EXPLORERS KILIMANJARO AND BEYOND 2011

Itinerary:

Notes: You are welcome to join this trip for just the climb of Kilimanjaro or just the safari portion without the Kilimanjaro climb. The itinerary below details the combined itinerary. Please see the Dates & Prices page for climb or safari only dates and prices.

Days 1-2: Depart the U.S. on Day 1, arriving at the Kilimanjaro airport in Tanzania on Day 2. Transportation is provided to our hotel in Moshi. We’ll meet the group and the guides and have a pre-climb orientation. Parkview Hotel, Moshi, No meals included.

Note: Day 1 of the itinerary, June 5, is the day you should depart from the U.S., arriving in Kilimanjaro on June 6. The main international flight into Kilimanjaro on KLM arrives in the evening. If you have the time, we recommend flying in a day early, allowing you a day in town to recuperate from the long flight, and a day of cushion to deal with any luggage problems. If you choose to arrive a day early, we can arrange an extra night lodging and airport transportation. In this case, you would want to depart the US on June 4.

Days 3 – 8: After breakfast, we drive to the trailhead of the remote Rongai route, near the Kenyan border. We pass through the National Park Gate and begin our climb at 6,000 ft. of elevation. Led by our experienced guide team, each day we will slowly ascend to higher camps, typically trekking between 5 and 8 hours per day. Local porters will carry the majority of our climbing gear and equipment. On summit day, we wake at midnight and begin our climb to the summit. Our position on the north-eastern side of the mountain should lend itself to a spectacular sunrise from the route or possibly from the summit. At 19,340 ft, we’ll reach Uhuru Peak. Congratulations! You are now standing on the highest point in Africa and one of the Seven Summits! After enjoying a little time on top, we’ll begin our descent down the other side of the mountain and camp at about 12,000 ft. Expect a long summit day of 11-14 hours of trekking. The following morning, we descend off the mountain and return to our hotel in Moshi for a celebratory dinner and well deserved hot shower and bed rest! Northwest Voyageurs Mountain Camp (All meals included).

Days 9 – 11: (Those not participating on safari will have a free day in Moshi prior to catching an evening flight out of Kilimanjaro airport). After breakfast, we begin our wildlife safari. Our first 3 nights we plan to spend in Tarangire National Park at the Kikoti Tented Lodge. Tarangire is home to the the Tarangire River, a year round water source, meaning wildlife viewing is always great. We can view resident lion prides, cheetah, hyena, elephant, zebra, wildebeest, baboons, hippos, crocodiles, and a wide variety of hoofed mammals…not to mention hundreds of species of birds. And we’ll spend some time searching for the elusive leopard. Tarangire is also home to the remarkable Baobob tree, one of the oldest living organisms on Earth!

We will also have the chance during our safari to experience Masaai culture, with a visit to a traditional Masaai Boma where we will meet and interact with this famous warrior tribe. Kikoti Tented Lodge. B, L, D

Day 12: We will next travel the relatively short distance to Lake Manyara National Park where we will spend the next 2 nights at the Losirwa Tented Lodge. We'll game drive through the park and enjoy spectacular views overlooking the lake from Losirwa's main lodge and pool.

These parks are more than just great wildlife viewing destinations. It’s hard to explain if you haven’t been there…it invokes an overwhelming sense of the cycle of life and our very small place in it. Raw, unbounded and unmitigated life surrounds us everywhere we go. Losirwa Tented Lodge. B, L, D

Day 13: Today we will head to the Ngorongoro Conservations Area for a full day game drive in the Ngorongoro Crater, home to an extraordinary concentration of big game animals. Huge resident herds of buffalo, zebra, and Thompson gazelle mix with the Big 5 (buffalo, lion, rhino, elephant and leopard). A permanent year-round water source attracts a variety of bird species and is home to hippos. The amount of wildlife is simply stunning and our crater game drive is the culmination of our safari in East Africa. Losirwa Tented Lodge. B, L, D

Days 14 – 15: After breakfast, we will enjoy a cultural walk through Mto wa Mbu, a unique artisan town that is home to many different peoples and cultures. Additionally, either today or maybe earlier in the safari, we will have the chance to experience Masaai culture, with a visit to a traditional Masaai Boma where we will meet and interact with this famous warrior tribe. After lunch, we will depart to the Kilimanjaro airport. We stop en route to do a little shopping, and then continue to the airport to meet our departing flights. Should you depart on this day, you will arrive back to the U.S. on Day 15. If you wish to extend your stay to Zanzibar or any other destination, we can arrange your extension and any accommodations needed in Arusha, Moshi or at the airport hotel. B, L, D.

Download Detailed Description & Itinerary Files

• UI EXPLORERS Kilimanjaro & Beyond 2011 Detailed Trip Itinerary.pdf
• UI EXPLORERS Kilimanjaro & Beyond 2011 Brochure & Registration Form.pdf