Combining Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro With Safari In Masai Mara

Combining hiking mountain Kilimanjaro with safari in Masai Mara. Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya is a UNESCO site famous for the mysterious great wildebeest migration, which is seasonal. The great Wildebeest migration is normally known to happen in June, July, August, September one of the natural wonders in the world. 

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While taking a game drive on the tracks within Masai Mara National Reserve, you may spot wild animals like gazelles, impalas, zebras, giraffes, waterbucks, bushbucks, herds of elephants, lions, leopards, hyenas, Rhinos, and much more. If it is great wildebeest migration season, you may witness millions of wild animals crossing the bloody Mara River to the other side of this River.

Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro is a dream come true experience as you have about 7 days on the highest point in Africa. The various vegetation zones and stunning sceneries that you come across while hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro are unforgettable.

How To Plan Masai Mara National Reserve And Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro 

Day 1 Drive to Masai Mara National Reserve

Early in the morning, our safari guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel and drive you to Masai Mara National Reserve. Along the way, you can look out for the different landforms and enjoy the vast plain. The distance from Nairobi to Masai Mara is about 225 kilometers to 280 kilometers, depending on which gate you use to enter the park. You can also fly to Masai Mara National Reserve to save time.

 Day 2: Game Drive in Masai Mara National Reserve

Rise early for a game drive in Masai Mara National Reserve. As you drive along the tracks in this game park, you may spot animals like lions, leopards, hyenas, cheetahs, impalas, zebras, waterbucks, bushbucks, gazelles, wildebeests, buffaloes, elands, Naivasha dikdik, African elephants, Rhinos, and others.

In case it is great wildebeest migration season, Masai Mara National Reserve is filled with millions of wild animals both herbivores and carnivores. The drama at the Mara River is the highlight of the entire trip as thousands of these pilgrims try to cross and find greener pastures amidst the angry and hungry crocodiles that target the weak ones.

Remember to carry breakfast and Lunch because time of returning to the lodge may be later in the day.

Day 3: Fly to Amboseli National Park

Wake up early for breakfast and drive to Masai Mara airstrip to Amboseli National Park.

Enjoy a game drive in Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mountain Kilimanjaro.

Day 4 Game Drive in Amboseli National Park

Get up early for breakfast and head out on a drive on the tracks of Amboseli National Park. Look out for animals like elephants, waterbucks, bushbucks, lions, leopards, bushbucks, herds of cape buffaloes, gazelles, zebras, impalas, hyenas, African Civets, Lesser Kudus, and others.

 Day 5 Cross to Mountain Kilimanjaro In Tanzania 

Cross into Tanzania via Moshi to drive to Mountain Kilimanjaro 

Day 6 Climb Mountain Kilimanjaro 

Wake up for breakfast and head to the park entrance to register and make all necessary clearances. You will start the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame route, which is the popular route for this adventure.

Pass through the montane forest, where you may spot a number of birds. Look out for a number of animals that may cross your path, like elephants, buffaloes, warthogs, and others.

The hike may take about 6 to 7 hours to arrive at Machame hut where to spend the night.

 Day 7 Hike to Shira camp

From camp Machame, hike to Shira camp, passing a valley and rock ridges covered in heath vegetation. Upon turning west, you walk to the gorge of the River. This hike may last about 4 to 6 hours and spend the night at Camp Shira.

Day 8: Ascend To Barranco Camp

Rise early for breakfast and continue hiking Mount Kilimanjaro to Barranco camp. As you draw closer to the summit, it is very easy to start feeling the altitude effect. Continue climbing to the lava tower, where you may take a rest before moving to the Barranco camp for the night. The Barranco Camp lies in the valley with the great Barranco wall.

The environment at this point is semi-desert 

 Day 9 Destination Karanga Camp

 After breakfast, continue the scramble to the great Barranco wall and cross the scree to the Karanga valley. This point is located under the Decken, Heim, and Stersten glacier, which covers an Alpine desert environment.

 Day 10: 

Ascend To Barafu Camp

Take breakfast early in the morning to start moving towards Barafu camp. Arrive at the point that connects with the Mweka trail. When you arrive at Barafu Camp, you can spot the summit from different angles of Mountain Kilimanjaro, especially the Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks.

The environment here is Alpine dessert.

Day 11: Destination Mweka hut

The strategy for today is to summit Rembman and Ratzel glaciers. Hike northwest to Stella Point, passing through a scree in the rim of the crater. On a clear sunny day, the view of the sunrise at this point is heart-melting. 

Arrive at Uhuru Point, which is the highest point of Mountain Kilimanjaro at 5895 meters above sea level. This is the coldest point of the entire hike on Mountain Kilimanjaro, but it is worth the victory. Some of the most important items to use include trekking poles to walk through the gravel. From the Uhuru peak, you descend to Mweka camp, where you will spend the night.

Day 12 Mweka Camp gate

After hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and descending to the bottom, you will reach the gate, where you will receive a certificate of accomplishment. 

When Is The Best Time To Do A Safari In Masai Mara National Reserve And Hike Mountain Kilimanjaro?

The dry season is most preferred for hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and game drives in Masai Mara National Reserve. The trails on Mount Kilimanjaro are better to navigate in the dry season, and so are the tracks in Masai Mara National Reserve.

In terms of scenery, moving to Mount Kilimanjaro gives you the best views of the scenery around this mountain. While on a game drive in Masai Mara during the dry season, several animals walk freely in the grass as it is dry and the grass is shorter.

Animals are more mobile in the dry season as there is less grass available to satisfy the herbivores, so even the carnivores can sneak out on these animals. Carnivore drama is easier to witness in the dry season. 

However, note that demand for this safari is high, with people wishing to do both mountain hiking and game safari in Masai Mara National Reserve. Expect to share the same space with other people and be ready to mingle with strangers.

Book all the necessary logistics for a safari like accommodation, transport and much more.

The wet season which is normally the low season may not provide a good environment for activities like mountain climbing especially when the rains are so intense. The low season in Masai Mara National Reserve may provide chances to seeing more infant births since there is plenty of food for different animals to feed on and hide from predators.

Is It Safe To Hike Mountain Kilimanjaro And Do A Safari In Masai Mara National Reserve?

A safari in Masai Mara National Reserve is safe, and so is hiking Mount Kilimanjaro as long as you abide by the rules of this adventure. On the ground, ranger guides from the Kenya Wildlife Service patrol the safari activities in the Masai Mara. Every hiking safari on Mount Kilimanjaro must be conducted by a professional ranger guide, especially from the Tanzania Wildlife Management Authority (TAWA).

Try to follow the rules of game safaris and hiking on Mount Kilimanjaro so as not to get into trouble while on safari. Mountain Kilimanjaro has some no-go areas that only the ranger guides can locate, so try to follow the routes taken so as not to create new paths. 

Pack the required hiking gears so that you donot get hurt while up on the mountain like insect bites, wear long convertible trousers, pack first aid kit and others.

On ground are other security agencies who offer extra protection to tourists, the game park surrounding environment on the mountain and much more. 

How much is the cost of Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro and Masai Mara Visit?

The cost of hiking Mount Kilimanjaro and Masai Mara National Reserve varies with factors like the trail to follow, the number of days to be on safari, the number of people traveling with, and others. Entrance fees are compulsory for either game safari in Masai Mara or Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro Park.

Other factors you may consider when costing for this safari include porter hire during the hike, tips, on ground purchases and other costs.

How safe is Masai Mara National Reserve and a hike to Mountain Kilimanjaro?

Both game safari in Masai Mara and Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro are safe activities. Before ascending mountain Kilimanjaro, you must be in a company of a professional ranger guide. The ranger guide carries some emergency defense items just in case they are needed.

While on safari in Marai Mara National Reserve, do not get out of your vehicle because you may encounter wild animals that may hurt you. While on safari, try not to provoke the wild animals, as when you do so, the animals may hurt you.

Stay on track or follow the trails on the mountain to avoid having to create more track or landing on the dangerous spots of the park or mountain.

Ensure you keep following the guidelines of hiking mountain Kilimanjaro or game drives in Masai Mara in order not to get into trouble.

Try not to eat contaminated food that you may carry before ascending Mount Kilimanjaro or while on a game safari, as this may cause food poisoning. This may call for making irregular stopovers, yet unnecessary stops are not allowed in the game pack, not while hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Pack a first aid kit with properly prescribed medication in case of an emergency.

What to Pack For Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro and game Safari in Masai Mara.

• Extra fully charged batteries to exchange with in case one runs low
• Hiking boots that are comfortable for you to hike for a long distance. They must be waterproof, too.
• Sunscreen to protect your skin from getting sunburns.
•  A camera to keep memories of the hike and safari in Mountain Kilimanjaro and Masai Mara National Park
• You should wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from direct sunlight and buzzing insects. Insects buzzing in the jungle and on the mountain may land on your eyes.
• Insect repellant to protect your skin from stinging insects you may find along the way.
• Garden gloves to protect your fingers from touching rough surfaces along the way.
• Some extra clothes to change into after the long day on the mountain.
• Energy bites to munch on when hungry because meals are taken from designated points.
• Hiking rods to give you extra support when hiking the mountain.
• Backpack to carry with your belongings so that they do not scatter while you hike.
• A torch to use for lighting.
• Some cash in case you need to do on ground purchases like hiring hiking equipment, even porter hiring before starting your hike, purchasing food, cooking equipment, fuel, and others
• Warmers because the higher you go, the cooler it becomes.
• A pair of binoculars to get better visibility of far ranging features.
• A pair of stockings to protect your feet from getting cold.
• Head gears to cover yourself from getting cold while hiking to get to the top of mountain Kilimanjaro.
• Sleeping bag for your nights on mountain Kilimanjaro.
• First aid kit with emergency medication in case you need it.
• Rainproof gears to protect you from getting wet and cold when it rains while up the mountain.
• You can hire some of the following hiking gears too.
• Ice axes, ropes, harnesses, crampons, and others.

Contact us for more information.