Name: Private Luxury Fly In Safari in Tanzania
Brand: Discover Africa
SKU: elewana-skysafari-ea-8-days
Price: 13340 USD
Availability: InStock

Is This Trip for Me?

Mount Kilimanjaro – This iconic snow-capped dormant volcano is Africa’s highest peak at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet) above sea level. Trekking on Kilimanjaro takes you through five different climatic zones, from tropical rainforest at the base to arctic conditions with permanent glaciers near the summit. We suggest this option of 7 days via the Machame Route with an established local operator, specializing in mountain trekking. This is a private option based on 2 people and including all park fees. It is possible to experience the trip with your family as a private group, or to join an existing group with set dates. Contact us for options.

Your 7-Day Itinerary

Arrive at Kilimanjaro airport and road transfer to the Outpost Lodge.

Meet with the outfitter's team for a comprehensive climb briefing. Overnight accommodation and breakfast included. Dinner available at a supplement.

The Machame (Whiskey) Route is the most popular camping route on Kilimanjaro. It’s a rugged combination of routes which begins through the rainforest at Machame Village on the southwest side of the mountain, and over six days, rises onto the edge of the Shira Plateau, down into the beautiful Great Barranco Valley, then circumvents the Kibo massif counter-clockwise through alpine desert until reaching Barafu Camp.

From here, the trek to the summit is done overnight to the crater rim on the steep scree slopes of the east-south-east facing Mweka Route. The trek winds through beautiful scenery, which changes quite dramatically every day.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast included

MACHAME GATE (5,950 ft./ 1,815 mt.) ~ MACHAME CAMP (9,850 ft./ 3,000 m)

Departure from Arusha at around 8am for the Machame Gate, about 1.5 hours’ drive. Upon completion of entry formalities, begin walking through the mist on a 4 x 4 track for about an hour into the forest. The track ends, and the trail continues up through the verdant forest. You will likely hear the many exotic birds in the canopy above and may even see black & white colobus monkeys and sykes monkeys as you hike along the forest floor.

The trek is quite long (12 miles / 20 km), though not very steep, and it takes from 5 to 7 hours trekking to reach the first camp. Machame Camp is just above the forest zone, and when it is clear, there are views of jagged Shira ridge and the summit itself.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

MACHAME CAMP ~ SHIRA CAMP (12,600 ft./ 3,840 m).

Wake early to a steaming cup of tea or coffee served in your tent. After breakfast, begin up the steep track up through a savannah of tall grasses, trees of giant Heather and Erica. The clouds should clear for a beautiful view of the Western Breach and the glaciers atop which mark the summit of Uhuru Peak.

Scramble around large boulders as you enter the moorland zone, marked by the bizarre lobelia and senecio plants, and volcanic rocks draped with lichen beards, which protect wild alpine flowers growing at their bases.

You’ll reach camp after descending a small valley and crossing a brook, then ascending onto the Shira Ridge, after a total of about 4 to 5 hours of trekking.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

SHIRA CAMP ~ BARRANCO CAMP (12,950 ft./ 3,950 m)

Proceed steadily upward over long ridgelines of high desert for about 4 hours, and break for lunch at 14,500 feet (4,420 mt.). After lunch, continue to Lava Tower, a 300-foot-tall volcanic plug, which marks an exposed pass at 15,000 feet (4,600 m).

In the afternoon, descend the steep track into the Great Barranco Valley. Barranco Camp is set on a flat area enclosed on three sides with steep valley walls and the Kibo massif itself. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above, amidst the eerie landscape of plants such as the giant groundsels (Senecio Kilimanjari), and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Trekking time is from 6 to 7 hours.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

BARRANCO CAMP ~ BARAFU CAMP (15,200 ft./ 4,630 m)

The day begins with a scramble up the steep ‘Barranco Wall’, trekking 3 to 4 hours before stopping in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch.

In the afternoon the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature grows colder and the landscape sparser as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on a small, exposed flat area on a ridge, acting a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight.

Eat and drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

BARAFU CAMP ~ UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft./5,895 mt.) ~ MWEKA CAMP (10,200 ft./3,110 m)

The steaming hot drink will arrive very early on this momentous day. A midnight wake-up call is the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hours of trekking). You begin trekking between 12:30 and 1am. The temperatures range from just below freezing at midnight, to between 10 deg. F (-12 deg. C) to –10 F. (-23 deg. C) just before dawn at the summit.

The winding path of endless switchbacks will take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers at early dawn, and behind you the spires of Mawenzi will be silhouetted against the red glow of the sun from beneath the clouds. After about 6 hours of walking, you will come to the edge of the crater, at Stella Point, at 19,000 feet (5,790 mt.), which is the end of the steep track. From here, there is a gentle slope upward about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak.

After a short time at the summit, descend the steep scree trail back to Barafu Camp for some rest and then summon your strength for further descent to Mweka Camp for the night.

Includes & excludes

Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner included

MWEKA CAMP ~ MWEKA GATE (6,000 ft. /1,830 m) ~ ARUSHA

Descend straight to the gate (2-3 hours), where you’ll have lunch and will be awarded climbing certificates. A private transfer back to Arusha, will drop you off at the airport.

We strongly recommend to extend your trip with 1 night in Arusha and then off to a few days on safari. Contact us for options.

Every itinerary can be crafted to your needs, from adjusting the length of your stay to including different accommodation and refining the route. Your safari is yours, shaped around your idea of a dream experience.

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We travel a lot. I don’t normally write reviews and I typically plan and book everything myself because I am very exacting when it comes to the itinerary, logistics, accommodations, activities, etc. – everything must be perfect. When planning this trip, I vetted and researched at least 10 top-rated companies (including phone interviews) and reviewed a dozen itineraries before beginning to work with Discover Africa and Susan Veldman.

We were a group of 2 couples traveling together on a complex itinerary with high expectations, a restricted amount of time, and a budget range. Susan was patient, professional, friendly, and expertly knowledgeable. She worked with all of our parameters, spent hours on Zoom calls with me, and put together a lifetime experience trip to Tanzania and several other locations that was seamless and exceptional. In addition, Susan checked in with me regularly during our trip to make sure that everything was going well.

We had it all – incredible private guides, perfectly located accommodations, a great combination of luxury and simplicity to meet our desired experience at each location, and enriching experiences.

While on the trip, I was also pleased to hear from independent local operators that Discover Africa is highly regarded in the industry as an ethical company that is one of the best.

Save time and effort – I have done all of the work for you! (lol) – I highly recommend Susan at Discover Africa for your safari dreams!

"We travel a lot. I don’t normally write reviews and I typically plan and book everything myself because I am very exacting when it comes to the itinerary, logistics, accommodations, activities, etc. – everything must be perfect. When planning this..."

Debby Goosey, United States · 18 Sep 2025 ·

View All Testimonials

"Living in Florida, I reached out to several tour operators online. Susan Swanepoel from Discover Africa was incredible to work with. She was informative, very prompt to respond, and ensured that all of my questions regarding my Kili hike were..."

Anurag, United States · 3 Mar 2023 ·

"This trip was supposed to happen in 2020, then 2021. We were finally able to take it in 2022. It was memorable in every way! Adelle at Discover Africa was so helpful, knowledgeable, and responsive -- her communication and accommodation..."

Robbyne, United States · 26 Oct 2022 ·

"From the outset - when we discussed our budget, our accommodation preferences and what we expected to see - we were impressed with Vihann and his attention to detail. Our trip started at Kilimanjaro airport and included a game drive..."

Richard M, United Kingdom · 5 Oct 2022 ·

"In planning for a trip one year out, I 'interviewed' US, European, and African travel companies. Matthys of Discover Africa listened to what I wanted to accomplish for the group of 10, was willing to make changes and make better..."

Ruth, United States · 12 Sep 2018 ·

"We had a wonderful experience with the Discover Africa team on our trip to Kilimanjaro and Zanzibar. Due to unforeseen circumstances we needed to head down early and their team were most helpful in arranging exciting new options for us..."

Mark Tomlinson, South Africa · 10 Jun 2015 ·