12 DAYS TANZANIA WILDLIFE SAFARI TO LAKE MANYA/SERENGETI/NGORONGORO/MOUNT KILIMANJARO CLIMB MACHAME ROUTE

Day 1. Lake Manyara.
Depart Arusha to Lake Manyara national park to arrive in time for lunch. After lunch depart for an afternoon game drive and game viewing. The park is famous for its tree-climbing lions and birdlife. Inland of the floodplain, a narrow belt of acacia woodland is the favoured haunt of Manyaras? legendary tree- climbing lions and impressively tusked elephants squadrons of banded mongoose dart between the acacias while the diminutive Kirk?s dik dik forages in then shade, pairs of klipspringer are often seen silhouetted on the rocks above a field of searing hot springs that streams and bubbles adjacent to the lake shore in the far south of the park. Dinner and overnight at a lodge.

Day 2. Ngorongoro Crater.
Morning game viewing and drive in Manyara. After breakfast depart to one of the natural wonders of the world, Ngorongoro crater. The Crater is one of the world's greatest natural spectacles; its magical setting and abundant wildlife never fail to enthral visitors. It borders the Serengeti National Park to the north and west. Arusha is known as the gateway to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Northern Parks. Dinner and overnight at a lodge.

Day 3. Ngorongoro crater.
After breakfast you will be taken 2000ft down the crater by a 4wheel drive vehicle for a full day crater tour, picnic lunch at crater, Also referred to as ?the eighth wonder of the world? and stretching across some 8,300 sq km, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area in northern Tanzania boasts a blend of landscapes, wildlife, people and archaeology that is unsurpassed in Africa. The volcanoes, grasslands, waterfalls and mountain forests are home to an abundance of animals and to the Maasai. In the evening ascend to the lodge for dinner and overnight.

Day 4. Serengeti.
After breakfast depart for Serengeti passing through Olduvai Gorge the site of Leakey?s family discovery of fossils of human and animal ancestors dating back to almost two million years. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth. The essential features of climate, vegetation and fauna have barely changed in the past million years. Early man himself made an appearance in Olduvai Gorge about two million years ago. Some patterns of life, death, adaptation and migration are as old as the hills themselves. Meals and overnight at lodge.

Day 5. Serengeti.
Full day in Serengeti plains with morning and afternoon game viewing and drive. Search for wild game you might have missed the previous game drive. It is the migration for which Serengeti is perhaps most famous. Over a million wildebeest and about 200,000 zebras flow south from the northern hills to the southern plains for the short rains every October and November, and then swirl west and north after the long rains in April, May and June. So strong is the ancient instinct to move that no drought, gorge or crocodile infested river can hold them back. Meals and overnight at lodge.

Day 6. Arusha-Mohi
After breakfast depart to Arusha town- Safari Destination; it is a starting point for safaris in the northern circuit arriving in time for lunch. After connect for transfer to Moshi arriving in the afternoon overnight Springlands hotel (B&B).

Day 7. Machame Gate to Machame Camp
The drive from Moshi to the Mount Kilimanjaro National Park Gate takes about 50 minutes. The journey passes through the village of Machame which is located on the lower slopes of the mountain. We now leave the park gate and walk through the rain forest 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 untilwe reach the Machame Camp.

Day 8. Machame Camp to Shira Camp
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the rain forest and continue on an ascending path, crossing the little valley walking along a steep rocky ridge, covered with heather, until the ridge ends. The route now turns west onto a river gorge. Time for rest, dinner, and overnight at the Shira campsite

Day 9. Shira Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the "Shark's Tooth." Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to theArrow Glacier at an altitude of 4876m / 15,997 ft. We now continue down to the Barranco Hut at an altitude of 3860m / 12,664 ft. 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.

Day 10- Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall, through the Karanga Valley (lunch at 4200m / 13,779 ft), and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. 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 are to be seen from this position.

Day 11. Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m / 18,652 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 they way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 12- Mweka Camp to Moshi
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park 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 plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to hotel in Moshi. Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration! overnight at Springland hotel.