This Tanzania safari will take you for the Mount Kilimanjaro hike as well as unwinding at the Zanzibar beaches. Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain in the world; it is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano and can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania.
Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro takes between five to nine days in order to reach the Summit and then descend to the finishing point. The more days spent on the mountain the more likely you will summit successfully because you will become more acclimated to the altitude.
There are seven main mount Kilimanjaro routes which lead to the summit, Uhuru Peak, one of which starts on the Northern side of the mountain and the rest on the Southern side. The routes are Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Shira, Rongai, Northern Circuit and Umbwe.
If you want the highest chance of summiting the best route to climb Kilimanjaro is the Lemosho route and Machame route over 7 or 8 days – excellent acclimatization and an easier summit night make these winners by a long way. And as reaching the top is the most important thing for most of the climbers.
This route has a beautiful approach through the forest on the first day through the Lemosho Glades from the west before joining the Machame trail at the Shira Plateau and contouring around the dramatic southern flank of the mountain via Barranco Camp, Karanga Camp and then on to Barafu camp for the summit push. The descent is via Millennium Camp and through Mweka Gate.
The Lemosho Route is a camping trip for an average group size of 4 using top quality mountain tents, comfortable mattresses, and qualified guides, porters who carry the bags and equipment, and cooks who provide fresh, tasty food every day. The ratio of guide: climber is 1:2. Our local guides have been with us for many years and are all trained, qualified, experienced and great fun.
The 8-day option has a particularly good summit success rate, the extra day makes a difference to how you feel and there are three nights sleeping at the same altitude. The 7-day option is about a 95% summit success rate and we don’t offer anything less because it is too dangerous to consider climbing Kilimanjaro in 6 days.
Lemosho was introduced by the park to handle increasing numbers of visitors and it is true to say that Lemosho has a slightly easier gradient through the forest and onto the Shira plateau.
However, the gate at Londorossi is further away than Machame Gate so on the first morning you have to drive for about three hours to register at the Londorossi Gate and then drive a little further on to the start of the trek.
This means normally beginning to trek after lunch, although the first hike to Big Tree Camp is quite short at just a few hours.
Refresh your brains with a Zanzibar trip. The Zanzibar archipelago is a tropical paradise perfect for relaxing before flying home. After just a short flight from Mount Kilimanjaro you could be celebrating your summit enjoying a cold drink looking out over Zanzibar’s stunning white sands.
There are three main islands, Zanzibar itself which is the largest, and two smaller islands Pemba to the north and Mafia to the South. If you want to just kick back the East Coast of Zanzibar is fabulous, work it out with some great boutique hotels that are just perfect.
If you have a little more time and want total tranquillity and some world class diving then there is nowhere better than Pemba. Virtually un-spoilt and with only two hotels on the island a real Robinson Crusoe experience.
Zanzibar is the ultimate Indian Ocean experience, with its fascinating historical stone town and magnificent beaches. Zanzibar’s Indian Ocean offers world class water sports including scuba diving, live aboard diving, snorkeling, deep sea fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, and water skiing and sailing on traditional local dhows.
The beaches in Zanzibar are a paradise, interspersed with picturesque fishing villages, where the people live a simple way of life, unchanged over the years. There are more than 25 fantastic beaches in Zanzibar, and some are so peaceful and remote that the only noise breaking the silence is likely to be the ocean.
At the northern tip of Zanzibar is Nungwi, approached by a road lined by banana palms, mangroves and coconut trees. This is the dhow building capital of Zanzibar Island, so it is a good place to see traditional craftsmen at work.
On the west coast of Zanzibar, Mangapwani beach is worth a visit, and to the east are the beaches of Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, Kiwengwa, Uroa, Bwejuu and Jambiani, all with stretches of beautiful and uncrowded sands.
Zanzibar also boasts several small offshore islands which are ideal for a day-trip. Prison Island is the most popular with tourists because it is only a short trip from Stone Town. Originally, it was used by Arabs to detain recalcitrant slaves, and then a jail was built by the British, but it was never actually used. Visitors to Zanzibar will notice a large population of ancient Aldabra tortoises. Other islets near to Stone Town are Chapwani, Chumbe and Bawe.
Take a tour through the fabled Stone Town, where history appears to stand still. With visits to the House of Wonders, the Palace Museum (People’s Palace), Dr Livingstone’s House and the Arab Fort amongst others, it is a fascinating look at the essence of Zanzibar.
You will see Zanzibar’s bustling market, winding alleyways, ornately carved and studded doors, two cathedrals and countless mosques! A trip to the site of Sultan Barghash’s harem at Marahubi should also be included and rounds off an insight into Zanzibar’s huge history and vibrant culture.
The tour would be incomplete without the cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper and many other spices which brought the Sultans of Oman and the beginnings of the infamous slave trade. They can be seen in the plantations just outside Zanzibar town, and a good tour includes opportunities to dazzle the senses with fresh spices.
A detailed description is given about a variety of spices, and their uses in cooking and cosmetics. Visitors will be fascinated by the sheer number of spices produced and their incredible value for many ailments. This is also the cheapest place to purchase spices and spice oils.
