Compare Tanzania: Safari & Service by Discover Corps vs Summit Kilimanjaro by MT Sobek (Mountain Travel Sobek)

What You'll Do

Over the course of 10-days, our time will be split between the relaxed village life of Moshi and the Big-5 game parks that Tanzania is known for. Our primary project in the community will be located at a local village school. Take time to teach English and basic math to the young minds of the village. Volunteer alongside teachers to develop instructional aids and engage with the students through games, music and activities. When not in the classroom, help to improve the school’s infrastructure by planting gardens and refurbishing classrooms.

What You'll See

We’ll balance our time lending a hand in the school with exciting cultural activities around the village and a 3-day excursion to three of the best safaris in East Africa. Take a nature walk to a stunning waterfall along the base of Mount Kilimanjaro, the tallest mountain in Africa. Learn to make traditional batik art and visit a coffee cooperative that supports local women. Take the jeep ride of a lifetime in three of the world’s most famous safari parks: Ngorongoro Crater, Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Park. See a pantheon of wildlife in their natural habitat, including zebras, lions, leopards, elephants, wildebeest, and rhinos.

Day 1: Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport – Arusha National Park

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Deluxe Camp — Itikoni Camp

Your trip leader (or a Mountain Travel Sobek representative) will meet you outside the customs and immigration area at the airport. Transfer 1½ hours to Arusha National Park, and then another 30 minutes through the park to our deluxe camp situated at the base of Mount Meru, a 14,900-foot volcano. Along the way we’ll spotlight for nocturnal wildlife. The camp is at an elevation of about 6,000 feet, which aids in acclimatization for the Kilimanjaro climb and is a major advantage over staying at an Arusha hotel. Hot showers, cold drinks, and a buffet dinner await us!

Day 2: Mount Meru

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Deluxe Camp — Itikoni Camp

Today we’ll have a chance to recuperate from the long flight, check our equipment, and have a thorough trip briefing on what to expect on the climb. There will also be time to hike along the forested slopes of Mount Meru, which has a history similar to that of Mount St. Helens in Washington, in that half the mountain was blown away by a violent volcanic explosion. Meru’s eruption occurred some 250,000 years ago, though, and great forests of African cedar and podocarpus have since grown up to cover its crater and slopes. On our hike, we have the chance to see colobus monkeys, bushbuck and duiker, buffalo, giraffe, and perhaps elephant or even the elusive leopard. The forest bird life is excellent and includes touracos, hornbills, and parrots. Weather permitting, we can enjoy the sunset from a small hill beside camp and watch the alpenglow descend on the slopes of Kilimanjaro.

Day 3: Begin trek on Kilimanjaro

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

In the morning, we'll drive 2½ hours to the starting point of the Machame Route, four miles past the village of Machame on the southeast side of Kilimanjaro (the trailhead varies from season to season with weather conditions). We begin hiking at about 6,400 feet and follow a winding trail up through montane cloud forest and into stands of giant heather, to camp near the Machame Hut at 10,000'. The forest can be wet at any time of the year, so we can expect a real tropical experience as we climb over roots and through giant fern forests with tangled vines and creepers. We'll stop for a buffet lunch en route to our first camp. (6-7 hours hiking, 8 miles)

Day 4: Shira Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

Today we climb up to our destination above the Shira Plateau at 12,650'. A steep trail leads out of the giant heather and onto a ridge that commands wide vistas of both the Shira Plateau and the plains to the west. From our camp we are treated to our first breathtaking views of the Western Breach of Kibo. (5 hours hiking, 3 miles)

Day 5: Barranco Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

Trekking east toward the Kibo Massif, we follow a ridge and climb toward the large rock outcrop of Lava Tower (15,100') before veering off and down toward camp. Our destination is the base of the Great Barranco, a steep canyon emerging from Kilimanjaro’s Great Breach Wall, which is filled with hundreds of outlandish giant senecio and lobelia plants. The afro-alpine scenery here is fantastic and the views of the Breach Wall and Kili’s southern glaciers are better than from any other point on the mountain. (The Barranco Valley and its stunning views were a main focus of the Kilimanjaro IMAX© film.) Our camp is at 13,000'. (6 hours hiking, 6 miles)

Day 6: Arrow Glacier Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

Today we leave the normal Machame Route and begin the climb toward the Western Breach ascent route. Rather than traversing farther around the southern slopes of the mountain we ascend up and slightly westward, climbing easy terrain through scree and rocky ridges. The ascent is about 2,300 feet and gives us stunning views of the Western Breach wall and the Breach Icicle. As we near Arrow Glacier and our campsite, the views open toward the west and the entire Shira Plateau lies below us. Camp is near the glacier at about 15,300'. (6 hours hiking, 3 miles)

Day 7: Arrow Glacier Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

Today will be spent mostly resting and rebuilding our strength for the rest of the climb, but there will also be an acclimatization hike along a portion of the next day's ascent route. This will not only get us to a higher elevation for better acclimatization but also give us a chance to familiarize ourselves with the beginning of the longest and most arduous hiking day of the entire climb.

Day 8: Crater Camp

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

All the preparation, acclimatization, and hiking we’ve done to prepare for the Kilimanjaro climb will be put to the test today as we ascend the Great Western Breach, an imposing, steep wall of rock leading to the edge of Kibo’s crater. Shortly after reaching the top of the breach wall, we'll arrive at our camp within the crater at an altitude of 18,300'. The high altitude of Crater Camp makes it a physically demanding experience, but the reward is a radical scene of towering glaciers rising from the harsh rock landscape. (6-8 hours hiking, 2½ miles)

Day 9: Summit Day!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: MTS Camp — Kilimanjaro

Rise with the sun for our 1,000-foot summit bid (we should be at the summit by 9:00 a.m.). The rewards of seeing the summit crater glaciers and surreal views of the African plains nearly three miles below you are well worth the effort. After a short stop for summit photos and mutual congratulations, we descend on the Mweka Route past Barafu, a direct descent of the mountain. After lunch and a short rest at Barafu, we continue to our camp at Mweka (10,200') where a delicious dinner of fresh vegetables, bread, fish or chicken, and dessert await us. (8+ hours hiking; 8 miles)

Day 10: End trek

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Moivaro Lodge

We hike 5½ miles back through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate and transfer to the Moivaro Lodge. Dayrooms will be available for use until the early evening transfer to the airport for departure on homeward-bound flight, arriving home the following day.