Mount Kilimanjaro to Serengeti National Park.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and then going on a safari in Serengeti National Park is one of the world’s most famous adventure pairs. These two safari destinations represent the very best of Tanzania, offering both a tough physical challenge and then a chance to see the incredible wildlife. While they are close to each other on a map, they are completely different safari experiences.
Kilimanjaro is all about ascending to the roof of Africa, battling the cold, and then pushing your body to its limits. Serengeti National Park is about descending into a vast, warm savannah, where you become a quiet observer of the nature’s greatest show. This article will explain how to move from the frozen volcanic peak to the hot, animal-filled plains and what makes each location so special.
Mountain challenge: Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mount Kilimanjaro is not just the highest mountain in Africa; it’s the world’s tallest free standing mountain, meaning is it’s not part of the mountain range. It reaches an elevation of 5895 metres (1934qf feet). The mountain is a dormant volcano with three cones; Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. What makes it unique is that you do not need any technical climbing skills or ropes to reach the summit, Uhuru Peak. It is essentially along, difficult hike, which is why it attracts so many people, from the experience trekkers to the first time adventurers.
The climb takes you through five distinct climate zones. You start in the lush rainforest where the air is thick and humid. As you go higher, you pass through moorland and alpine desert, where the landscape is rocky and dry. Finally you reach the summit zone, which is an arctic environment of the snow and ice, offering a stunning, frozen contrast to the warm African plains far below.
The entire journey is a test of endurance and mental toughness. The biggest challenge is not the climbing itself, but the altitude sickness, caused by the reduced oxygen in the thin air. Climbing Kilimanjaro usually takes between five and then nine days, and the long routes are always safer because they allow the body more time to adapt. Finishing the climb is a huge personal victory, a feeling of conquering one of the world’s natural giants.
Safari destination: Serengeti National Park.
After the hard work of climbing Kilimanjaro, Serengeti offers the perfect contrast; a relaxing, yet thrilling, wildlife safari experience. The word ‘’Serengeti’’ comes from the Maasai language and means ‘’endless plains,’’ a perfect description for this vast area of about 15, 000 square kilometers (5,790 square miles). The park is famous around the world, majorly for one massive event that is the Great Migration.
The Great Migration is the largest movement of the animals on Earth. Every year over 1.5 million wildebeest, plus hundreds of the thousands of zebras and gazelles, travel in the massive circle, following the rains and then the fresh grass. They move from the south of the Serengeti up to the Maasai Mara National Reserve in Kenya and then back again. Observing this immense movement, especially the dramatic river crossings where the animals must brave the crocodile-filled waters, is a highlight of any safari to Serengeti.
But Serengeti offers more than just the migration. It is one of the best safari destinations in Africa to see the Big five (lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and then African buffalo). The park has a very high concertation of the predators, making lion and then cheetah sighting common. The wide open plains also make it easy to spot animals from a distance. The experience is one of the quiet awe, driving in an open top safari vehicle watching a lion pride hunt, or an elephant family calmly eating. It is a world away from the cold, harsh environment of the mountain.
Transition: Getting from Kilimanjaro to Serengeti.
The starting point for a Kilimanjaro climb is usually the town of Moshi or the city of Arusha, in the northern Tanzania. These places are located near Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). After you successfully complete your climb, you will return to one of these centers to rest and then prepare for the next part of your adventure. The distance between Kilimanjaro area and Serengeti is about 335 kilometers (208 miles) to the closet parts of the park.
There are two main ways to make the journey from the mountain area to the endless plains.
Driving (Northern safari circuit); this is the most popular way to travel. It is a road trip that turns the journey into a safari. The drive from Arusha takes you westward and you often stop at other famous parks along the way, such as Tarangire National Park and Ngorongoro Crater.
The roast are sometimes bumpy, but it allows you to see the landscape change dramatically from the highlands near the mountain to the Great Rift Valley and then eventually the savannah. It is a long drive, taking several; hours, but it helps you see more of Tanzania with African Vacation Safaris.
Flying (the quickest option); for the tourists who are tired after the climb and want to save time, a short flight is the best choice. There are small domestic airlines operate flights from Arusha or Kilimanjaro international Airport to the several small airstrips inside Serengeti National Park like Seronera. This is much faster, taking only a couple of hours, and then gives you an incredible bird’s eye view of the plains and then animals below you land.
Why combine the two: the ultimate contrast.
The combination of Kilimanjaro and Serengeti is so popular because it offers the ultimate adventure contrast. It’s a journey of the extremes that challenges and rewards you in completely different ways.
From vertical to horizontal; the first part is a vertical journey where you climb thousands of feet, with your eyes constantly looking up toward the summit. The second part is a horizontal journey where you drive across flat, massive plains with your eyes scanning the horizon for wildlife. This switch from intense focus on the one small path or relaxed, broad observation is very refreshing.
From cold to warm; you move from the bitter, below freezing temperatures of the summit, where you wear every layer you own, sunny plains where you wear light safari clothing. This dramatic change in environment makes both parts of the trip feel more intense.
From self to nature; climbing Kilimanjaro is a highly personal challenge against yourself and the forces of nature. Your focus is internal on your breathing, your pace, and your willpower. The Serengeti safari is a shift in focus to the vast external world of nature. You become a small part of a huge ecosystem, observing life and death play out in front of you.
This humbling safari experience is perfect way to relax and reflect after the tiresome effort of the climb. Together the two experiences offer a complete picture of Tanzania’s beauty and majesty with African Vacation Safaris.