On this 18-Day Tanzania Kilimanjaro Safari & Zanzibar holiday, you will encounter the best of African wildlife and beaches by taking part in different activities.
Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro to the summit rewards you with a chance to stand on the roof of Africa, as Mt Kilimanjaro is the tallest mountain in Africa.
Take part in game drives where you will explore the Big Five animals, big cats, including the rare tree-climbing lions, the annual wildebeest migration in the Serengeti plains, visit Stone Town in Zanzibar, Forodhani food market, the old fort house, the spice tour farm, and many more.
Relax on the beaches and also take a dhow cruise on the ocean after visiting the Jozani Chwaka National Park, the only forest at Zanzibar.
This 18-Day Kilimanjaro Trek, Serengeti Safari & Zanzibar Retreat is your ideal Tanzania safari package.
Detailed 18-Day Kilimanjaro, Serengeti & Zanzibar Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome, KARIBU! Tanzania
You will be welcomed by the driver guide at the airport, who will take you through a briefing about this great safari to Tanzania wildlife and Zanzibar beaches.
You will acquire all the required materials you would need while on the safari, such as batteries for the camera, rain gear, Tanzanian currency, and more.
You can opt to take a short city tour of Arusha where places like the museum, art centers, and local markets can be visited.
Check-in at the hotel for your accommodations.
Day 2: Arusha-Kilimanjaro-Machame Camp
Transfer to Machame Park gate after breakfast and be informed about the dos and don’ts to follow while on the hike, hire some materials to use, register as one of the hikers, and hire a porter to carry your luggage.
The driver guide will be left behind, and you’ll get a park guide that will take you through the hike of this tallest mountain in Africa.
Begin the hike as you pass through the forest with a lot of exotic birds and primates like the black and white colobus monkeys, Sykes monkeys, and more.
The hike will take about 6 to 7 hours to reach Machame Camp at an elevation of 9850 ft above sea level.
Day 3: Machame Camp-Shira Camp
Pass through the heathland and moorland vegetation as you have a great view of Kilimanjaro peaks.
There will be a struggle as you enter the Boulder to the moorland zones with the lobelia and scenario plants and volcanic rocks with lichen plants like those of beards.
The hike will last for about 6 hours to reach Shira Camp at a height of 12600 ft where you will spend a night.
Day 4: Shira Camp-Barranco Camp
On this day, the trek becomes more tiresome and amazing as you cross through the lava tower hence drawing closer to the highest peak in Africa.
Penetrate the Great Barranco Valley, offering a view of the glaciers with sunshine.
The plants here are the giant groundsel, giant lobelia, and many more others.
Spend a night at Barranco Camp.
Day 5: Barranco Camp-Karanga Valley Camp
Breakfast is served on the mountain as you enjoy the sunrise and then descend into the George before the hike begins as we prepare for ascending into the eastern wall which will offer you the best of Kilimanjaro’s ice areas.
Reach Karanga Valley camp at an elevation of 13900 ft above sea level and spend a night here.
Day 6: Karanga Valley Camp-Barafu Camp
Follow the lava ridge to Barafu camp, an area named due to its coldness.
Barafu is a Swahili word which means ice; this means that the place is cool at a freezing point.
This is a base camp which will create memories as you will hike to the summit the next morning.
The hike to this camp takes about 7 hours of walking to reach Barafu camp which stands at 15200 ft.
Day 7: Barafu Camp-Summit-Mweka Camp
Wake up as early as midnight and begin the trek to conquer the summit in the morning hours.
This will be done using headlight torches, ropes, and walking sticks.
Enjoy the summit as you take photos while standing on the roof of Africa.
Creating memories on this safari will be the main objective.
Due to the cold, you will descend to Mweka camp where you will spend a night.
The overall hike and descent will last for 12 to 15 hours but will be very memorable.
Day 8: Mweka Camp-Arusha
Descend further to Mweka gate for signing out and then transfer to Arusha town.
The descent will take about 4 hours, and then a drive will take about 2 hours.
Upon arriving, you will have an optional massage experience to get rid of the tension in the muscles.
Check-in at the hotel, and this will be the end of the day.
Day 9: Head to Lake Manyara National Park
Head to Lake Manyara National Park, which is located at the base of the great rift valley escarpment.
This park is known for the incredible variety of wild animals and is also famous for housing the rare tree-climbing lions.
Arrive and take an evening game drive where you will spot wild animals such as Buffalo, Elephant, Giraffe, Impala, hippo, and many more.
The tree-climbing lions will also be spotted resting in the tree branches.
Overnight stay will be at one of the recognized safari lodges.
Day 10: Lake Manyara to Serengeti National Park
Have a morning game drive where you will encounter different wildlife that you might have missed the previous day.
You will be served a late breakfast and then transfer to Serengeti National Park, one of the largest national parks in Tanzania, covering an area of about 30,000 square kilometers.
This park is known for hosting wildebeest migrations that move in groups of millions together with thousands of zebras as they cross to Masai Mara National Reserve of Kenya and vice versa.
Day 11: Serengeti National Park Adventure Day
This will be a full day in the Serengeti plains, taking game drives to different corners of the park.
This offers you an opportunity to explore the beautiful wild animals, bird species, plants, and beautiful scenery.
Wild animals that will be spotted include a large pride of lions, leopards, giraffes, large herds of buffalos, antelopes like the Jackson hartebeests, wildebeests, bushbucks, waterbucks, crocodiles, hippos, and many more.
Enjoy the world’s wonder, which is the wildebeest migration that moves with thousands of zebras.
As they cross the Mara River, you will take great photos when the predators are feeding on the prey, which is the wildebeest.
Day 12: Ngorongoro Crater Tour
Leave Serengeti plains and transfer to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.
Upon arrival, you will take a great time taking a game drive accompanied by a picnic lunch.
Expect to meet flamingos, lions, elephants, zebras, rhinos, jackals, and many more.
You will spend a night in this conservation area, and this will be the end of the 12th day of your tour.
Day 13: Ngorongoro-Arusha-Zanzibar
The morning game drive will begin the day, and then transfer to Arusha town.
Then the driver guide will take you to the airport to fly to Zanzibar, the archipelago of different islands.
Upon arrival, meet our company representative who will take you to the hotel, and this will create memories.
Day 14-17: Zanzibar Beach/Leisure
During these days, it will be massive in Zanzibar, and you will participate in different activities such as taking a stone town tour, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, visiting the spice farms and learning about the different spices such as cinnamon, pepper, lemongrass, rosemary, and many more.
Visit Forodhani food market, visit the Rock resort restaurant, have a great time on the sunset dhow cruise, and many more.
This time will enable you to explore the best of Zanzibar as you taste the seafood, traditional Swahili foods, and more.
Day 18: Departure Flight
Head to the airport after breakfast in the morning to board a flight back home, marking the end of the 18-Day Mount Kilimanjaro & Zanzibar holiday.