscape of the Saddle. You'll finish at Kibo Hut, and it's important to get to bed early because you have a very early start tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Trek from Horombo Hut to Kibo Hut (approximately 10 kilometres, 5-6 hours)
- View giant groundsels and lobelias
- Skirt Mawenzi Peak
- Cross the Saddle
Landmarks The Saddle - Day 13
Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak and Horombo Hut
At 11 pm, your guides wake you with hot tea for the final summit push. From Kibo Hut, you'll trek about 6 to 8 hours covering 6 kilometres, zigzagging up a large scree slope under the stars. You might catch the sunrise from Gilman's Point at 5,685 metres, with Mawenzi Peak silhouetted behind it. If you still have energy, keep going for another 2 hours along the crater rim to reach Uhuru Peak, Africa's highest point, where you can see the crater and ice fields. After resting and taking photos, you'll descend back to Horombo Hut, which takes roughly the same amount of time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Summit attempt from Kibo Hut to Uhuru Peak (approximately 6-8 hours)
- Reach Gilman's Point (5685m)
- Optional walk to Uhuru Peak along the crater rim (approximately 2 hours)
- Descent to Horombo Hut (approximately 6-8 hours)
Landmarks Uhuru Peak Gilman's Point 
- Day 14
Horombo Hut to Marangu Gate
Continue your descent through alpine meadows and rainforest to the park gate. The 20-kilometer trek from Horombo to Marangu Gate takes 5-6 hours. Your transport waits at the gate to drive you back to the hotel for a relaxing shower, a real treat after five physically demanding days on the mountain. Over a celebratory meal, you'll relive and share your experiences from the past five days.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Celebratory meal)
Included Activities
- Mount Kilimanjaro descent to Marangu Gate
- Mount Kilimanjaro return transfers from hotel to park gate
Landmarks Marangu Gate - Day 15
Marangu (departure day)
No activities or trekking planned today. A transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport or a shuttle to Nairobi can be arranged locally. Check with your group leader about transportation options at the welcome meeting.
Optional Activities
- Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport
- Shuttle to Nairobi
