12-Day Safari · budget / mid-range
12-Day Tanzania Adventure – Kilimanjaro Trek, Safari & Culture
From
$2,750
per person
Per person. From $2,750 shared group / $3,799 private (2–3-star camps & tents). Best July–October for the Mara crossings.
The full Tanzania adventure in twelve days: a scenic three-day Kilimanjaro trek on the Marangu Route to Horombo Hut, a cultural day of waterfalls, coffee and hot springs, the classic safari circuit tracking the Great Migration, and a finale at the surreal flamingo-filled Lake Natron. Trek, bush and culture in one trip, with mobile camping and a small group.
Highlights
- Three-day Marangu trek to Horombo Hut (3,720 m) with Mawenzi views
- Materuni Waterfall, a coffee tour and the Kikuletwa Hot Springs
- Tarangire, Lake Manyara and the Ngorongoro Crater
- Serengeti and the Great Migration's Mara River crossing in season
- Lake Natron's flamingos and the Engaresero Waterfall to finish
Best months to travel: Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Route profile
3 days on the mountain · highest point 3,720 m
Swipe sideways to see every day →
- 1
Day 1
Arrival in Arusha
Arrive in Arusha and settle into your accommodation. Our team meets you for a briefing on the trek and safari ahead and to sort any final details.
- Overnight:
- Lodge in Arusha
- Meals:
- —
- 2
Day 2
Marangu Gate to Mandara Hut
1,860 m → 2,700 m4–5 hoursDrive to Marangu Gate (1,860 m) on Kilimanjaro, meet your mountain guide and trek through lush rainforest — colobus monkeys and unique flora — to Mandara Hut (2,700 m) for dinner and your first night on the mountain.
- Overnight:
- Mandara Hut
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 3
Day 3
Mandara Hut to Horombo Hut
2,700 m → 3,720 m5–6 hoursClimb out of the forest into open moorland with stunning views, reaching Horombo Hut (3,720 m). Time to acclimatize and take in Mawenzi Ridge before an early night.
- Overnight:
- Horombo Hut
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 4
Day 4
Descend to Marangu Gate, return to Arusha
3,720 m → 1,860 m5–6 hoursDescend through moorland and rainforest back to Marangu Gate, then transfer to Arusha to rest after your high-altitude trek.
- Overnight:
- Lodge in Arusha
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch
- 5
Day 5
Materuni Waterfall, Coffee Tour & Hot Springs
A cultural day near Kilimanjaro: a short hike to Materuni Falls, a traditional coffee-making experience with a home-cooked Tanzanian meal, then a relaxing swim at the Kikuletwa Hot Springs before returning to Arusha.
- Overnight:
- Lodge in Arusha
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch
- 6
Day 6
Tarangire National Park
Depart at dawn for Tarangire, home to Tanzania's largest elephant herds. A full-day game drive among baobabs along the Tarangire River, spotting lion, giraffe, zebra and leopard, then a bonfire under the stars at a tented campsite.
- Overnight:
- Tented camp near Tarangire
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 7
Day 7
Lake Manyara & Mto wa Mbu Village
A morning game drive in Lake Manyara for tree-climbing lions, flamingos, elephants and hippos, then a cultural tour of Mto wa Mbu village — local food and banana plantations — before overnighting near Manyara.
- Overnight:
- Campsite or lodge near Lake Manyara
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 8
Day 8
Ngorongoro Crater to the Serengeti
An early descent into the Ngorongoro Crater for a sunrise game drive among the Big Five, flamingos at Lake Magadi and hyena, hippo and cheetah. In the afternoon, drive on to the Serengeti for a tented-camp overnight.
- Overnight:
- Tented camp, Serengeti
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 9
Day 9
Central Serengeti Plains
Explore the central Serengeti's vast plains — lion, cheetah and elephant — with sunrise and daytime game drives, before moving toward the northern Serengeti for the night.
- Overnight:
- Tented camp, Serengeti
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 10
Day 10
Northern Serengeti & Mara River Crossing
An early start for the northern Serengeti and the Mara River, where in season the wildebeest and zebra brave the crocodile-filled waters — the migration's most dramatic spectacle — with game drives throughout the day.
- Overnight:
- Tented camp, Serengeti
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 11
Day 11
Serengeti to Lake Natron
Depart for Lake Natron, home to thousands of flamingos. Visit the Engaresero Waterfall and hike the volcanic landscapes around the surreal alkaline lake, then camp under the African sky.
- Overnight:
- Camp near Lake Natron
- Meals:
- Breakfast, lunch, dinner
- 12
Day 12
Lake Natron to Arusha — Departure
Depart Lake Natron's breathtaking landscapes for the 2–3 hour drive back to Arusha, where your adventure concludes with a transfer for your onward journey.
- Meals:
- Breakfast
What's included in the price
- All park fees and government taxes
- Professional English-speaking mountain and safari guides
- Transport in a 4x4 safari vehicle with pop-up roof
- Accommodation in mountain huts, tented camps and tents
- All meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and drinking water
- Cultural village and coffee tour
What's not included
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance (required for the Kilimanjaro trek)
- Tips for guides and crew ($20–30 per day recommended)
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs and laundry
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions? Ask Ombeni directly on WhatsApp.
Read before you go
Free, no-fluff guides from the people who run the trips.
Tanzania Safari: The Complete Guide
Where to go, when to travel, what a day looks like and what it costs — everything you need to plan a northern Tanzania safari.
Read guide →Safari · 8 min readWhere Is the Great Migration Each Month?
A month-by-month guide to the wildebeest migration — calving in the south, the Mara River crossings in the north, and everything in between.
Read guide →Safari · 8 min readSerengeti National Park: A Visitor's Guide
Tanzania's flagship park — endless plains, the Great Migration and the finest big-cat viewing in Africa.
Read guide →Ready to go?
Plan your 12-Day Trek, Safari & Culture with Ombeni
Per person. From $2,750 shared group / $3,799 private (2–3-star camps & tents). Best July–October for the Mara crossings.
From
$2,750
per person