AAA Express Adventure

4.8/5 – 74 Reviews

$3,432 pp (USD)

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Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

Arrival (See Getting There for more details)

  • You'll be collected from the airport.
  • Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Day 1

Airport transfer and visit Tanzanite Museum - To your accommodation

Airport transfer and visit Tanzanite Museum - To your accommodation

We pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport and drive you to Mc-Elly's Hotel. An English-speaking driver guide will brief you about your safari before your visit to the Tanzanite Museum.

Tanzanite is one of the most beautiful blue gemstones known to the world. A symbol of elegance, sophistication and boldness, owning and complementing your outfits with a piece of tanzanite jewelry is sure to make you stand out in a crowd. However, Tanzanite has more to offer than just a pretty look.

Return to Mc-Elly's Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:
Arusha (City)
Accommodation:
Mc-Elly's Hotel
  • Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Dinner (Breakfast & lunch not included)
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 2

Arusha - Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut (138km/85mi)

Arusha - Momella Gate to Miriakamba Hut (138km/85mi)

Elevation:1,597m (5,240ft) to 2,503m (8,212ft)
Altitude gained: 906m

Meet your experienced English-speaking guide at Mc-Ellys Hotel at 8:30 am and drive to Momella Gate. After registration, start the climb with a picnic lunch to the first hut which is Miriakamba Hut (3 hours). Here, you will have dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:
Mount Meru
Accommodation:
Miriakamba Hut
  • Budget mountain hut located on Mt Meru
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 3

Miriakamba Hut - Saddle Hut (61km/38mi)

Miriakamba Hut - Saddle Hut (61km/38mi)

Elevation: 2.503m (8,212ft) to 3,560m (11,680ft)
Altitude gained: 1,057m

After breakfast, we proceed with a climb to the second hut called Saddle Hut. This is a very steep path compared to the first part. During the afternoon, you can decide to attempt climbing Little Meru Peak and back.

Main Destination:
Mount Meru
Accommodation:
Saddle Hut
  • Budget mountain hut located on Mt Meru
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 4

Saddle Hut - Summit (55km) - Descend to Miriakamba

Saddle Hut - Summit (55km) - Descend to Miriakamba

Elevation: 3,560m (11,680ft) to 4,566m (14,980ft)
Altitude gained: 1,006m
Descent: 3,560m (11,680ft)
Altitude lost: 1,006m

Wake up at midnight and have a cup of tea before starting to attempt Big Meru Peak. Proceed to the summit crossing the rocky path. Return to Saddle Hut for a full breakfast. The day will be spent resting.

Main Destination:
Mount Meru
Accommodation:
Miriakamba Hut
  • Budget mountain hut located on Mt Meru
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 5

Miriakamba - Momella Gate - Arusha (65km/40mi)

Miriakamba - Momella Gate - Arusha (65km/40mi)

Elevation: 3,560m (11,680ft) to 1,597m (5,240ft)
Altitude lost:1,963m

After an early breakfast, we leave Saddle Hut and descend to Momella Gate via the first hut (Miriakamba). It takes about 2 and a half hours. You will be transferred by our minibus to Mc-Ellys Hotel in Arusha for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:
Arusha (City)
Accommodation:
Mc-Elly's Hotel
  • Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 6

Tarangire National Park

Tarangire National Park

After breakfast, we pick you up from Mc-Ellys Hotel at 8:30 am and drive to Tarangire National Park to enjoy a full-day game drive with a picnic lunch.

Tarangire National Park covers 2,600 sq. km and at dry times, the concentration of animals rivals that of the much better-known Serengeti. The numbers are staggering; 30,000 zebras, 25,000 wildebeests, 5,000 buffaloes, 3,000 elephants, 2,500 Maasai giraffes, and over 1,000 fringe-eared oryx (gemsbok). The predators include lions, cheetahs, and leopards. It is also home to many bird species including green wood hoopoes, Fischer's lovebirds, white-bellied go-away birds, and giant kingfishers.

Later in the evening, drive to the Migombani campsite for dinner and overnight. A hot shower, mosquito nets, and Wi-Fi are available.

Main Destination:
Tarangire National Park
Best Time To Visit July to November (Animals come to the Tarangire River)
High Season June to October (The park is full of visitors)
Best Weather June to October (Little rainfall)

Wildlife in Tarangire NP

ElephantAbundant
GiraffeCommon
LionCommon
BuffaloAbundant
ZebraAbundant
WildebeestAbundant
Show more
HippoCommon
HyenaOccasional
Wild DogVery Rare
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • Just outside Tarangire NP
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 7

Ngorongoro Crater

Ngorongoro Crater

After an early breakfast at 6:00 am, you will check out and descend to the Ngorongoro Crater floor with your picnic lunch for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Enjoy the game drive for 6 hours.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area supports a vast variety of animals including wildebeest, zebra, buffalo, eland, warthog, hippo, and elephant. Another big drawcard to this picturesque park is its dense population of predators including lion, hyena, jackal, cheetah, and the ever-elusive leopard.

You will visit Lake Magadi, a large but shallow alkaline lake in the southwestern corner of the crater where a large number of hippos, flamingos and other waterbirds can be seen.

Late in the afternoon, drive back to Mc-Ellys Hotel for dinner and overnight.

Main Destination:
Ngorongoro Crater
Best Time To Visit June to October (Wildlife viewing is best)
High Season Most of the year – July to March (Expect crowds)
Best Weather June to October (Rainfall is little to none)

Wildlife in Ngorongoro Crater

LionCommon
BuffaloAbundant
ZebraAbundant
WildebeestAbundant
HyenaAbundant
Show more
ElephantCommon
HippoCommon
LeopardOccasional
Accommodation:
Mc-Elly's Hotel
  • Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 8

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Machame Gate to Machame Camp

Elevation: 5,400ft to 9,400ft
Distance: 11km
Hiking time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

The drive from Arusha to the gate of Mount Kilimanjaro National Park takes about 1 hour of driving. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain.

On arrival, we walk through the rainforest on a winding trail up a ridge. Lower down, the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Machame Camp.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • On Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 9

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Machame Camp to Shira Camp

Elevation: 9,400ft to 12,500ft
Distance: 5km
Hiking time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland

After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rainforest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley and walking along a steep, rocky ridge covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge.

It is now time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira Campsite.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • On Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 10

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 12,500ft to 13,000ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert

From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction toward Kibo Peak. As we continue, our direction changes to the southeast toward the Lava Tower, also called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft.

We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight. Although you end the day at the same elevation as when you started, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • On Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 11

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 13,000ft to 15,000ft
Distance: 9km
Hiking Time: 8-10 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley campsite. We then leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here, we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo can be seen from this position.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • On Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 12

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

Elevation: 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and descent to 10,000ft)
Distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent
Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree toward Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.

At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895m). Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut campsite, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Budget camping
  • On Mt Kilimanjaro
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 13

Mweka Camp to Arusha

Mweka Camp to Arusha

Elevation: 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Distance: 10km
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

After breakfast, we continue the descent to the Mweka Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will probably be enough to wear, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing close.

From the gate, you continue for another hour to Mweka Village where a vehicle will meet you to drive you back to Arusha.
.

Main Destination:
Mount Kilimanjaro
Accommodation:
Mc-Elly's Hotel
  • Budget hotel located in Arusha (City)
Meals & Drinks:
  • All meals included
  • Non-alcoholic drinks

Day 14

Transfer to Airport

Transfer to Airport

After breakfast, you will check out at 9:00 am and make your way back to Arusha town. Upon arrival, you will take part in a tour of the town and visit the Tanzanite Museum. You also have time to enjoy some shopping in Arusha town.

Later in the afternoon, you will drive to Arusha Airport where you will be dropped off. This is where your safari will end.

Main Destination:
Kilimanjaro Airport
Accommodation:
No accommodation (End of tour)
Meals & Drinks:
  • Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
  • Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

End of tour (See Getting There for more details)

  • Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
  • You'll be dropped off at the airport.

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Disclaimer

  • This tour is offered by AAA Express Adventure, not SafariBookings.
  • This operator reserves the right to change rates advertised on SafariBookings.
  • If you request changes to this tour, the advertised rates will likely change.
  • The exact order, contents and rates of this tour are subject to availability.
  • If an accommodation is fully booked, the operator will suggest a comparable alternative.
  • This tour is subject to the terms & conditions of AAA Express Adventure.