You will be greeted by a private English-speaking guide in the public waiting area of Kilimanjaro International Airport after passing through baggage claim. This guide will transfer you to your hotel and assist with check-in.

Before departing on your first day of activities, a trip representative will meet you at your hotel to discuss the details of your trip and answer any questions you may have.

Upon arrival to Arusha, a welcome package including travel documents and a map will be provided to you.

While in our care, your safety and security are our number one priority. As such, in the unlikely event of serious illness or injury, all guests are provided with a “Flying Doctors” insurance policy. This emergency evacuation insurance covers the cost of the evacuation flight back to Nairobi for treatment, however, does not cover the cost of any medical treatment received. We highly recommend travel insurance for full coverage.

Every excursion team is equipped with a fully operational safety kit. The kit includes a portable altitude chamber (on crater ascents), first aid kids, pulse oximeters, oxygen with regulator & mask, neck brace, mobile phone, satelite phone (on shira & crater), water filter, stethascope, portable stretcher, guest & crew AMS monitoring sheets.

Excursion guides and crews are specifically trained and instructed to ensure, wherever possible, that our guests can walk off the mountain, unaided, themselves. They are also trained extensively on monitoring systems and also management of AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), and more advanced forms of mountain sickness such as HAPE (High Altitude Pulmonary Edema) and HACE (High Altitude Cerebral Edema).

Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, is a bucket-list adventure for many travelers. Reaching the summit is not a technical climb, but it does require preparation. The trek involves long days of hiking at high altitude, so a good level of fitness and determination are important.

Weather conditions can vary dramatically, from warm temperatures at the base to freezing conditions near the summit. Proper layered clothing, sturdy hiking boots, and gear suited for both sun and cold are essential.

There are several routes up the mountain, each offering different scenery, levels of difficulty, and durations, ranging from about 6 to 10 days on average. Shorter routes are more direct and steeper, requiring a very high fitness level since there is less time for acclimatization.

Climbs also come with different levels of amenities, from standard camping setups to more comfortable options with added services, and even premium expeditions designed for extra comfort.

Your Destination Expert will guide you through the best route, duration, and level of amenities to match your fitness, travel style, and goals.

After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro. At the gate, your crew finalize packing and after finishing with formalities you start of from Machame gate. Today's hiking is through verdant afromontane forest to the Machame Camp and on route you have a picnic lunch. Look out for pretty endemic flora and a graduation of forest zones!

From Machame Camp you hike to Shira Camp today. The first section is relatively steep and altitude is gained rapidly. A picnic lunch is taken on the trail today. The zone you pass through today is known as the heath zone where attractive helichrysum and lobelia plants become apparent. Various geologic features can be seen today from lava tubes to glacial valleys.

Today is a walk-high sleep-low day. You ascend into alpine desert and for those that are feeling strong you can even head up to Lava Tower before descending to the Barranco Camp. Lunch is taken as a picnic lunch on route. This is long day but pays dividends later on - great acclimatisation day!

From Barranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels (Dendrosenecio species), you ascend the Barranco wall and hike glacial valleys to the Karanga Camp. Lunch is taken at Karanga valley before heading to Barafu in the afternoon. Desolate alpine desert and at times strong winds rip over this camp and yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi peak are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the evening.

Most people depart just before midnight for the final summit bid. Patience and persistence is the name of game to reach the summit and by dawn as the first rays of light start to appear, most arrive near the rim. Ascending via Stella Point affords a relatively short final section to Uhuru peak, the Roof of Africa! What goes up must come down and your goal today is to reach Mweka Camp before dusk.

After breakfast you descend once again through montane forest and around mid day after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transfer back to your accommodation.

Your guide will drive you from Arusha to the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater. The drive takes approximately three hours.

During your stay in the Ngorongoro region, a range of optional activities are available to you. From bush picnics to cultural visits to local Masai villages to guided wildlife discovery walks to sundowner cocktails, the choice is yours. As well, excursions to the massive Ngorongoro Crater can also be arranged where you’ll discover an incredible range of wildlife. If you would like more information on any optional activity, please speak to your Destination Expert.

An experienced tracker-guide and private vehicle will accompany you today while exploring Ngorongoro National Park.

Today, discover one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation areas in Tanzania; the Ngorongoro Crater. Departing from your camp in a privately driven vehicle alongside a local expert guide, make your way to the entrance of the park, then drive a further 20 minutes to reach the rim of Ngorongoro Crater: the world’s largest inactive, intact, and unfilled volcanic caldera. This geological marvel was formed as the result of a gigantic explosion which caused the volcano to collapse on itself, thereby creating the massive crater. Roughly 12 miles wide and some 2,000 feet deep, the trip from crater rim to floor takes approximately 45 minutes by vehicle. The extremely fertile crater floor has attracted incredibly dense populations of wildlife, and at present over 25,000 large animals call the crater home, including some of the world’s last remaining black rhinos. The crater floor is also host to some of the highest concentrations of carnivores in the world, featuring large prides of lions, packs of hyenas and solitary predators like cheetahs and jackals. A keen eye paired with expertly procured search patterns from your guide is sure to help you spot a wide range of wildlife and perhaps some of the more elusive species like leopards, servals, and bat-eared foxes.

Your guide will pick you up from your lodge in Ngorongoro and drive you to the famous plains of the Serengeti. On this drive you will have the option of stopping at Olduvai Gorge, the Serengeti Welcome Center and Lookout Point, or to stop for a picnic lunch. After entering the Serengeti, you will have the chance to enjoy a game viewing drive as you track through the park en route to your next accommodation. The drive takes five to six hours depending on the number of stops you make and the length of your game viewing experience. Longer transit times should be expected during the rainy seasons.

The massive Olduvai Gorge, or Oldupai Gorge, is often referred to as “The Cradle of Mankind.” Beginning in the eastern Serengeti plains, the cavernous ravine is some 30 miles long and is the result of millions of years of natural erosion. The gorge features a steep-sided gully that cuts its way through the Great Rift Valley stretching along eastern Africa, and is named after a commonly used plant by the Masai people; Sansevieria-Ehrenbergii, or Olduvai for short. This plant grows plentifully in the area, and is used for making bandages, rope, baskets, roofs and clothing. Today, discover the Olduvai Gorge firsthand alongside your expert local guide.

Get ready for an afternoon to remember as you set out in the company of an experienced tracker-guide to explore the expanses of the Serengeti. The park is world renowned for its healthy populations of resident wildlife species, in particular the African Big Five consisting of buffaloes, elephants, rhinoceroses, leopards and lions. Although sightings are considered a rarity, a small group of black rhinoceros also live within the park grounds. Heavy concentrations of topi, gazelle, waterbuck and Coke’s hartebeest ensure that local carnivores including cheetah, hyenas and African wild dog are ever present. The park is also home to more than 500 species of birds, including ostriches, crowned cranes, marabou storks and secretary birds; some of the most sought-after and photogenic birds on the planet.

This morning, your African adventure begins with an exploratory game drive through Tanzania’s oldest and most recognized National Park, the Serengeti. A land of unparalleled game viewing, from great herds of grazing herbivores to tactically cunning packs of carnivores, life on the plains of the Serengeti truly epitomizes the “circle of life.” A paradise for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts alike, it is all but guaranteed that you will spot giraffes and elephants feasting on shrubbery, impalas, gazelles and buffaloes traipsing carefully through the plains to avoid being noticed by on-looking lions, cheetahs and hyenas, and a spectacular range of birdlife flitting through the sky.

During your stay in the Serengeti, a number of optional activities are available to enhance your experience. One of the more popular excursions includes taking to the sky aboard a hot air balloon to soar high above the park for a birds eye view before descending down to the tree line to observe the animals up close. A visit to nearby communities is also toward the top of the priority list for many guests of the Serengeti. Depending on your lodge, these activities as well as many other additional experiences are likely to be offered, typically at additional cost. Please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.

Immerse yourself in one of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles: the Great Migration. Witness vast herds of wildebeest accompanied by zebras and Thomson’s gazelles as they traverse the Serengeti ecosystem in search of fresh grazing. Their movements, driven by the availability of food and water, make each game drive a unique and unpredictable experience. Predators such as lions, leopards, and hyenas follow close behind, creating dramatic scenes that highlight both the beauty and harsh realities of life on the plains.

Time permitting, your expert guide will include one more Serengeti game drive before dropping you off at the airstrip to catch your onward flight. This will be your last chance to take in the park's incredible landscape and diverse range of animals.

Board a flight in Serengeti with service to Arusha. The flight will make several stops along on the way. Approximate travel time is two hours.

Please note, strict luggage restrictions apply to this flight: 1) Maximum weight allowance of 32 lbs (15 kg) is permitted per person. 2) Baggage must be soft-shelled. 3) Additional baggage allowance can be arranged at additional cost, please speak to your Destination Expert for more information.

Today you will have a private guide and driver at your disposal.

Stop for a buffet lunch this afternoon, included on your tour.

Time permitting, visit a local handicrafts market to stock up on souvenirs.

Set in Northern Tanzania just outside the bustling safari town of Arusha, Rivertrees looks out toward Mt Kilimanjaro, and is perfectly situated for exploring the abundant nature reserves that this region is home to. The inn is a charming country estate that was once an old coffee farm, and still retains the nostalgic air of a well-loved homestead. Rustic cottages are dotted along the river and in thickets of tall trees, while lush lawns and birdsong make for a peaceful and picturesque setting. The restaurant concocts tasty meals of garden-fresh ingredients and old family recipes, as well as oven-fired pizzas and the best of the region’s locally grown coffees. Delicious candle-lit dinners are served by the warmth of the fireplace, or under the stars and the watchful eyes of resident owls. Rivertrees combines unpretentious comfort with subtle accents of style to create a timeless pause in a traveler’s journey, and a sense of warmth and genuine welcome.

An overnight camp area will be set up in a clearing on the trail. Clients will be provided with:

Client Tent: a luxury 3-person "pup" tent used for 2 people (singles will use a 2-person tent), a 3" mattress, pillow, -18 Celcius rated sleeping bag, and thermal liner. The 3-person tent is 54" high, 106" front to back, 99" across. Floor area: 65 sq. ft.

Mess Tent: communal walk-in mess tent, lightweight table and backed chairs.

Other: lavatory tent.

Cooks will be on site to provide meals.

Ngorongoro Farm House is a small and exclusive lodge facing the Oldeani Volcano, just a few miles from the Ngorongoro Lolduare Gate. This unique property was built to offer visitors an authentic experience reminiscent of the atmosphere of the old days. The lodge offers various rooms, cottages, and suites, all rustically designed and decorated using local materials and furnishings for the purpose of providing each guest with an experience reminiscent of times past. Meals are served in the main building or, on occasion, around the pool, and feature ample selections of locally inspired dishes or popular western fares. Guests for Ngorongoro can cool off in the pool or enjoy soothing massages after game drives.

Mbalageti Serengeti is located in the western corridor of the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. The Lodge offers a breathtaking 360-dgree panorama view of the Serengeti Plain lands and the Mbalageti River, where one of the main attractions is the annual migration of wildebeest and zebra. Each room is equipped with all that could be needed for an enjoyable safari experience, including an en suite bathroom and a veranda affording stunning views. Dining takes place both in the bush, privately or with small groups, or in the dining tent, where local and continental cuisine are on offer. Activities range from spending some alone time in the loft with a good book in hand to a relaxing float in the tranquility pool with the Serengeti plains as the backdrop.