Kilimanjaro Machame Route: Private Climb and Safaris in Tanzania

We are met by our guide and taken to our lodge. We have some time to relax and prepare before setting off on the climb. In the afternoon, around 4 pm, our guide gives a detailed briefing and helps us pack our bags, which are limited to 15 kg per person. Overnight at the lodge and meals at your own expense.

We departed around 8 a.m. in a 4x4 vehicle for Machame Gate (1,800 meters). On the way, in clear weather, we could see Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro already looming ahead. We passed through Chaga fields before reaching Machame Gate, the starting point of our ascent. We set off on our first hike through the dense, impenetrable rainforest. The high-altitude rainforest then gave way to tall grasses and a mystical moorland of tree heaths. The climb was steady and not very steep , but the stage was quite long . We spent the night at Machame Camp, located at 3,000 meters, from where, in clear weather, Kibo, our objective, could be seen, as well as Shira, another sub-mass of Kilimanjaro, which, along with Mawenzi, comprises three sub-massives.

Wake up in your tent to a hot cup of tea or coffee and a lovely view of Mount Kibo before breakfast. A steep path through magnificent tree heathers with their lichen "beards" leads us to the high-altitude moorland where groundsel, lobelia, and immortelle flowers, so characteristic of the Kilimanjaro massif, grow. We arrive at the Shira Plateau , which slopes gently down before us. In the distance, to the west, the remnants of its ancient eponymous crater form basalt spires and cathedrals. Beyond them, Mount Meru looms. An afternoon of rest and/or a short walk around the camp to further acclimatize. Overnight at Shira Camp, located at 3,840 meters.

Little by little, we enter the alpine desert , but flora still clings to a few secluded spots. A steady climb leads to the Lava Tower pass and its impressive basalt towers, perched at 4,600 meters. We then descend towards Barranco through a small gap. This is one of the volcano's few valleys formed by a collapse. Ragworts, nourished by countless small waterfalls and relatively sheltered from the wind, grow abundantly and towering like totems here! We spend the night in Barranco , at a beautiful campsite on a promontory at 3,950 meters, at the foot of a massive cliff, offering a breathtaking view of the savanna.

We set off towards the Karanga Valley . Another crucial day for acclimatization . We climb the "wall" of the Barranco: impressive, but without major technical difficulties. We sometimes need to use our hands, but the guides are there to help us. A long traverse follows, consisting of ascents and descents on the southern slopes of the Kilimanjaro massif. To our left, the still imposing Kibo glaciers tower above us, while opposite us, the Mawenzi sub-massif unfolds against the African sky. We arrive at the Karanga camp for a hot lunch . The afternoon is yours to choose between relaxing or exploring the surrounding area of ​​the southern circuit with our guide.

A steady climb along the trail leads us to Kilimanjaro Base Camp. The temperature drops and the vegetation becomes even sparser. We continue in this way until we finally reach a ridge and Barafu Camp. To the east, the majestic Mawenzi comes into view, and above us, our objective: the Kibo crater. We arrive at Barafu Camp, located at 4,600 meters , where there is no water. It is brought to us by the porters, so we must use it sparingly . We arrive early, which allows us to have a hot lunch and time to rest . It's important to eat and drink well to build up our strength. In the evening, we go to bed early to be in the best possible shape for the next day.

Wake-up call at 11 p.m. for a "breakfast" before setting off around midnight. A steep climb by headlamp, winding its way up to the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers, between which we pass, emerging at dawn on the crater rim, Stella Point, at 5,700 meters. Another hour along the gentle ridge of the volcano brings us to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters , the summit of Kilimanjaro!

We returned to Barafu in 3 hours, where our tent and sleeping bags awaited us for a short, restorative sleep. We continued and finished this beautiful and long day of hiking with a 1,500-meter descent (in 4 hours) to Mweka Camp at 3,100 meters. Distance for the ascent: 6 km. Descent back to Mweka Camp: approximately 25 km. Note: If flight schedules and the group's progress allow, we may stop at Millennium Camp (3,800 meters) instead of Mweka. This is to better balance the stages. In any case, this decision rests with the guide.

A steady descent on the Mweka trail. Behind us, a landscape reminiscent of the maquis shrubland. We quickly enter the rainforest and continue until we reach the park exit. After lunch, we receive our climbing certificates before saying goodbye to our team. A four-wheel-drive vehicle takes us through coffee and banana plantations towards Moshi. We are dropped off at our lodge to relax before dinner (at your leisure).

After a briefing, we set off for Tarangire National Park ! This is our first introduction to safaris and wildlife observation in Tarangire Park, which covers nearly 2,600 square kilometers. Still somewhat off the beaten track, this park is renowned for its high concentration of elephants, its savanna landscapes, and its baobab trees. At the end of the day, we arrive at our camp on the edge of the park.

Early in the morning, we set off for the legendary Serengeti , the oldest and most popular of Tanzania's national parks . Along the way, we climb the winding roads that lead to the top of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area's crater, home to numerous animals such as elephants, wildebeest, eland, gazelles, and many birds. We also pass through Maasai villages. Our route then takes us to Olduvai Gorge, which we visit. This place is one of the cradles of humanity: this region is one of the oldest inhabited areas in the world . We then arrive in the vast grassy savannah plains of the Serengeti: a magical place populated by, among others, lions, leopards, cheetahs, hyenas, ostriches, birds of prey, and scavengers... We camp in the heart of the park where we spend two nights.

A day of safari in the 15,000 km² of protected wilderness in the Serengeti, home to diverse ecosystems and an impressive array of wildlife, including some 4 million mammals ! The Serengeti, whose name means "endless plains," is also famous for the Great Migration of wildebeest, the celebrated annual migration during which six million hooves traverse its plains from south to north! We'll travel at our own pace, observing wildlife, and enjoy lunch in the heart of the savanna. Return to camp at the end of the day.

We cross the southern part of the Serengeti and reach the famous Ngorongoro Crater : a natural wonder and a veritable Noah's Ark. This time, we explore the crater itself, which boasts the highest concentration of lions and predators in all of Africa! A true wildlife sanctuary, where the rhinoceros has been reintroduced. Safari time here is limited to six hours. This crater, over twenty kilometers in diameter, the diamond of Tanzania, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. Ngorongoro is the largest intact, unsubmerged caldera in the world, covering 326 square kilometers! Once we exit the caldera in the evening, we reach the top of the rim, overlooking the crater. We head towards Karatu, at the foot of the ancient volcano, in preparation for our final safari the following day in Tarangire National Park.

A morning of safari and wildlife observation in Manyara National Park. It owes its name to a variety of euphorbia found here. Upon entering the park, we experienced our first safari through areas of rainforest, grasslands, and marshes. We observed monkeys such as baboons and grivet monkeys. Their concentration is one of the highest in the world in this park. Giraffes, elephants, and hippos were also present. We might even be lucky enough to see the famous tree-hanging lions that have become the legend of the place! One thing is certain: the birdlife is very well represented , including white pelicans, flamingos, bee-eaters, and rollers. And let's not forget the flora , notably the presence of baobab trees.

✈️ We are finally heading to the airport to catch our international flight home.

✈️ Arrival in France in the morning. If your return flight is during the day, a supplement will be charged for the hotel night and transfers.