★★★★★
"Going straight from summit exhaustion into lion sightings four days later sounds strange on paper. In practice it was the best possible way to end the trip — completely different kind of tired."
LAUREN M. — UNITED STATES · SEPTEMBER TRIP
Why combine the two
Most climbers who come this far want both
"You've already flown to Tanzania for one bucket-list moment. Ngorongoro Crater is a few
hours' drive from the mountain — most people regret not adding it, not the other way around."
Kilimanjaro and the Northern Safari Circuit sit close enough together that combining them barely adds travel time — most of what this itinerary adds is the safari itself. Climbers descend from summit night, get one full day in Moshi to shower, sleep in a real bed, and repack, then transfer roughly three hours to Arusha to begin the safari portion the following morning.
We use the 7-day Lemosho Route as the standard climb for this combo: it keeps the overall trip at a manageable 11 days while still delivering an 85%+ summit success rate, thanks to the Lava Tower acclimatization loop. Climbers who'd rather use the 8-day Lemosho or Northern Circuit routes for a higher success rate can extend this itinerary by one or more days — see the FAQ below.
01
One operator, no gaps
The same crew network coordinates your climb, rest day, transfer, and safari — no independent booking or airport layovers to manage yourself.
02
A genuine rest day built in
Day 8 is deliberately unscheduled — recovery time before three full days of early-morning game drives.
03
Three distinct ecosystems
Baobab woodland, crater grassland, and lake-edge forest — a different landscape each safari day, not repeats of the same terrain.
Ngorongoro
Crater
Uhuru Peak
Tarangire ·
BaobabsDay by day
Trace the full trip
Eleven days, from the rainforest gate to the crater floor. The watch in the corner tracks your place on the mountain during the climb days — and your booking details are right here whenever you're ready.
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Day 1 · Rainforest zone2,100 m → 2,650 m · 3–4 hrs, 6 km
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
After registration at Londorossi Gate, a short drive reaches the Lemosho trailhead at Mti Mkubwa ("Big Tree"). The first walk climbs gently through dense montane rainforest — watch for black-and-white colobus monkeys and turaco birds in the canopy.
08:00Pickup from Moshi hotelMeet your guide and crew, then a 3.5-hour drive to Londorossi Gate for registration and park fee processing.
16:30Arrive Mti Mkubwa CampCamp already set by the crew. Dinner and a briefing on tomorrow's longer moorland day.
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Day 2 · Moorland & Shira Plateau2,650 m → 3,850 m · 6–7 hrs, 12 km
Mti Mkubwa to Shira 2 Camp
The longest day of the climb portion. The trail exits rainforest into heath and moorland, then keeps climbing across the vast Shira Plateau — a collapsed volcanic caldera 500,000 years old.
07:00Depart after breakfastSteady climb through heath vegetation with occasional scrambling sections.
17:00Arrive Shira 2 CampKibo's summit visible on clear evenings. A longer day, but well within reach at a steady pace.
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Day 3 · Key acclimatization day3,850 m → 4,630 m → 3,960 m · 6–7 hrs, 10 km
Shira 2 to Barranco via Lava Tower
The textbook "climb high, sleep low" day. The trail rises to Lava Tower at 4,630 m — higher than the final Barafu camp — for lunch, then descends 670 m into the lush Barranco Valley.
07:30Climb toward Lava TowerSteady, rocky ascent into alpine desert. Thinning air becomes noticeable — pace deliberately slows.
16:00Descend into Barranco CampDramatic descent past giant senecio plants, camping beneath the imposing Barranco Wall.
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Day 4 · Southern circuit3,960 m → 4,035 m · 4 hrs, 5 km
Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp
The famous Barranco Wall — a 257-metre scramble that looks intimidating from camp but is a straightforward hands-on-rock climb. The rest of the day undulates across the Southern Circuit toward Karanga.
07:00Scramble the Barranco WallA 1–2 hour scramble with hands-on-rock sections; guides assist at exposed points.
13:30Arrive Karanga CampShort day, deliberately, ahead of tomorrow's push to Barafu.
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Day 5 · Staging day4,035 m → 4,673 m · 3–4 hrs, 4 km
Karanga to Barafu Base Camp
A short, deliberately easy day to Barafu ("Ice") Camp, the final base before the summit push. The afternoon is for rest, gear checks, an early dinner, and sleep before an 11pm–midnight wake-up.
08:30Short trek to BarafuBarren, rocky alpine desert. First direct views of the summit route ahead.
14:00Rest, briefing, gear checkGuide reviews summit-night layering, headlamp checks, and timing. Early dinner around 17:00.
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Day 6 · Summit day4,673 m → 5,895 m → 3,100 m · ~15 hrs total
Barafu to Uhuru Peak, descend to Mweka
The day the whole climb has been building toward. A midnight departure under headlamp climbs steep scree switchbacks to Stella Point on the crater rim, then glacier-lined trail to Uhuru Peak for sunrise — Africa's highest point.
23:30Wake-up, tea, departureFull layering system on. Slow, deliberate "pole pole" pace set by the guide.
06:00Stella Point, then Uhuru PeakStella Point (5,756 m) meets the crater rim; a further hour along the glacier edge reaches Uhuru Peak for sunrise.
10:00Descend to Barafu, on to MwekaFast scree descent to Barafu for a rest, then down through changing vegetation to Mweka Camp.
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Day 7 · Descent complete3,100 m → 1,640 m · 3 hrs, 10 km
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, transfer to Moshi
A final, easy descent through rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you'll receive your summit certificate. A short transfer returns you to your Moshi hotel by early afternoon — the climb is complete.
11:30Summit certificate presentationGold certificates for Uhuru Peak; green for Stella or Gillman's Point.
13:00Transfer to Moshi hotelHot shower, real bed, and a proper meal — the climb portion ends here.
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Day 8 · Rest day, transfer to ArushaMoshi → Arusha · ~1.5 hr drive
Rest day in Moshi, transfer to Arusha
A deliberately unscheduled day. Sleep in, do laundry, and let your legs recover before the safari begins. A mid-afternoon transfer takes you to Arusha, the launch point for the Northern Circuit safari, in time for dinner.
FreeRest morning in MoshiHotel breakfast, laundry service, optional short walk into town.
14:00Transfer to ArushaRoughly 1.5 hours by road, arriving in time to settle in before the safari begins.
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Day 9 · Safari day 1Full-day game drive
Tarangire National Park game drive
Tarangire is known for its ancient baobab trees and some of Tanzania's largest elephant herds, concentrated along the Tarangire River in the dry season. A full day of game driving with a picnic lunch inside the park.
07:00Depart Arusha for TarangireRoughly 2-hour drive, arriving for a morning game drive.
12:30Picnic lunch in the parkUnder baobab shade, with wildlife often visible from the picnic site.
17:30Transfer to lodge or campOvernight near the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, ahead of tomorrow's crater descent.
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Day 10 · Safari day 2Full-day crater floor game drive
Ngorongoro Crater floor game drive
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most reliable places in Africa to see all of the Big Five in a single day. The crater floor holds an unusually dense concentration of wildlife within its 600-metre-deep caldera walls.
06:30Descend to the crater floorEarly start for the best light and wildlife activity before other vehicles arrive.
12:00Picnic lunch by the hippo poolA shaded lunch stop with near-constant hippo activity in the water below.
16:00Ascend and transfer to lodgeOvernight on the crater rim or nearby, with views back down into the caldera.
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Day 11 · Safari day 3, departureGame drive, then transfer and departure
Lake Manyara National Park, transfer and departure
A final morning game drive through Lake Manyara's groundwater forest and open lake shore, known for tree-climbing lions and large flamingo flocks when water levels are right. A transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport follows for departure flights.
07:00Morning game driveForest and lake-edge terrain, distinct from the previous two days' open plains.
12:00Transfer to the airportRoughly 2.5 hours to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), timed for evening departure flights.
Combo tiers
Choose your trip package
Identical itinerary across all three — the difference is camping/lodge quality, vehicle privacy, and crew ratio for both halves of the trip.
Package
Standard$4,700
Comfort$6,100
Private Premium$8,400
Climb tents
3-season dome, shared
Larger tent + private toilet tent
Premium, individual option
Safari lodging
Tented camps, en-suite
Mid-range lodges
Luxury lodges, crater rim view
Safari vehicle
Shared 4x4, max 6 guests
Shared 4x4, max 4 guests
Private 4x4, your group only
Guide ratio (climb)
1 guide : 2 climbers
1 guide : 2 climbers
1:1 available on request
What's covered
Inclusions and exclusions
Included, all packages
- Kilimanjaro National Park entry and camping fees
- Mandatory rescue fees, all climbers
- Certified, English-speaking mountain guide and safari guide
- Full porter and cook crew, KPAP fair-wage standard
- Climb accommodation — 6 nights camping
- Safari accommodation — 3 nights, tier-dependent
- Full board meals throughout, Day 1 to Day 11
- All park entry fees for Tarangire, Ngorongoro, and Lake Manyara
- 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Airport transfers, Moshi / Kilimanjaro (JRO)
- Summit certificate
Not included
- International flights to JRO / ARK
- Tanzania tourist visa, approx. $50 online
- Travel and medical evacuation insurance
- Personal climbing and safari gear
- Crew tips, approx. $350–480 total, pooled
- Extra hotel nights, Moshi or Arusha
- Personal medications, altitude prophylaxis
- Alcoholic and bottled soft drinks
When to go
Best months, by conditions
| Months | Climb conditions | Safari conditions | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan – Mar | Dry, cold summit | Calving season, Ndutu plains | Excellent |
| Apr – May | Long rains, avoid | Lush, fewer crowds | Avoid climb |
| Jun | Drying out | Migration moving north | Good |
| Jul – Oct | Dry, peak season | Excellent year-round game viewing | Excellent |
| Nov | Short rains | Green season, quiet | Fair |
| Dec | Drying out | Migration returning south | Good |
In their words
What our travelers say
★★★★★
"Ngorongoro Crater alone would have been worth the trip. We saw lion, elephant, rhino, buffalo, and leopard all in one morning — genuinely the best wildlife day of our lives."
DAVID & PRIYA K. — SINGAPORE · JULY TRIP
★★★★★
"The one rest day mattered more than I expected. By the time we reached Tarangire I actually felt human again, not just surviving the second half of the trip."
TOM B. — UNITED KINGDOM · FEBRUARY TRIP
Expert answers
Frequently asked questions
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Yes, and it's one of the most popular ways to see Tanzania in a single trip. This 11-day itinerary pairs a 7-day Lemosho Route summit climb with a rest day in Moshi, then a 3-day Northern Circuit safari through Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara, all coordinated by the same operator with no independent travel planning required.
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This itinerary includes one full rest day in Moshi immediately after the descent, before transferring to Arusha for the safari. Most climbers find a single rest day sufficient to recover from summit night, shower, do laundry, and repack, though additional rest days can be added on request.
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The 7-day Lemosho Route is our standard pairing for this combo, since it keeps the total trip length reasonable at 11 days while still delivering an 85%+ summit success rate. Climbers who want the 8-day Lemosho or Northern Circuit routes instead can extend this combo by one or more days.
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Pricing starts at $4,700 per person for the Standard combo package and rises to $8,400 per person for a Private Premium package with dedicated crew, a private safari vehicle, and upgraded lodges. All packages include park fees, camping and lodge accommodation, and full board throughout.
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The safari portion covers Tarangire National Park, known for its baobab trees and elephant herds, Ngorongoro Crater, a Big Five destination and UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Lake Manyara National Park, known for tree-climbing lions and flamingos. Serengeti extensions are available for travelers with additional time.
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Your guide checks blood oxygen twice daily with a pulse oximeter and is trained to spot early symptoms of acute mountain sickness. Mild symptoms are managed with rest, hydration, and pace adjustment; if symptoms escalate, guides descend the climber immediately, regardless of proximity to the summit — a mandatory protocol, not a judgment call. The safari portion of the trip proceeds as planned regardless of summit outcome.
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