Hi
As promised in the last email, where I outlined different options for short world birding trips with no quarantine involved, here is the information for Tanzania. 

 

Traditional birding trips in Tanzania usually involve a wildlife safari in Serengeti and Ngorongoro and perhaps an extension to the endemics of the Usambara mountains.
 

We will also offer that in extensions, though our 7 Wonders Birding core tour contains birding and summiting Kilimanjaro - the highest mountain in Africa of 5985 meters, and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. 
Summiting is relatively easy compared to the highest peaks of other continents. 
 

The question is, can it efficiently be combined with birding in just a week? 
Yes, certainly.
Read on to learn how. 
 

Kilimanjaro. 
Just taste the word.
Smell it.
Feel it.
Dream it. 

There is a huge draw to climb Kilimanjaro. It is the dominating and genuinely iconic feature on the horizon of the savanna. 
 

From a climber's point of view, it is also relatively easy to summit. It is a classic trekking peak. You don't need climbing skills to reach the top. What you do need is determination, being in relatively good shape, and coping with the altitude. 
 

I've come up with an itinerary where you can summit Kilimanjaro, do a lot of birding, and only take 5 days off from work. So even from the west coast of North America leaving Friday night, it is possible to be back on Sunday evening next week! 
 

The fastest route takes five days. Longer treks take up to nine days. It is pretty common to add one day to the short route to have an acclimatization day. We shall also add one day to our customized program for birders. 
However, we will add a day to have more time to bird! 

In many ways, our strategy works better than the traditional program where they on day two climb from 2700m to 3700m, and on day three make an excursion to about 4000 meters and back to sleep at 3700m. 

At 2700 meters, there is cloud-forest and a lot of birds. At 3700 meters, there is heath and very few species of birds. So it makes a lot of sense for birders to spend as much time as possible in the forested areas. 

In fact, many birding companies include a day walking the first part of the Marangu trail, as it gives easy access to forest birds that are not seen on regular safaris. Also, you are rarely allowed to walk in nature on safaris. Kilimanjaro NP offers a nice contrast to this fact.

Take into account that one will be more affected by altitude sleeping two nights at 3700m. 
 

Instead, I have developed a strategy that will give you better birding results and prepare you even better for the high altitude. 

 

We use the alpinist mantra.  

By working high, you get exposed to altitude. By sleeping low, you oxygenate your body and get better rest. 
 

Trekking companies don't use the same strategy because they have to adapt to the people in the group. It would be counterintuitive backtracking and doing the same uphill hike two days in a row, even if it is the most sensible thing to do.
For birders, it is different. It will allow us more time in prime habitat. 
So what - if we walk extra miles doing so!
 

Check out the plan below for our confirmed trip this October.
 

Day 1. Sunday, Oct 24. Arusha to Moshi
Arrival at the latest 12.55 PM to Arusha. Transfer to Moshi (perhaps via Arusha NP for some birdwatching en route)
 

Day 2. Monday, Oct 25. Moshi-Marangu Gate - Mandara Hut
Predawn breakfast. All-day birdwatching. Early start to reach Marangu Gate at break of dawn. We want to be there as early as possible or in any other wooded area so we can birdwatch first thing in the morning. 
Lunch en route where there is lots of good forest habitat. 
Night Mandara Hut. 2700m.

-- Elevation: 1860m/6100ft to 2700m/8875ft
-- Distance: 8km/5mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Montane Forest 
 

Day 3. Tuesday, Oct 26. Mandara Hut-Horumbu Hut-back to Mandara Hut.
Predawn breakfast. 
Birdwatching at the lower end above Mandara Hut in the morning, mid-morning, continuing birding up towards Horumbu Hut. A packed lunch could work well this day, in order not to lose time. Hopefully, we can reach Horumbu and still have time to bird our way back to Mandara Hut. 

-- Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
-- Distance: 12km/7.5mi (one way)
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours + 2.5 hours back
-- Habitat: Cloud forest first part, then heathland and back to cloud forest.
 

Day 4. Wednesday, Oct 27. Mandara Hut to Horumbu Hut.
Predawn breakfast
Faster pace today. Lunch at Horumbu Hut at around 1–2 PM. 
Afternoon hiking up to + 4000m and back. 

-- Elevation: 2700m/8875ft to 3700m/12,200ft
-- Distance: 12km/7.5mi (one way)
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours + 3.5 hours high altitude excursion
-- Habitat: Cloud forest first part, then heathland

Day 5. Thursday, Oct 28. Hike to Kibo Hut. 
Sleep in. Lots of sleep is needed. Breakfast at 10 AM. Start hiking at 11 AM. Slow ascent to Kibo Hut 4700m. 
Light dinner at 5.30 PM and rest. It will be hard to sleep at this altitude. 

-- Elevation: 3700m/12,200ft to 4700m/15,500ft
-- Distance: 9km/5.5mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
 

Day 6. Friday, Oct 29. Kilimanjaro summit and hike back to Horumbu Hut. 
Midnight. Start hiking for the summit - Uhuru Peak 5895m. After Africa's highest point, we shall walk back to Horumbu Hut. 

-- Elevation: 4700m/15,500ft to 5895m/19,340ft
-- Down to 3700m/12,200ft
-- Distance: 6km/4mi up / 15km/9mi down
-- Hiking Time: 6-8 hours up / 4-5 hours down
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
 

Day 7. Saturday. Oct 30. Horumbu Hut to Marangu Gate. 
6 AM start. There is very little time for birding en route if we have passengers leaving Arusha this same night. 
The earliest you can plan your international evening flight is at 17.55. Later is better.

In Mochi, we'll get a shower and change of clothing in the hotel and drive to Arusha airport for evening flights or hotel. 
 

What if I have more time?
We shall organize a week's birding in the endemic rich Usambara mountains Oct 17-23 before the Kilimanjaro trek for birders with more time. It shall also give a little bit of altitude grounding for Kilimanjaro even if we mainly move in the 1500-1700m zone. 

Suppose you are interested in a Safari to Serengeti and Ngorongoro and time it for the Wildebeest migration. In that case, it is best to do this after Kilimanjaro the first week of November. Obviously, we'd supply you with a first-class bird guide so you shall not miss any of the birds en route. 
 

What if I don't want to summit and just do birding? 
Depending on how much time you have, if you have two-three weeks, we can arrange the Serengeti and Ngorongoro before Usambara Oct-10-16, then Usambara and finally birding the slopes of Kilimanjaro with us only up to Horombu Hut.
Just let me know what your preferences are.

If interested in a tour this October, you need to reply to this email immediately, and I'd send a more detailed itinerary for the different parts. If you are interested in this itinerary in 2022 or 2023, send me an email with prefered time of year, so we can schedule a departure. 
Remember our post Covid special offer for 2022-2024 is still on. Check this link.