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Itinerary for Machame-Western Breach
Day 1 - 2: Depart from your homeport and travel to Arusha, Tanzania
Air Travel: All itineraries include travel days. Plan to fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) in Arusha, Tanzania on the pre-scheduled arrival and departure dates and times, unless you are planning additional travel within Africa. Mountain Madness representatives will then transfer you directly to your hotel or Private Camp. KLM/Northwest departs daily to Kilimanjaro International Airport via Amsterdam and the United States. Alternatively, travel to Nairobi, Kenya where you can either tranfer by shuttle bus to Arusha or you can fly from Nairobi to Arusha on Precision Air or other carriers. We work with three different travel ageants that can assit you with this. We would advise you to shop around, but you can start here:
• Pirjo at CTT Destinations: 1-800-909-6647
• Klaus at Consolidators Webfares: 1-678-462-8737
Day 2: Private Camp, Arusha National Park- 6,500ft/ Mountain Madness service begins in the evening with airport pick-up
Mountain Madness Land Cruisers transport you from Kilimanjaro International Airport to a Private Tented Camp nestled in beautufil Arusha National Park. This region is incredibly scenic with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru dominating a panorama of grasslands and high tropical landscapes. You will enjoy an evening of relaxation while you begin your journey to the top of Africa.
Day 3: Arusha National Park, Private Camp Altitude- 6,500ft
Today is spent relaxing and recovering from your travels. You will have an opportunity to familiarize yourself with the guides and fellow members of your group. Today your guide will have a trip briefing and review your equipment. There may be time for a walk or game drive, which will be taken out into the grasslands for views of African game and Mount Kilimanjaro, as giraffe, buffalo and antelope are usually seen in the area.
Day 4: Machame Camp- 9,000ft
Drive from the private camp to the Machame Park Gate, we begin our climb by hiking about 7 hours through the Montane Forest to camp on the forest edge.
Day 5: Above East Shira Palteau-11,800ft
Another five hours of hiking takes us above the old Shira Hut to our camp in Kilimanjaro's Upper Heath Zone.
Day 6: Lava Tower-14,300ft
Today we will hike approximately 4 hours to camp just under Lava Tower, a 300 foot high volcanic lava plug that juts out of the side of the mountain. This will be our first introduction to the alpine zone, with the only plant life being the hardiest of grasses and lichens. We will have a spectacular view of our final ascent route up the Western Breach.
Day 7: Arrow Glacier- 16,000ft
With the Western Breach ascent route in full view we will spend 2 hours climbing to the base of the route where we will camp near Arrow Glacier. An afternoon hike further up the route before relaxing in camp will help our acclimatization and improve our performance the following day.
Day 8: Arrow Glacier to Summit, Descent to Mweka Camp - (10,500') 9-12 hours
Leaving at midnight we will wind our way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route, about six hours to the crater rim. Moving around the massive Furtwrangler Glacier as the skies lighten we will see the shape of Mt. Meru to the west. Having crossed the crater plateau we begin the final 800 ft climb to the summit (19,340ft) hopefully arriving shortly after dawn. Having enjoyed the view we begin the long descent to Barafu Hut and down to Mweka Camp for the night.
Day 9: Arusha - Leave Africa or continue on with Tarangire Safari
It takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours to make the 4,500 foot descent to the gate and pick-up. Here we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. We will return to Kia lodge for a shower, dinner and then will transfer to the airport for flights home.
Day 10: Home
Tarangire National Park Itinerary
Tarangire lies to the south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasailand and is the best-kept secret on the northern safari circuit. It offers wonderful panoramas of wide savannah grasslands dotted with open acacia woodland studded with large Baobab trees. The density of game is second only to the crowded Ngorongoro Crater. This is a year-round park with distinct seasons offering different experiences, from dusty, dry and baking with animals clustered around the rapidly reducing river, to the fecund green season full of new-born animals and chattering birds. The only months to avoid are during the heavy rainfalls of April and May. Tarangire is a dry season refuge for many migratory animals (elephants, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, eland and buffalo), that spend many months of the year outside the park on traditional grazing corridors linking Tarangire with other protected areas.
The safari portion of the trip will allow us to experience the beautiful landscape and wildlife of Tanzania with our highly knowledgeable Tanzanian guides. Our driver guides’ expertise on safari will make your journey not only enjoyable, but educational as well. We travel in Land Cruisers equipped with many windows to ensure that everyone has a great view of the spectacular landscape and animals of Africa. We stay in private deluxe camps and enjoy exquisite food throughout the journey. The Tarangire National Park area always proves to be a wonderful location for viewing rhinoceros, zebra, elephants, lions, and wildebeests. Mountain Madness is proud to offer wildlife viewing in Serengeti throughout the entire year.
Day 10: Tarangire National Park
After breakfast, leave Arusha for Tarangire. Afternoon game drive, overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 11: Tarangire National Park
Game drive in the park. Overnight Taranigire Safari Lodge.
Day 12: Tarangire National Park – Depart for home
Game drive in the morning, make your way back to Arusha. Day room, dinner, transfer to airport for flight home.
Day 13: Arrive Home
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