Serengeti Safari + Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit - 14 day Itinerary

Описание: Day 1: Land in mwanza
Day 2: Serengeti Safari
Day 3: Serengeti balloon Safari
Day 4: Ngorongoro Safari
Day 5: Ngorongoro to Arusha
Day 6: Free day Arusha
Day 7: Trek Begins - Lemosho gate to Big tree camp
Day 8: Big tree camp to Shira camp 1
Day 9: Shira camp 1 to Moir camp
Day 10: Moir camp to Pofu Camp
Day 11: Pofu camp to Third Cave Camp
Day 12: Third Cave to School Hut
Day 13: School hut to Uruhu peak to Millennium camp
Day 14: Millennium camp to Mweka gate
Day 15+16: Arusha before departure

Takeaways from experienced/fit backpacker (and beyond the standard stuff your guides tell you to bring)

COLD GEAR - during the briefing they’re adamant about cold gear - like excessive cold gear: 0 degree sleeping bags, 4-6 layers on top + 3-4 layers on bottom for submitting. These guys are adjusted to their warm climate and are wearing puffy coats with pants when it’s warm and sunny… my husband and I brought 15 degree sleeping bags. I wore shorts for the first 3-4 days. Summit Day I did wear 3 layers on the bottom and 5 layers up top all the because we just went so slow… my heart rate didn’t rise much so I was cold.

WATER - Bring 2 nalgenes. At night camp gets pretty chilly so it’s good to fill 1 Nalgene with the hot water provided and shove it in the bottom of your sleeping bag to warm up your feet. And fill the other with cold water to drink at night. By morning you have basically 2 full nalgenes. Bladders a great for the whole trek except summit night because the lines freeze which can be a challenge when your whole trek is planned around the summit.

SLOW (Polepole) - if you’re used to hiking with a 25lb pack 15+ miles a day, this will be a big change up in pace for you. We averaged about 1.3mph on average terrain/elevation gain … we even asked to go faster, they declined because they want to ensure you acclimatize properly.

GAITERS - I could see why people would want the small ones to keep rocks out of your shoes but the big tall ones? Can’t for the life of me understand why you would need them. For dirt/dust? You’re going to get dirty… gaiters will just prevent getting the bottom of your pants dirty but now you just have dirty gaiters and half dirty pants, so what’s the point?

FOOD - First off the porridge - I questioned the Facebook group about why everyone wanted oatmeal because they got sick of porridge… it literally is the same exact thing. The chef on the mountain makes it a runny but just ask the chef to make it less runny. They have Nutella, peanut butter, honey etc to jazz it up so I have no idea why people wished they brought oatmeal. We did bring cinnamon sugar and it came in handy. Also, You will not go hungry - they won’t let you lol.

SHOES -
BOOTS/TRAILRUNNERS - my husband and I wore trail runners (Solomon speed cross & Altras) every single day including summit day
CAMP SHOES - Highly recommend a close toed camp shoe because the dust is for real and you’ll never stop cleaning your feet - I used chocos down slippers that came up to my ankles and they were perfect. (The porters clean your shoes at the end of each day so you will want a 2nd pair of shoes).

SOLAR THINGS - my solar charger and solar lantern really came in handy. I didn’t even need my other charger because I just kept the solar charger in the sun the whole time.

PEE BOTTLE - just bring it, trust us.

SITPADS - this is a standard for us and I because they’re so multipurpose but noticed a lot of people didn’t bring them. They’re amazing for standing on barefoot after cleaning your feet, kneeling on the rocks and on cold nights, putting them in the chairs really keeps you extra warm during lunches and dinners.

TOWEL - we didn’t get a shower, and the UL towel came in handy for a lot of stuff. You constantly get hot water so it’s pretty easy to towel off or wash your feet etc and not having a towel to air dry in the cold kinda sucks. Bring a quick dry towel.

THE DUST - as you’ve probably read… it’s for real, especially on windy nights. Bring some eye drops because you’ll surely have bloodshot eyes every night. Having a buff comes in handy so you aren’t constantly breathing it in.

MEDS -
DIAMOX - if you don’t live in higher altitudes just take it. We didnt feel altitude until 14k+ feet and we live at sealevel. It’s a good precaution when you’re paying this much money to prevent altitude sickness. Most of us were taking 125mg in the morning and at lunch everyday since the day we started (and was recommended by the guides).
EXTRA MEDS - I brought exlax, anti diarrhea, Tylenol, aleve, trazadone(for sleeping when needed) and most everyone used one of everything.

EARPLUGS & EYE MASK - the porters clean up after dinner and it can be quite loud when you’re trying to sleep. Not sure I would’ve made it without earplugs. The only night you need an eye mask is the night before summit.

UPGRADES - we upgraded to have a toilet, walk-in tents with cots, and an upgraded food package. Wouldn’t have changed a thing!