Day 1: Kilimanjaro Hike via Mandara Hut – Marangu Route
Your Tanzania Safari Trip begins with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. After a scenic drive to Marangu Gate, the starting point of the Mandara Route, you’ll meet your mountain guide and porters, register, and prepare for the trek.
The hike takes you through Kilimanjaro’s lush rainforest zone, where you’ll walk beneath towering trees and listen to the sounds of tropical birds. Keep an eye out for blue monkeys and colobus monkeys swinging through the canopy.
After a picnic lunch on the trail, you’ll continue upward until you reach Mandara Hut (2,720m), the first overnight stop for longer expeditions. Here, you’ll take a short break and have the option of walking to Maundi Crater, which offers spectacular views across northern Tanzania and even into Kenya on a clear day.
You’ll then descend back to the Marangu Gate, completing your trek after 6–8 hours of hiking. Once at the base, your driver will transfer you to your accommodation near Mkomazi National Park, where you’ll enjoy a hot dinner and rest after a day of trekking.
Accommodation: Nguchiro Palace Lodge
Day 2: Safari in Mkomazi National Park
After breakfast, set off for an exciting full-day safari in Mkomazi National Park, a hidden gem in northern Tanzania. Unlike the busier parks, Mkomazi offers a more private and authentic safari experience.
The park is home to elephants, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, elands, antelopes, and predators like lions, leopards, and cheetahs. Mkomazi is especially renowned for its rhino sanctuary, where you can see the critically endangered black rhino in a safe and protected environment.
Your game drive will take you across rolling savannahs and rugged hills, with Mount Kilimanjaro and the Usambara Mountains forming a stunning backdrop. Rare species such as the gerenuk (long-necked antelope) and wild dogs may also be spotted here.
Enjoy a picnic lunch inside the park, followed by an afternoon game drive before starting your return journey to Arusha or Moshi, arriving in the early evening. This marks the end of your thrilling two-day adventure, a perfect combination of mountain trekking and safari exploration.
