5 Day Kilimanjaro Hike & Wildlife Safari - From Zanzibar

Home » Tours and Safaris » 5 Day Kilimanjaro Hike & Wildlife Safari – From Zanzibar

Duration

5 Days / 4 Nights

Difficult Level

Medium

Minimum Age

6 Years

Best time

All year round

Tour Overview

Experience the breathtaking diversity of Northern Tanzania in just five action-packed days on this unique adventure combo. This journey begins with a thrilling taste of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, followed by an immersion into rich local Chagga culture. The adventure then shifts gears entirely as you plunge into the world-famous wildlife arenas of the Serengeti plains and the Ngorongoro Crater. Designed for travelers with limited time who crave a broad range of experiences—from mountain air and waterfall swims to classic Big Five game drives—this tour offers an incredible sampler of Tanzania’s greatest highlights.

Itinerary details

Day 1

Mount Kilimanjaro

Your adventure begins with a scenic flight from Zanzibar to Arusha, followed by a transfer to the lush foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. You’ll start your trek at the iconic Marangu Gate, ascending gently through a vibrant rainforest alive with the calls of exotic birds. The trail leads you to Mandara Hut at 2,700 meters, where you’ll enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by the mountain’s serene beauty. For those seeking an even grander vista, an optional walk to the rim of Maundi Crater offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding plains and the mountain’s lower slopes.

After soaking in the high-altitude atmosphere, you’ll begin your descent back through the forest to the park gate. From there, a comfortable drive takes you to your accommodation in Arusha, where you can relax and reflect on your day on the mountain. You’ll spend the night at the Kibo Palace Hotel, a comfortable mid-range hotel, with all meals included to replenish your energy.

Kibo Palace Hotel

Day 2

Tarangire

After breakfast in Arusha, you depart for Tarangire National Park, known for its vast elephant herds and iconic baobab trees. The drive offers changing landscapes as you move from urban surroundings into classic savannah terrain. Upon entering the park, you begin a game drive along the Tarangire River, a vital water source that attracts wildlife year-round.

During your safari, expect to see elephants, giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and a wide variety of antelope species. Predators such as lions and leopards are often spotted resting in the shade. After enjoying a picnic lunch inside the park, you continue game viewing before exiting in the late afternoon. You then drive back to Arusha, where you can unwind after a full and rewarding safari day.

Day 3

Serengeti

Prepare for a dramatic change of scenery as you depart early, journeying across the fertile highlands and ascending onto the rim of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The drive itself is a spectacle, offering breathtaking views before descending onto the vast, golden sea of grass that is the Serengeti National Park. Wildlife becomes increasingly abundant as you penetrate deeper into the park’s heart, with impala, giraffe, and zebra often visible from the road.

After settling in and enjoying lunch, you’ll embark on your first proper Serengeti game drive in the cooler afternoon hours. This is your introduction to the park’s incredible biodiversity, where you might spot elephants at a waterhole, towering giraffes browsing on acacia trees, or a pride of lions resting in the shade. As the sun sets, you’ll arrive at your camp, where dinner is served under a canopy of stars and the sounds of the African night provide the ultimate safari soundtrack.

Day 4

Serengeti

Wake before dawn for a magical sunrise game drive, when the savannah is bathed in soft golden light and predators are often at their most active. This is a prime time to witness the drama of the hunt or to see nocturnal animals retreating to their dens. After returning to camp for a hearty breakfast, you’ll have another opportunity to explore the Central Serengeti’s diverse landscapes and wildlife before beginning your scenic journey eastward.

You’ll drive back across the plains, climbing once more into the highlands toward the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. A highlight of the drive is the stop at a viewpoint on the crater’s rim, where you’ll get your first awe-inspiring look into the vast, world-famous caldera. You’ll spend your final night in the wilderness at a budget camping site near the crater, filled with anticipation for the grand finale awaiting you the next morning.

Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater

Your adventure culminates with an early descent down the steep, forested walls into the Ngorongoro Crater, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most concentrated wildlife areas on Earth. This enclosed ecosystem, often called “Africa’s Garden of Eden,” is home to nearly all of the continent’s iconic species. Your game drive is a quest for the Big Five, with an excellent chance of spotting the rare black rhino, large prides of lion, herds of elephant and buffalo, and hippos wallowing in the soda lake.

You’ll explore the crater’s varied habitats—from open grasslands and acacia woodlands to dense fever tree forests—enjoying a picnic lunch by the hippo pool. After an unforgettable morning surrounded by this natural wonder, you’ll ascend the crater rim in the early afternoon. From here, you’ll be transferred directly to Arusha or Kilimanjaro International Airport for your return flight to Zanzibar, bringing an incredible five-day journey to a memorable close.

Enquire this tour

Fill in your details below and submit the form. We will get back to you as oon as possible.

Need Help? Contact a Safari Specialist

Emmanuel, Travel Consultant

Price includes

All meals and accommodations during the entire safari
A very high quality safari land cruiser with pop-up roof
A professional English speaking safari guide
Unlimited mineral water during the entire safari
Kilimanjaro tea/coffee during game drive
All park fees for all the national parks
Unlimited game drives
All transfers
Flight from Arusha to Zanzibar
Zanzibar activities as in the itinerary
Mto wa mbu cultural walk
Flying doctors rescue cover

Price excludes

Visas
International flights
Lodge and Guides Tips
Drinks at the lodges
All personal related

5 Day Kilimanjaro Hike & Wildlife Safari - From Zanzibar

Tour Overview

Itinerary details

Day 1

Mount Kilimanjaro

Day 2

Tarangire

Day 3

Serengeti

Day 4

Serengeti

Day 5

Ngorongoro Crater

Price includes

Price excludes

You may also like