Rongai Route, Lake Manyara & Ngorongoro Crater

This is a combination package of a 8-days Kilimanjaro climb via the Rongai Route  and a 2-days safari in Northern Tanzania. A complete Tanzania 10-day holiday package, With the Best of Tanzania Expedition travel in custom designed 4×4 safari vehicles with open roofs for game viewing. Traveling for 10- days, the trekking and safari includes meals, accommodation, park entry fees and visit to Mt.Kilimanjaro,  Lake Manyara National Park,  & Ngorongoro Crater.

Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Moshi.

Elevation: 1,000m to 1,200m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45Min
Habitat: Town

KilimanjaroTravels.com driver will meet and pick you up from JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight B/B.

Day 2: Moshi to Rongai gate to Simba Camp

Elevation(m): 1,387/915 m to 1,950 m to 2,750 m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

You will have an early breakfast. Transfer by our vehicles through many villages and coffee and plantations for 2-3 hour drive to Rongai gate (1,950 m/6,398 ft). After signing in and preparing the porters, you will start hiking on a wide path winding through fields of maize and potatoes, and then enter into montane forest. You will then start to climb gently but consistently through attractive forests that shelters a variety of wildlife. The forest begins to thin as you arrive at Simba Camp (2,600 m/8,530ft) with fantastic views over the Kenyan plains.

Day 3: Simba Camp to Kikelewa Camp

Day 4: Kikelewa camp to Mawenzi Turn hut

Elevation: 3,600m to 4,330m
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Semi-Desert

After breakfast you will face a short, steep climb up grassy slopes; rewarded by superb all-round views, immersed in the vast surrounding wilderness. Soon after, you leave the vegetation behind and arrive at the Mawenzi Turn Camp, which is situated in a spectacular cirque directly beneath the towering spires of Mawenzi Peak. After this hike, you will reach the Mawenzi turn hut camp where you will also see the amazing undried Lake with no inlet as well as outlet where you will have lunch and rest then dinner and overnight at this camp.

Day 5: Acclimatization day (6 day itinerary skips this day)

This is your extra day on the mountain, and you will spend two nights at Mawenzi Turn. You will hike up towards Mawenzi for a splendid acclimatization hike. Then after returning back to the camp for lunch, dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Mawenzi Turn hut to Kibo Huts camp

Elevation: 4,330 m to 4,695 m
Distance: 8km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

After an early breakfast you will cross the lunar desert of the saddle between Kibo peak and Mawenzi peak to Kibo Huts at the bottom of Kibo’s crater wall. You should spend the remainder of the day resting and preparing for your summit climb.

Day 7: Summit Day! Kibo Huts camp to Uhuru Peak to Horombo Huts camp

Elevation: 4,695 m to 5,895 m to 3,690 m
Distance: 4 km up, 14 km down
Hiking Time: 10-15 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 6 AM. At this point, you will have views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 2 hours of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak where you will spend some time taking photos but it will depend on how you feel. After your summit activities are done, descend back to the Kibo Huts, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue on down, re-crossing the saddle to the Horombo Huts. Have dinner and overnight at Horombo camp.

Day 8: Horombo Huts camp to Marangu Gate to Moshi

Elevation: 3,690 m to 1,830 m to 1,387 m
Distance: 18 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

After a long and enjoyable sleep you will be awaked for breakfast and pack up, start descend through the moorland to Mandara Huts. Here you will have lunch then proceed with your triumphant recessional down through lush forest to Marangu park gate. Here you will sign out then after a vehicle will take you back to the hotel where it is definitely time for certificate presentation and celebration!

Day 9: Moshi — Lake Manyara.

After having breakfast will depart for Lake Manyara National Park. Spend the afternoon on a game drive of this park, described as one of the hidden gems of Tanzania. This park is famous for its green scenery, varied bird life, hippos and baboons, tree climbing lions and large herds of elephant. Late afternoon you will be transferred to hotel / tented camp for hot shower, dinner and overnight will take place on top of the Great Rift Valley, overlooking Lake Manyara.

Main Destination: Lake Manyara National Park.

Accommodation: Lake Manyara Serena Lodge / Country lodge / Farm of dreams / Pembeni Africa

• Mid-range lodge located just outside Lake Manyara NP.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Day 10: Ngorongoro Crater — Arusha / Moshi.

A full day in the Ngorongoro Crater. This morning you will descend into the Ngorongoro Crater — A wonderful haven for wildlife. Ngorongoro is unique in that almost all the wildlife lives within the crater, hence you have the opportunity to find game easily. Rhino, in particular, can be seen regularly as well as prides of lions and other predators like cheetahs. There is a very high possibility of spotting the big 5 in one day: lion, rhino, elephant, buffalo and leopard. Enjoy lunch by the hippo pond before commencing your drive back to Arusha / Moshi.

Main Destination: Ngorongoro Crater.

Accommodation: No accommmodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

End of tour

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• A transfer back to the airport can be arranged for an extra cost.

Included on the climb 

• Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
• Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the standard hotel in Moshi
• Park fees, camp fee, rescue fees
• Transfers to/from the mountain gates.
• Expert guides, cook, assistant guides, and porters.
• Three meals a day during the climb.
• Bottled water on the first day of the climb boiled and filtered on the mountain.
• Entry fees, Camping fees, rescue fees and crew fees.
• Mountains 4 Season sleeping tents double occupancy.
• Sleeping mattress, foam, 1.5 inches thick.
• Mess tent, table, chairs and lanterns.
• Oxygen tank in case of emergency.
• Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent.
• Crew salaries (Guides, cook and porters).

Excluded on the climb

Prices are per person per trip – all in $USD

• 1 x walking poles
• 1 x sleeping bag
• 1 x duffle bag
• 1 x waterproof jacket, breathable with hood
• 1 x insulated jacket, synthetic or down
• 1 x sleeping pad/mattress
• 1 x soft jacket, fleece or soft-shell
• 2 x long sleeve shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 x short sleeve shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 x waterproof pants, breathable (side-zipper recommended)
• 2 x hiking pants (convertible to short recommended)
• 1 x fleece pants
• 1 x short (optional)
• 1 x long underwear (moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 3 x underwear, briefs moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 2 x sport bra (women) head wear
• 1 x brimmed hat, for sun protection
• 1 x knit hat for warmth
• 1 x balaclava, for face coverage (optional)
• 1 x Bandana (optional) hand wear
• 1 x gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)
• 1 x gloves liners, synthetic, worn under gloves for added warmth (optional)
• 1 x hiking boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in, with spare laces
• 1 x Gym shoes to wear at camp (optional)
• 3 x socks, thick, wool or synthetic
• 3 x socks liners, tight, thin, synthetic, worn under socks to prevent blisters (option)
• 1 x gaiters, waterproof (option)
• 1 x sun glasses or goggles
• 1 x backpack cover, waterproof (optional)
• 1 x poncho, during rain season (optional)
• 1 x water bottle (Nalgene, 32oz (recommended)
• 1 x water bladder, camelback type (recommended)
• 1 x towel, light weight, quick-dry (optional)
• 1 x pee bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night (recommended)
• 1 x sleeping bag liner, for added warmth (optional)
• 1 x head lamp
• 1 x daypack, for you to carry your personal gear.

Packing Checklist for Safari

• 1 Safari Guide- $30 per day
• 1 Safari Chef- $25 per day