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Off the beaten track, is an over used phrase and to well and truly get off the beaten track usually means inaccessible, sleeping rough and expensive. However, Kilimanjaro is
easily accessible and close enough to the Serengeti to easily be included in any safari itinerary.
To get off the beaten track here and discover the joys around Kilimanjaro is easy, comfortable and will not necessitate you having to pay for expensive internal flights. To get
away from the hordes of tourists is easy here; most people will be at Machame village or Marangu village ready to climb Kilimanjaro. This mountain is huge and some of the
areas around the mountain are rich in game and adventure. You just need to know where to look. |
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To get off the beaten track here and discover the joys around Kilimanjaro is easy, comfortable and will not necessitate you having to pay for expensive internal flights. To get away from the hordes of tourists is easy here; most people will be at Machame village or Marangu village ready to climb Kilimanjaro. This mountain is huge and some of the areas around the mountain are rich in game and adventure. You just need to know where to look.
Although the majority of wildlife to be found at Gombe Stream is primates, in addition to the famous chimpanzees, you may see olive baboons as well as vervet, blue and red-tail monkeys. Leopard and bushbuck are also residents in the dense forest, along with fish eagles and palm-nut vultures that are often seen flying overhead. Gombe Stream is the perfect place for a walking safari, allowing you to cool off along the way with a dip in one of the many streams that criss-cross the park.
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The west of the mountain and bordering on Kenya’s famous Amboseli Park is a private game concession; that is a private park that has few visitors. There are few lodges here and the land is owned by the Maasai. This is one area in Africa where huge Elephant Bulls, more than 50 years old, carrying huge tusk, are regularly seen. These bulls are part of family units and are permanently in this area. These family units can be spotted negotiating the acacia woodlands of the lower slopes of Kilimanjaro in search of food and water. The elephants here are the healthiest Elephant populations of the whole African Continent
Wildlife in this area is very rich in zebra, wildebeest, Thomson's and Grant's gazelle, Maasai giraffe. By far the best way to experience this area is in the two accommodations that we propose in this itinerary since they are eco friendly, pure luxury and managed by the Maasai. Predators such as lion, cheetah, leopard and spotted hyena even though shy and elusive, are present around this area; which is also a heaven for birdwatchers.
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The Maasai are native to this area and have managed to live here and keep their traditional culture intact; the Maasai link this area of Kenya and Tanzania and ensure the continuation of traditional values that other tribes cast off long ago. The challenge is for the Maasai to improve their life conditions and not compromise ‘the ways’ of which they are so proud.
Interaction with the local people is encouraged during the client’s stay in this part of Tanzania so clients can learn about their culture and traditions. The Maasai community in this area uses tourism to help to make a stand up the challenges of a fast changing environment.
During the safari in West Kilimanjaro clients journey into Traditional Africa, learn about the language and way of a life of some of the last nomadic pastoralists on Earth, visit their "manyattas" (village), play with their children, enjoy singing and dancing or taste a roasted goat the Maasai way and all this under the Majestic presence of Mount Kilimanjaro the tallest mountain in Africa.
Activities whilst staying at the camps include game drives in a 4x4 vehicle, night game drives [not available in the National Parks] to see the nocturnal animals, walking safaris escorted by Maasai warriors, interaction with the local Maasai including participation in ceremonies if available.
The Itinerary
Day 1: Depart from the European Airport to Kilimanjaro International Airport where you will be met by a Africa representative and transferred to your hotel for overnight (dinner not included).
Day 2: Enjoy a leisurely early breakfast before heading out into “the bush”. Your Africa representative will give you an in-depth safari briefing before you depart and start your African Adventure. You will depart the lodge at around 09.00 hrs and drive for around 3 hours to reach your camp on West Kilimanjaro. On arrival you will be welcomed by the friendly staff that will show you to your luxurious accommodation. After a mouth watering lunch, you will go on an afternoon game drive to see what the wonders of this area have in stall for you. Dinner and overnight at the West Kilimanjaro Camp.
Day 3: Coffee or tea and biscuits will be delivered to your tent this morning and will serve a welcoming wake up call. In order to build up an appetite, enjoy an early morning bush walk with the Maasai Warriors. The early morning is the best time to spot the abundant wildlife as well as appreciate the stunning landscapes this area has to offer. Return to the camp for a well deserved breakfast and have the rest of the morning at leisure to enjoy the beautiful views of Mount Kilimanjaro. After a mouth watering lunch at the camp, explore the region with an afternoon game drive. On returning back to the camp, enjoy a lovely sundowner by the camp fire. Dinner and overnight at the West Kilimanjaro Camp.
Day 4: After a delicious, leisurely breakfast, the camps guides will take you, should you wish, to a Maasai Boma so that you can learn a bit more about these world famous pastoralists and their awe inspiring culture and traditions.
You will get to experience what life as a Maasai is like. Having spent time with the local community return to the camp for a lovely bush lunch. In the afternoon you can either enjoy a walking safari or another game drive. Dinner and overnight at the West Kilimanjaro Camp.
Day 5: Alas, the final day of your trip has arrived. After breakfast you will be transferred back to either Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha where you can either continue with you safari experience or where it will be the end of our services.
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The Lodges
Rivertrees Country Inn (Arusha)
Rivertrees Country Inn is a beautiful lodge on the outskirts of Arusha and is located half way between the International Airport at Kilimanjaro and Arusha Town Centre. Overlooking Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, Rivertrees is a small family owned hotel with beautiful landscaped gardens and is the perfect way to start or end a safari.
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KIA Lodge
Only a few minutes drive from Kilimanjaro International Airport. KIA Lodge is situated in the heart of beautiful savannah scenery that is so typical of East Africa. Centrally placed between the northern towns of Moshi and Arusha, KIA Lodge is ideally situated whatever your onward journey be it climbing or visiting the area surrounding the world's highest free standing mountain or starting a safari into some of Africa's amazing and unique wildlife wildernesses.
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Hemingway's Camp (Western Kilimanjaro)
Situated on the foothills of Kilimanjaro this classic safari tented camp is the perfect place to enjoy your time
viewing the tallest mountain on the African Continent. All tents are quite luxurious and have en suite bathrooms and private viewing verandahs so that the clients can enjoy the stunning scenery that surrounds this camp.
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Ndarakwai Ranch (Western Kilimanjaro)
Ndarakwai Ranch is over 11,000 acres in size and located on the slopes of Western Kilimanjaro. It is a permanent tented lodge with views of both Mt.Kilimanjaro and Mt.Meru. The camp is nestled in a lush forest of towering fig, and yellow-barked acacias that line the seasonal NgareNairobiRiver (North). Facilities include 12 spacious tents with thatched roofs, en suite bathrooms with safari-style showers, and a large separate dining area.
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