13 Days Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route & Serengeti Safari

Your 13-day adventure begins at Londorossi Gate (2,250m) where you'll complete registration formalities. We then drive to the Lemosho starting point and begin our gentle trek through the lush, untouched rainforest of Kilimanjaro's western side.

The trail meanders through beautiful montane forest with opportunities to spot blue monkeys and various bird species. We'll ascend gradually to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650m), enjoying the peaceful surroundings and preparing for the days ahead. The Lemosho Route starts remote and beautiful, away from the crowds.

After breakfast, we continue our ascent, leaving the rainforest behind and entering the beautiful heather and moorland zone. The trail becomes more open with spectacular views of the Shira Plateau.

We'll trek through stunning volcanic landscape with unique vegetation including giant lobelias and groundsels. As we approach Shira 1 Camp (3,500m), we're rewarded with our first panoramic views of Kibo Peak. The gradual pace of the Lemosho Route allows for excellent acclimatization from the beginning.

Today we enjoy a relatively easy day as we traverse the Shira Plateau toward Shira 2 Camp. The gentle walk allows for excellent acclimatization while enjoying spectacular views in all directions.

We'll explore the Shira Plateau, one of Kilimanjaro's three volcanic cones, and learn about the mountain's geology. The plateau offers unique landscapes and photographic opportunities. We arrive at Shira 2 Camp (3,850m) with plenty of time to rest and acclimatize.

Today we practice the essential "climb high, sleep low" acclimatization technique. We ascend to Lava Tower (4,600m) for lunch, giving our bodies exposure to higher altitude, then descend to Barranco Camp (3,900m).

This strategic acclimatization day significantly increases your chances of summit success. The descent into the beautiful Barranco Valley offers spectacular views of the famous Barranco Wall, which we'll climb tomorrow. The varied scenery makes this one of the most rewarding days on the mountain.

Today features the exciting scramble up the Barranco Wall - a non-technical but impressive rock face that offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. This is one of the most enjoyable sections of the climb.

After conquering the wall, we traverse through valleys and ridges to Karanga Camp (3,995m). The camp sits in a beautiful valley with excellent views of the southern glaciers. Today's shorter trek allows for additional rest and acclimatization before our summit push.

We continue our ascent to Barafu Camp (4,673m), which means "ice" in Swahili. The trail takes us through alpine desert with increasingly sparse vegetation as we approach the base of the summit cone.

Thanks to our optimal acclimatization on the 8-day Lemosho route, your body is now well-prepared for the high altitude. We'll arrive at Barafu Camp for lunch and spend the afternoon resting and preparing for the midnight summit attempt. We'll hydrate well, check our equipment, and get as much rest as possible before the challenging night ahead.

We begin our summit attempt around midnight, trekking by headlamp through the darkness. The climb to Stella Point (5,739m) is challenging, but witnessing the sunrise from this vantage point is an unforgettable experience.

From Stella Point, we continue along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) - the highest point in Africa. After celebrating our achievement and taking photos, we descend back to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp (3,100m) for the night. The optimal acclimatization of the 8-day route makes this challenging day much more manageable.

After a well-deserved breakfast, we begin our final descent through the lush rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640m). The trek down is much easier and faster than the ascent, giving us time to reflect on our incredible achievement.

At Mweka Gate, you'll receive your summit certificates - gold for those who reached Uhuru Peak and green for Stella Point. We'll then transfer you back to Arusha where you'll check into your lodge for a hot shower, celebration dinner, and a good night's rest before beginning your safari adventure the next day.

After breakfast, we depart Arusha for the world-famous Serengeti National Park. The journey takes us through the scenic landscapes of northern Tanzania, with a stop at the Ngorongoro Conservation Area viewpoint.

We enter Serengeti National Park and begin our game drive en route to our camp. The Serengeti is renowned for its vast plains, incredible wildlife density, and the Great Migration (seasonal). We'll have our first opportunities to spot lions, elephants, giraffes, and countless other species in their natural habitat.

Today we explore the central Serengeti region, known for its excellent year-round game viewing. We'll embark on morning and afternoon game drives, searching for the Big Five and other wildlife.

The central Seronera Valley is particularly rich in wildlife, with permanent water sources attracting animals throughout the year. We'll look for lions, leopards, cheetahs, and large herds of elephants and buffalo. The diverse habitats in this area support an incredible variety of species.

Today we focus on the northern Serengeti, particularly spectacular from July to October during the Great Migration. We'll search for the massive herds of wildebeest and zebra and potentially witness river crossings.

The Mara River in the northern Serengeti is the stage for one of nature's greatest spectacles - the river crossings where thousands of wildebeest and zebra brave crocodile-infested waters. Even outside migration season, this area offers excellent game viewing with resident wildlife.

Today we explore the Western Corridor of the Serengeti, following the Grumeti River. This area is particularly spectacular from May to July when the migration passes through.

The Grumeti River is home to massive crocodiles and hippos, and the surrounding woodlands support different wildlife species than the open plains. We may see colobus monkeys in the riverine forests and large herds of antelope on the plains. This diverse ecosystem offers unique wildlife viewing opportunities.

We enjoy one final morning game drive in the Serengeti, searching for any wildlife we may have missed and savoring our last moments in this incredible ecosystem. After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Arusha.

The drive back takes us through beautiful Tanzanian countryside with a picnic lunch en route. We'll arrive in Arusha in the late afternoon, where you can either be dropped at your hotel or transferred directly to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your departure flight, ending your incredible 13-day mountain and safari adventure.