18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar Holiday

18 Days Kilimanjaro Hike, Serengeti & Zanzibar Beach Holiday

On this 18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar holiday, you will experience the best of African wildlife, mountain adventure, and beach relaxation. Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa, and enjoy the feeling of standing on the roof of Africa.

Take part in game drives to see the Big Five animals, big cats, and the rare tree-climbing lions. Witness the wildebeest migration in the Serengeti plains, visit Stone Town in Zanzibar, explore the Forodhani food market, the Old Fort, and the spice farms, and enjoy a dhow cruise after visiting Jozani-Chwaka Bay National Park, the only forest in Zanzibar.

This 18-Day Kilimanjaro Trek, Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Retreat is a perfect Tanzania safari package for anyone who wants to explore Tanzania’s wildlife, mountains, and beaches.

18-Day Kilimanjaro Trek, Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Retreat

Highlights of the 18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar Holiday

  • Climb Mount Kilimanjaro to the summit of Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.
  • Explore Tarangire, Serengeti, Lake Manyara, and Ngorongoro Crater, the best wildlife parks in Tanzania.
  • See the Big Five animals and witness the famous wildebeest migration in Serengeti.
  • Visit local communities and experience Maasai and Hadzabe cultures.
  • Discover Stone Town in Zanzibar, a UNESCO World Heritage Site filled with history.
  • Enjoy a spice farm tour and learn about Zanzibar’s famous cloves and other spices.
  • Relax on Zanzibar’s white-sand beaches and enjoy optional activities like snorkeling and dhow cruises.
  • Taste delicious seafood and Swahili dishes at Forodhani food market.
  • Unwind in beautiful beach resorts after your mountain and safari adventures.

Brief 18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar Holiday Itinerary

  • Day 1: Welcome, KARIBU! Tanzania
  • Day 2: Arusha-Kilimanjaro-Machame Camp
  • Day 3: Machame Camp-Shira Camp
  • Day 4: Shira Camp-Barranco Camp
  • Day 5: Barranco Camp-Karanga Valley Camp
  • Day 6: Karanga Valley Camp-Barafu Camp
  • Day 7: Barafu Camp-Summit-Mweka Camp
  • Day 8: Mweka Camp-Arusha
  • Day 9: Head to Lake Manyara National Park
  • Day 10: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
  • Day 11: Serengeti National Park Adventure Day
  • Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater Tour
  • Day 13: Ngorongoro-Arusha-Zanzibar
  • Day 14-17: Zanzibar Beach/Leisure
  • Day 18: Departure Flight

Detailed 18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar Holiday Itinerary

18-Day Kilimanjaro, Serengeti & Zanzibar Itinerary
A Leopard in the Serengeti Plains

Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania

Meet your driver guide at the airport for a short briefing about your 18-day Tanzania adventure. You will receive important items you may need during the trip, such as rain gear, extra camera batteries, and Tanzanian currency. If time allows, take a short tour around Arusha to visit museums, art centers, and local markets. Check in at your hotel for an overnight stay.

Day 2: Arusha – Kilimanjaro – Machame Camp

After breakfast, transfer to the Machame Park Gate. Register as a hiker, hire a porter if needed, and meet your mountain guide. Begin your hike through a forest filled with birds and monkeys like colobus and Sykes monkeys. The 6–7 hour trek takes you to Machame Camp at 9,850 feet above sea level.

Day 3: Machame Camp – Shira Camp

Continue your trek through heathland and moorland vegetation while enjoying views of the Kilimanjaro peaks. Pass through rocky areas with lobelia, senecio plants, and lichen. After about 6 hours of hiking, arrive at Shira Camp (12,600 ft) for dinner and rest.

Day 4: Shira Camp – Barranco Camp

The trek becomes tougher as you climb toward the Lava Tower, moving closer to the summit. Descend into the Great Barranco Valley, which offers views of glaciers and sunlight reflections. The vegetation includes giant lobelia and groundsel. Spend the night at Barranco Camp.

Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Valley Camp

Enjoy breakfast as you watch the sunrise over Kilimanjaro. Descend into the gorge before starting your hike up the eastern wall. Reach Karanga Valley Camp (13,900 ft) in the afternoon and spend the night there.

Day 6: Karanga Valley Camp – Barafu Camp

Follow the lava ridge to Barafu Camp, which means “ice” in Swahili. The name reflects the area’s freezing temperatures. The 7-hour hike ends at 15,200 ft. This is your base camp before the summit attempt early the next morning.

Day 7: Barafu Camp – Summit – Mweka Camp

Wake up around midnight to begin your summit climb with headlights and walking sticks. Reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and enjoy the view from the highest point in Africa. After photos and a short rest, descend to Kibo Hut for lunch and continue to Mweka Camp for the night. The total trek lasts 12–15 hours.

Day 8: Mweka Camp – Arusha

Descend to Mweka Gate, sign out, and drive to Arusha. The descent takes about 4 hours, and the drive back takes 2 hours. You may choose to have a massage to relax your muscles. Check in at your hotel for dinner and rest.

Day 9: Head to Lake Manyara National Park

Drive to Lake Manyara National Park, located at the base of the Great Rift Valley escarpment. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions and other wildlife such as elephants, giraffes, buffaloes, hippos, and impalas. Enjoy an evening game drive before spending the night at a safari lodge.

Day 10: Lake Manyara – Serengeti National Park

Take a morning game drive before breakfast, then continue to Serengeti National Park, one of Africa’s largest parks, covering 30,000 square kilometers. The park is home to the annual wildebeest migration, where millions of animals move between Serengeti and Kenya’s Masai Mara.

Day 11: Serengeti National Park Adventure Day

Spend a full day exploring Serengeti’s plains on guided game drives. Expect to see lions, leopards, cheetahs, giraffes, buffaloes, elephants, antelopes, crocodiles, hippos, and many bird species. Witness the wildebeest migration as herds cross the Mara River while predators wait nearby.

Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater Tour

Drive to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and enjoy a game drive inside the crater, which is home to about 30,000 animals. Expect to see flamingos, lions, elephants, rhinos, zebras, and more. Have a picnic lunch before checking in at your lodge near the crater for the night.

Day 13: Ngorongoro – Arusha – Zanzibar

Take a morning game drive, then travel back to Arusha. From there, fly to Zanzibar Island. On arrival, meet your local guide and transfer to your hotel for a relaxing evening.

Day 14–17: Zanzibar Beach & Leisure

Enjoy four days of beach leisure and cultural exploration. Visit Stone Town, go snorkeling or scuba diving, and tour spice farms to learn about cloves, cinnamon, pepper, and lemongrass. Explore the Forodhani food market, dine at The Rock Restaurant, and take a sunset dhow cruise. Relax on Zanzibar’s sandy beaches and enjoy fresh seafood and Swahili dishes.

Day 18: Departure Flight

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back home. This marks the end of your 18-Day Kilimanjaro Trek, Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Retreat.


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