19 Days Tanzania Multi-Peak Mountaineering Expedition & Wildlife Safari: Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Ol Doinyo Lengai & Northern Circuit
Conquer three iconic volcanic summits and journey across East Africa’s most dramatic landscapes on this 19-day Tanzania Triple-Peak Expedition and Big Five Safari.
This comprehensive alpine and wilderness itinerary takes you to Ol Doinyo Lengai (the sacred Maasai “Mountain of God” and the world’s only active natrocarbonatite volcano), uses Mount Meru (4,566m) for essential high-altitude acclimatization, and culminates in a summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895m) on Mount Kilimanjaro via the scenic Machame Route.
Between summits, rest your legs on private 4×4 game drives through the soda shores of Lake Natron, the predator haven of the Ngorongoro Crater, and the tree-climbing lion habitats of Lake Manyara National Park.
19-Day 19 Days Kilimanjaro Mount Meru Ol Doinyo Lengai & Wildlife Highlights
- Duration: 19 Days / 18 Nights (3 Alpine Volcano Climbs + Tanzania Northern Circuit Safari)
- Triple Summit Challenge:
- Ol Doinyo Lengai (2,962m): Midnight scramble up active volcanic ash cones overlooking the Great Rift Valley
- Mount Meru – Socialist Peak (4,566m): 3-day trek with armed ranger escort across the caldera rim, serving as the ultimate natural acclimatization for Kilimanjaro
- Mount Kilimanjaro – Uhuru Peak (5,895m): 7-day Machame Route climb to the highest point in Africa
- Northern Safari Circuit: Lake Natron flamingo breeding grounds, two full days in the UNESCO-listed Ngorongoro Crater, and Lake Manyara National Park
- Safari Transport: Custom 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser with pop-up roof for 360-degree photography and onboard cooler.
- Mountain Safety & Medical Protocols: Certified Wilderness First Responder (WFR) mountain guides, daily pulse oximeter monitoring, emergency oxygen cylinders, and full porter support crews
- Accommodation Style: Base hotels in Arusha and Moshi, safari tented lodges, mountain chalets/huts on Mount Meru, and 4-season expedition tents on Kilimanjaro
- Guaranteed Inclusions: All TANAPA and KINAPA park entry, rescue, and climbing permits, Ngorongoro Crater floor vehicle fees, government VAT (18%), and private airport transfers
19 Days: Kilimanjaro, Mount Meru, Ol Doinyo Lengai & Wildlife Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)—Transfer to Arusha
Land at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Clear customs and meet your private tour director for the 45-minute transfer to your hotel in Arusha, nestled at the foot of Mount Meru.
In the late afternoon, your lead mountain guide conducts a full expedition briefing and comprehensive gear inspection for the upcoming volcano climbs. Review high-altitude apparel, organize your packing, and enjoy a welcome dinner before a restful night.
- Accommodation: Hotel in Arusha (Bed, Breakfast & Dinner)
- Elevation: ~1,400 meters (4,593 feet)
Day 2: Arusha to Lake Natron (The Crimson Soda Basin)
- Drive Time: ~4–5 hours across the Great Rift Valley
- Landscape: Arid acacia scrub, volcanic escarpments, and alkaline mudflats
After an early breakfast, board your 4×4 Land Cruiser and journey off the beaten path toward the barren expanse of Lake Natron. The route winds through Maasai heartlands, with the conical silhouette of Ol Doinyo Lengai rising in the distance.
Lake Natron is an alkaline soda lake known for its caustic red waters, formed by high concentrations of sodium carbonate. It serves as the primary breeding sanctuary for over 2.5 million lesser flamingos in East Africa. Arrive at your tented camp in the afternoon, take an orientation walk along the salt flats, and watch thousands of flamingos feeding along the shallow alkaline flats against a volcanic backdrop.
- Accommodation: African Safari Lake Natron Camp (Full Board)
Day 3: Lake Natron & Engare Sero Waterfalls
- Activity: River gorge trek, swimming, and flamingo photography
Spend a full day exploring the remote wilderness surrounding Lake Natron. In the morning, embark on an adventurous hike through the Engare Sero Gorge. Wade through shallow river currents between sheer volcanic canyon walls to reach the hidden Engare Sero Waterfalls, where you can swim in fresh, natural spring pools beneath cascading water.
Return to camp for lunch and an afternoon of rest out of the midday heat. In the late afternoon, explore the hominid footprint sites—fossilized human tracks dating back thousands of years preserved in volcanic mud. Eat an early dinner by 6:00 PM and rest in preparation for a midnight mountain climb.
- Accommodation: African Safari Lake Natron Camp (Full Board)
Day 4: Summit Attempt: Ol Doinyo Lengai (The Mountain of God) – Return to Camp
- Trekking Time: 5–6 hours ascent / 3–4 hours descent | Distance: ~11 km round trip
- Elevation Gain/Loss: ~1,600 meters ascent & descent (Summit: 2,962m / 9,718ft)
- Terrain: Steep volcanic ash, loose scree, and hardened lava flows
Awake at 11:30 PM for hot tea and light biscuits. Begin the steep ascent of Ol Doinyo Lengai by midnight under the guidance of local Maasai mountain guides. Lengai is the only active volcano on Earth that erupts natrocarbonatite lava—a dark, fluid lava that turns white upon contact with moisture.
The ascent is steep and sustained, climbing up narrow gravel gullies and slippery scree slopes. Reach the active crater rim just as dawn breaks across the Great Rift Valley, illuminating the alkaline expanse of Lake Natron and the distant peaks of the Crater Highlands. Peer into the active crater vents to observe steaming fissures and unique volcanic formations.
Carefully descend the scree slopes back to the mountain base, where your 4×4 vehicle transfers you back to camp for a hot brunch, showers, and a full afternoon of restorative sleep.
- Accommodation: African Safari Lake Natron Camp (Full Board)
Day 5: Lake Natron to Ngorongoro Crater Floor Safari
- Drive Time: ~4 hours to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area
- Safari Focus: Big Five tracking, crater floor descent, and soda lake wildlife
Depart early, driving south up the Rift Valley escarpment into the lush, forested highlands of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Descend 600 meters down the sheer caldera walls onto the floor of the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater—the world’s largest intact, unflooded volcanic caldera and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spend the afternoon tracking Africa’s iconic Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, and the critically endangered black rhino) across this natural wildlife amphitheater. Stop for a picnic lunch beside the hippo-filled waters of Ngoitoktok Springs, watching giant bull elephants with tusks grazing near the reeds. Ascend the crater rim in the late afternoon to check in to your lodge.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Safari Lodge (Full Board)
Day 6: In-Depth Ngorongoro Crater Exploration (The Garden of Eden)
- Safari Focus: Dense predator interactions, Lerai forest leopards, and birding
Dedicate a second day to exploring the diverse habitats of the 260-square-kilometer caldera floor. Having an extra day in the crater allows you to reach quieter corners of the reserve often bypassed by single-day tours.
Explore the yellow-barked acacia canopies of the Lerai Forest, home to elusive leopards and large baboon troops. Scan the open short-grass plains for cheetahs hunting Thomson’s gazelles and large prides of black-maned lions resting in the savannah grass. Visit Lake Magadi to photograph large flocks of flamingos, crowned cranes, and water birds before ascending to your lodge for dinner with views over the caldera.
- Accommodation: Ngorongoro Safari Lodge (Full Board)
Day 7: Lake Manyara National Park (Tree-Climbing Lions & Groundwater Forests)
- Drive Time: ~1.5 hours
- Safari Focus: Tree-climbing lions, groundwater forest primates, and lake flamingos
After breakfast, drive down the Great Rift Valley escarpment into Lake Manyara National Park. Begin your game drive traversing dense groundwater forests fed by natural mountain springs, where olive baboons and blue monkeys move through the canopy.
Emerge onto open floodplains bordering the alkaline lake, where flamingos, pelicans, and storks congregate along the shoreline. Keep your eyes trained on the branches of mature acacia and mahogany trees to spot Lake Manyara’s famous tree-climbing lions lounging high above the ground. In the late afternoon, drive back toward Arusha or the foothills of Mount Meru to prepare for the alpine trekking phase.
- Accommodation: Fanaka Lodge (Full Board)
Day 8: Mount Meru: Momella Gate (1,500m) to Miriakampa Hut (2,514m)
- Trekking Time: 4–5 hours | Distance: ~10 km
- Elevation Gain: 1,014 meters (3,326 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Montane Forest / Savannah Woodland
Begin the second mountain challenge of your expedition: trekking Mount Meru (4,566m), Tanzania’s second-highest peak. Meru provides exceptional alpine training and altitude conditioning, significantly raising your odds of a successful Kilimanjaro climb.
Complete park formalities at Momella Gate (1,500m) inside Arusha National Park. Because the lower slopes harbor wildlife—including Cape buffaloes, giraffes, zebras, and warthogs—an armed national park ranger escorts you on the trail. Hike past the open plains of the Ngare Nanyuki River before climbing through open podocarpus forest. Reach Miriakampa Hut (2,514m) by mid-afternoon for hot drinks and dinner, with views of the sheer Meru caldera wall rising above.
- Overnight: Miriakampa Mountain Huts (communal timber cabins)
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9: Mount Meru: Miriakampa Hut (2,514m) to Saddle Hut (3,570m)
- Trekking Time: 3–5 hours | Distance: ~8 km
- Elevation Gain: 1,056 meters (3,464 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Heather and Low Moorland
Climb steeply along a wooded ridge through the cloud forest belt, passing the dramatic vantage point of Elephant Ridge. As the vegetation transitions into sub-alpine heather, sweeping views open across the crater floor and the inner ash cone of Meru.
Arrive at Saddle Hut (3,570m), situated in the col between the summit cone and Little Meru. After a warm lunch, embark on an active acclimatization scramble to the summit of Little Meru (3,820m). This short excursion aids oxygen adaptation and offers views of Mount Kilimanjaro rising above the clouds to the east. Return to Saddle Hut for an early dinner and rest before your midnight summit attempt.
- Overnight: Saddle Hut
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10: Mount Meru Summit Day: Saddle Hut to Socialist Peak (4,566m) – Descent to Miriakampa Hut
- Trekking Time: 5–6 hours ascent / 4–5 hours descent | Distance: ~5 km up / ~13 km down
- Elevation Profile: Ascend 996m to Socialist Peak (4,566m); descend 2,052m to Miriakampa Hut
- Vegetation Zone: Alpine Scree, Knife-Edge Crater Ridge, and Montane Forest
Wake at 1:30 AM for hot tea and biscuits. Begin the steep ascent along the narrow, dramatic crater rim of Mount Meru, traversing sections of bare rock and loose scree under the glow of your headlamp.
- Rhino Point (3,800m): Cross this rocky vantage point, traversing an airy knife-edge ridge with the sheer caldera dropping into the inner ash cone.
- Socialist Peak (4,566m / 14,980ft): Reach the true summit of Mount Meru just as the rising sun silhouettes the glaciated dome of Mount Kilimanjaro on the eastern horizon. Celebrate at the summit flag before descending back to Saddle Hut for a warm brunch.
Pack your gear and continue descending down through the heather belt to Miriakampa Hut (2,514m). Celebrate your summit with the crew and enjoy a restful night in the thicker lower air.
- Overnight: Miriakampa Hut
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11: Miriakampa Hut to Momella Gate – Transfer to Moshi (Kilimanjaro Base)
- Trekking Time: 2–3 hours descent | Distance: ~7 km
- Elevation Loss: 1,014 meters (3,326 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Montane Forest
Enjoy a relaxed morning descent through the forest along the southern route, passing the famous Fig Tree Arch—a natural hollow tree wide enough for a safari vehicle to pass through.
Arrive at Momella Gate to collect your official Mount Meru climbing certificates. Bid farewell to your park ranger and transfer to Moshi, the mountaineering hub at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro. Savor a long hot shower, treat yourself to a massage, and rest your legs at your hotel pool. In the evening, meet your Kilimanjaro lead guide for a final equipment check.
- Accommodation: Base Hotel in Moshi (Bed, Breakfast & Dinner)
- Elevation: ~800 meters (2,625 feet)
Day 12: Mount Kilimanjaro Machame Route: Machame Gate (1,640m) to Machame Camp (2,835m)
- Trekking Distance: ~11 km (6.8 miles) | Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,195 meters (3,920 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Montane Rainforest
Begin the final challenge: ascending the Roof of Africa via the Machame Route (“Whiskey Route”). Having already stood at 4,566 meters on Mount Meru, your body is well-acclimatized, making the trail physically smoother and significantly boosting your summit odds.
Transfer to Machame Gate (1,640m) to complete park registration with KINAPA while meeting your dedicated expedition porters and mountain cooks. Trek along a winding, moss-draped forest trail beneath tall canopies of camphorwood and podocarpus trees. Walk at an easy, disciplined pace—“pole pole”. Arrive at Machame Camp (2,835m) near the upper forest line for hot washing water, tea, and your first chef-prepared camp dinner.
- Overnight: Machame Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13: Machame Camp (2,835m) to Shira Camp (3,840m)
- Trekking Distance: ~5 km (3.1 miles) | Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
- Elevation Gain: 1,005 meters (3,297 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Heather and Moorland Zone
Emerge from the forest canopy onto a rising rocky ridge into the sub-alpine moorland zone. The path winds through moorland terrain dotted with giant heather bushes, wild lobelias, and volcanic outcrops.
Climb onto the western rim of the Shira Plateau—an ancient, collapsed volcanic caldera. The trail levels out as you cross open moorland meadows to Shira Camp (3,840m). Enjoy open views of Kibo’s glaciers rising ahead, with the sharp cone of Mount Meru visible across the western plains at sunset.
- Overnight: Shira Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14: Shira Camp (3,840m) to Lava Tower (4,630m) – Descent to Barranco Camp (3,950m)
- Trekking Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles) | Hiking Time: 6–8 hours
- Elevation Profile: Ascend to 4,630m at Lava Tower; descend to 3,950m at Barranco Camp
- Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert down to Giant Groundsels Valley
Today reinforces your high-altitude adaptation through the golden rule: climb high, sleep low.
Hike east across barren alpine desert toward the base of Kibo, climbing steadily toward the 300-foot volcanic plug known as Lava Tower (4,630m / 15,190ft). Stop at the base for a hot lunch, letting your body work in the thin air above 4,600 meters.
After lunch, follow the descending trail into the sheltered Barranco Valley (3,950m) through the surreal Senecio Forest, flanked by giant groundsels (Dendrosenecio kilimanjari). Resting at Barranco Camp ensures your body continues building red blood cells ahead of the summit attempt.
- Overnight: Barranco Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15: Barranco Camp (3,950m) to Karanga Camp (4,035m) via the Barranco Wall
- Trekking Distance: ~5 km (3.1 miles) | Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
- Elevation Gain: ~85 meters (net gain across deep valleys)
- Vegetation Zone: High Alpine Desert
Tackle the world-famous Barranco Wall (the “Breakfast Wall”) right after dawn. While visually imposing from below, this 257-meter rock face is a non-technical scramble requiring basic three-point contact and safe footing.
At the top of the wall, take in wide panoramas of the southern icefields and Heim Glacier. Traverse rolling volcanic ridges down into the glacial gulley of the Karanga Valley (the trail’s last water source) before making a short, steady climb out to Karanga Camp (4,035m). Spending the night at Karanga divides the high-camp approach, allowing you to rest rather than rushing to high camp fatigued.
- Overnight: Karanga Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16: Karanga Camp (4,035m) to Barafu High Camp (4,550m)
- Trekking Distance: ~4 km (2.5 miles) | Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
- Elevation Gain: 515 meters (1,689 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: High Alpine Desert
Depart Karanga Camp along an arid, wind-blasted ridge of loose volcanic scree. Pass the trail junction connecting with the descending Mweka Route, completing the southern traverse of Kibo.
Arrive at Barafu Camp (4,550m / 14,928ft) by lunchtime. Perched on a narrow, rocky ridge, Barafu serves as the high base camp for your final summit bid. Rest your legs, drink plenty of warm fluids, and eat an early carbohydrate-rich dinner by 5:00 PM. Organize your thermal gear, check your headlamp batteries, fill your insulated flasks, and sleep early before your midnight wake-up call.
- Overnight: Barafu Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17: Summit Night! Barafu (4,550m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) – Descent to Mweka Camp (3,100m)
- Trekking Distance: ~5 km ascent / ~12 km descent (17 km total)
- Hiking Time: 6–8 hours to summit / 5–6 hours descent
- Elevation Profile: Ascend 1,345m to 5,895m; descend 2,795m to 3,100m
- Vegetation Zone: Arctic Summit Zone down to Montane Moorland
Wake at 11:30 PM for hot tea and biscuits. Layered against freezing temperatures, step into the night by midnight. Follow the slow cadence of “pole pole” up the switchbacking scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers.
- Stella Point (5,756m): Reach the volcanic crater rim just as dawn casts brilliant light across Mawenzi Peak and the African plains below. Climbers reaching Stella Point earn the official green climbing certificate.
- Uhuru Peak (5,895m / 19,341ft): Continue along the crater rim past glacier walls for another 45–60 minutes. Step onto the highest point in Africa—the Roof of Africa! Celebrate at the wooden summit sign, take your summit photographs, and take in the panoramic views of the glaciers and vast caldera floor.
Descend the scree slopes back to Barafu Camp for a hot brunch and a two-hour rest. Pack your gear and continue downward through alpine desert and moorland to Mweka Camp (3,100m). Savor your final mountain dinner and sleep deeply in the thicker lower air.
- Overnight: Mweka Camp
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18: Mweka Camp (3,100m) to Mweka Gate (1,640m) – Transfer to Moshi / Arusha
- Trekking Distance: ~10 km (6.2 miles) | Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
- Elevation Loss: 1,460 meters (4,790 feet)
- Vegetation Zone: Montane Rainforest
Enjoy your final breakfast on the mountain surrounded by the rainforest canopy. The descent down to Mweka Gate (1,640m) is shaded and gradual.
At the gate office, sign the official park register and collect your climbing credentials:
- Gold Certificate: For summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895m)
- Green Certificate: For reaching Stella Point (5,756m)
Join your guides, camp chef, and porter team for the customary tipping ceremony and the celebratory Kilimanjaro Song. Board your private vehicle for the transfer back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha for a hot shower, a celebratory dinner, and well-earned recovery.
- Accommodation: Base Hotel in Moshi or Arusha (Bed, Breakfast & Dinner)
- Meals: Breakfast, Celebratory Dinner
Day 19: Departure from Tanzania
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Depending on your flight schedule, explore Arusha’s local markets or visit cultural heritage centers for wood carvings and tanzanite gemstones.
Your private driver transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure flight home, concluding your 19-day triple-peak climbing and safari expedition across Tanzania.
- Meals: Breakfast included
TOUR PRICES: 19 Days Kilimanjaro Mount Meru Ol Doinyo Lengai & Wildlife
THE PRICE FROM $6570 PER PERSON
19 Days Kilimanjaro Mount Meru Ol Doinyo Lengai & Wildlife Includes
- – 1 Night Arusha Hotel
- – Guides with mountain crew
- – National park fees
- – Hut/camping fees and tents
- – Tents foam sleeping pads,
- – Rescue fees
- – Guides, porters, cook, waiter salaries
- – Boiled water on the mountain
- – Airport transfers (JRO – Kilimanjaro International Airports)
- – Full board (breakfast, lunch & dinner) accommodation.
- – All game drives viewing in 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser
- – All park and entrance fees
- – Transportation with 4×4 vehicles with viewing roofs
- – Professional English-speaking driver/guide or other language as specified during the safari.
- – Bottled water in safari vehicles
- – Government taxes and levies
19 Days Kilimanjaro Mount Meru Ol Doinyo Lengai & Wildlife Excludes
- – International flights
- – Balloon excursion (US$600 pp)
- – Entry visa
- – Travel and health insurance
- – Gratuities to your guide, hotel staff, and porters
- – Meals, drinks, and excursions not mentioned in the itinerary
- – Any other items of a personal nature, laundry
For more information about the Mount Kilimanjaro climbing safaris, trekking and hiking packages, contact Bushtroop tours and Safaris on www.bushtroop-safaris.com, by emailing info@bushtroop-safaris.com, or call/whatapp us on +254 715087096