Combining Zanzibar Island Holiday With Kilimanjaro Mountain Hiking Expedition

A combo of the Zanzibar Island holiday and the Kilimanjaro mountain hike is an adventure that brings out the best of the Tanzania safari experience. Kilimanjaro mountain is the highest point in Africa and one of the most sought-after hiking attempts in the world. Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro requires you to have some level of fitness and zeal to complete the entire experience.

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 The highest point of Mountain Kilimanjaro is the Uhuru Peak which is about 5895 meters above sea level.

Zanzibar Island is a sought-after safari destination with great views that soothe the mind. In case you wish to get away from the daily chores and listen to the sounds of the water, 

Zanzibar Island is a place to be. This African destination is worth planning for and you can never be a disappointment.

To enjoy the best safari experience in Tanzania, booking is required especially during the peak season. The peak season is normally June to September and December to February when demand for African safaris is high.

How To Plan Zanzibar Island Holiday With Kilimanjaro Mountain Hike?

Day 1 Fly to Kilimanjaro Mountain

Early morning our driver guide will pick you up from your overnight hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch up with your domestic flights to the airstrips closer to where you hope to start the hike.

On this day start the hike to Machame hut going through the montane forest. On the way, you may get the chance to see wild animals like forest elephants, duikers, elephants and others. Enjoy a birding experience in the forest as you continue hiking the mountain Kilimanjaro.

Make the stop at the Machame hut for dinner and overnight.

Day 2 Machame hut to Shira hut

Rise early morning for breakfast and continue with the hike up mountain Kilimanjaro. On the way, you may see a river gorge and a rocky gorge. Carry on to Shira hut which is at 3850 meters above sea level. 

 Day 3 Camp Shira To Camp Barranco

After having breakfast, start the trek up Mountain Kilimanjaro from Shira Camp continue moving up passing the stunning Lava tower. At this point, you may start experiencing altitude sickness. Move to Camp Barranco to enjoy the sunset while at Barranco Wall. the environment at this point is semi-dessert.

Descend to a level of 3895 meters above sea level where you spend the night.

Day 4 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Get up early for breakfast and carry on using the Mweka trail up to Barafu Camp. Carry on to Barranco wall, passing the scree to Karanga valley. This is under the Heim, Kersten, and Decken glaciers. Spend the night at Karanga Camp

Day 5 Destination Barafu Camp

Use the Mweka trail after breakfast but at this point, the environment is alpine dessert. You get to see Mawenzi Peak and Kibo Peak. Dinner and overnight at the Barafu camp

Day 6 Uhuru Peak then Mweka camp

Continue hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak which is at 5875 meters above sea level. The environment is quite challenging because of the glacier, alpine desert, and stone scree. With the walking poles, you can get through this challenging environment to the top.

 Dinner and overnight at the Mweka camp

 Day 7 Descend to the bottom

Spending time at Mountain Kilimanjaro is exciting and challenging too but finally, you get down to the bottom. Dinner and overnight at the bottom of Mountain Kilimanjaro 

Day 8: Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport

The hike on mountain Kilimanjaro is stressful so you need to relax at Zanzibar Island after these tiresome days. Fly to Kilimanjaro International Airport to catch up with your flight to Zanzibar Island.

Check into your hotel or Guesthouse to relax. In case you are not so exhausted, relax by the beach side.

Day 9: Zanzibar activities

While on Zanzibar Island, you may engage in activities like sunbathing, scenic viewing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat cruising, tubing, and much more that the Island has to offer.

Dinner and overnight at the hotel 

Day 10: Zanzibar activities

Since into the Zanzibar Island holiday mood by engaging in Island activities you may have missed the previous day like visiting the slave trade points, going horseback riding in the water, visiting the spice market, and others.

Day 11 Departure 

After completing the hike on the mountain Kilimanjaro and having fun at Zanzibar Island, fly back to the mainland to catch up with your departure flight.

When Is The Best Time To Hike Mountain Kilimanjaro And Book a Zanzibar Island Holiday?

The dry season is the most comfortable to book a safari holiday and Mountain Kilimanjaro hike. Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro is an all year around adventure and so are the Zanzibar Island holidays. During the dry season, the trails up mountain Kilimanjaro are quicker to navigate, and the overnights under the stars require camping on this mountain.

While at Zanzibar Island, the dry season provides an opportunity to see sparkling blue water and comfortably engage in Island activities. 

Note that demand for adventures on Mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island holidays is high in the dry season. This calls for high competition for logistics that support this holiday experience. This requires one to secure all the necessary logistics in advance to avoid last-minute disappointments.

Expect the company of another tourist during the dry season so if you are interested in having exclusive experience on Mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island, it may be quite impossible.

The wet season which serves as the low season is March to May and November may be challenging for those interested in hiking mountain Kilimanjaro. The routes leading up the mountain get slippery and impassable from the heavy rains making it hard to find the way up Mount Kilimanjaro.

At Zanzibar Island, most of the activities are outdoors making it hard to engage during a wet day but there less crowds so you have all the time for most activities on a clear day. In case you have a limited budget but wish to visit Zanzibar Island for a holiday, chances of discounted packages may be availed in the low season when sites try to break even.

How Safe Is Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island Holiday?

While hiking the mountain Kilimanjaro, you must be in the company of a ranger guide from Kenya Wildlife Services. These are well-trained ranger guides to provide emergency security for tourists and in case you need backup, it is communicated by the rangers to those on the ground. 

Trails have been constructed by regular visitors to mountain Kilimanjaro and so these are required to be followed by the tourists so that more are not constructed on the mountain which leads to environmental degradation.

As tourists, mind personal security by not walking on the mountain without an escorting ranger guide, and not carrying valuables that you may not be in a position to provide security for. Ensure you purchase enough food that can support you for all the days up on the mountain to avoid eating stale food. 

Take all necessary medication and do checkups before starting the hike up mountain Kilimanjaro so that you do not fall ill while up on the mountain.

At Zanzibar Island, you must be keen on the security of your belongings as people from all walks of life spend time on this Island. Do not engage in unlawful activities while on this Island that can compromise your sense of understanding like drugs, narcotics, and others.

In case you are not a good swimmer, try not to attempt to go onto the deeper ends of the ocean because you may end up drowning. 

Can I Hike Mountain Kilimanjaro with Kids and Visit Zanzibar Island For a Holiday?

Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro is for mature adults so children may not be allowed to engage in this adventure because of the hardships surrounding it. At Zanzibar Island, you can visit with the kids and alone as they are always under an adult person’s watch.

There are many activities that children can engage in while at Zanzibar Island like playing with the white sand by the beach, scenic viewing, walking by the beach, collecting shells off the beach, and much more.

How Much Is The Cost Of Safari To Mountain Kilimanjaro And Visit To Zanzibar Island?

The cost of hiking the mountain Kilimanjaro depends on the mountain trails you take, the number of people traveling with, the days to spend up the mountain, and much more. The cost of a Zanzibar Island visit depends on the package you choose which is up-scale, mid-range, and budget. The activities you engage in while at Zanzibar Island also matter to the cost of this adventure.

Remember the cost of park entrance fees and beach entrance fees that are used to support destination maintenance. 

Some of the items considered when costing a safari on the mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island holiday include the number of people traveling, the time of safari, the number of days, and much more.

Is Hiking Mountain Kilimanjaro And Zanzibar Highland Cost Worth The Money?

Hiking mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island beach holiday is worth the money. You get to hike the highest mountain in Africa that is Mountain Kilimanjaro with Uhuru peak at an altitude of 5895 meters above sea level as its highest point. Many adventure seekers get the opportunity to engage in this safari.

Zanzibar Island is a place of tranquility and time to wind up and unwind from life chores. You get to understand the history of the slave trade and know why modern-day slavery must be stopped. 

Get to learn how island people spend their lives and visit spots making points at the destination. 

When you hire local people as porters to assist with your bags, the payment you give them is one way to support their livelihood. This is one of the direct ways to give back to the local community while on safari in Tanzania.

Can I Charter to Mountain Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar Island from My country?

For all travel arrangements, it is best to seek help from a professional travel consultant in your country. However, to charter to Tanzania from your country, you need to seek clearance from the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority. 

You need to seek permission from the bodies responsible in advance so that all necessary arrangements can be made in advance. 

What To Pack For A Safari To Mountain Kilimanjaro And Zanzibar Island Holiday

• A camera to take photos and protect the memories of your adventure on a Tanzania safari
• Extra fully charged batteries.
• 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.
• Sunglasses to protect your eyes from the direct sunlight and buzzing insects.
• 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 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 the 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.
• Some whamming costumes for the time at Zanzibar Island

A combo of Zanzibar holiday and Mountain Kilimanjaro hike is an adventure like no other. Contact us to plan your safari today.