2025 Mt. Kilimanjaro Hike, Race and Serengeti Safari

2025 MT KILIMANJARO RACE, SERENGETI SAFARI AND KILI HIKE

Due to popular demand, Dream Travel is proud to announce its ninth tour to the enchanted country of Tanzania for what is sure to be a trip of a lifetime! We sold out in 2024 and demand is high again, so we're happy to say that we're offering this escorted trip again for 2025!

This is the bucket list trip that everyone wants to do, but like in 2024, we will sell out so book early to avoid disappointment as we won't offer it again until 2027!

Many dream about going to Africa but worry about safety, finances or finding the time. We’re here to tell you that Tanzania is extremely safe, less expensive than you may think and if you can’t find the time to live your life now, when will you?

This is your opportunity to go on a trip of a lifetime that you won’t ever forget, all the the while being in a safe, group environment with English-speaking guides, professional drivers, cooks and porters to take care of you each and every day! As well, this will be a Dream Travel escorted trip meaning that we'll have a rep on site in Tanzania!

Spend 5 nights, 6 days on Mt. Kilimanjaro with porters, cooks, guides and private, flush toilets! Enjoy a 3 nights, 4 days lodge safari on the Serengeti to see the Great Zebra and Wildebeest Migration, head into the world-famous Ngorongoro Crater to see the Big Five and visit a Masai tribe! And if you're up for it, compete in a race around the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro! And all this in a safe, group atmosphere brought to you and escorted by Dream Travel!

Are you still not sure you want to reward yourself with a trip that you deserve? Uncertain if you could hike up Kilimanjaro? Maybe you have never been to Africa and wonder if it’s something you’d enjoy? If you have questions about this trip, then join Dream Travel for a free Zoom meeting where we will discuss the entire trip and answer any of your questions. Contact us for more details.

TRAVEL DATES
You can see the full itinerary when you click on the PDF under the Itinerary tab.

Although the trip officially starts on Feb 15, you need to land no later than the AM that day. However, we highly recommend you land on Feb 13 or Feb 14 to get over jetlag. If your flight lands in the evening, Feb 13 would be the best day to arrive.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• Airport pickup and drop off in Tanzania at the JRO Kilimanjaro Airport

• Optional Half Day tour on Feb 14

• Group dinner on Feb 15 and on Feb 27

• English speaking guides

• Hotel and Safari Lodges based on double occupancy

• A total of 6 nights at the Honey Badger Lodge, breakfast included

• 5 nights / 6 days hike up the Machame Route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, camping fees, all meals on the hike, transfers to and from the mountain, guides and porters, tents, sleeping bags, a private, flush toilet for our group and mattresses.

• 3 nights / 4 days Lodge Safari with all meals included

• 4x4 vehicle with game viewing hatches during the safari with a driver / English speaking guide

• Park / Camp fees and game viewing

• Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater visit

• Race entry into the event of your choice (5K, Half Marathon, Full Marathon)

• Taxes

*Prices are per person and based on double occupancy. Single Occupancy is additional

WHAT’S EXCLUDED

• Airfare

• Tanzania visa and travel insurance

• Lunch and dinner while at the Honey Badger Lodge

• Drinks

• Tips* and items of a personal nature

• Activities/Services not specified
  
  *Tips are mandatory for both the Kilimanjaro hike and the safari as porters, guides, drivers and cooks will be taking care of you the entire time. Additional details below under FAQs
  
  
  

UNDERSTANDING THE PRICING
Prices are in USD, per person and based on double occupancy
Single supplement rates upon request.
Your initial deposit of $250 can only be taken in CAD, will be collected from Race Roster and converted to USD and applied to your package. All other payments will be collected by Dream Travel in USD.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE
A $250 deposit is required to book this trip.
A second deposit equal to 50% of your package amount is due within one week of your initial deposit.
Final payment for those who book after Oct 1 is December 1, 2024.

You may make smaller installments if you wish as long as your payments meet the deadlines above.

TOUR ITINERARY
Please see the tab along the side for a day-by-day itinerary

Mt. KILIMANJARO 5K, HALF and FULL MARATHON
It is not required that you run one of the distances if you don’t want to, however, you may also consider walking an event so that you can be a part of the experience! People of all abilities have taken part in this exciting race weekend.

ZANZIBAR ADD ON
Interested in visiting Stone Town on the Spice Island? We’ll post an optional, add on side trip to Zanzibar around June so plan on adding another few days to your trip to relax on the beach after the main itinerary!

SERENGETI SAFARI and MT. KILIMANJARO TIPS
It is customary to tip the Kilimanjaro guides and porters after the hike and again the guides of the safari as the porters, chef, guides, drivers and crew work very hard and for minimum wage. The main guide for both the hike and the safari will divvy up your tip money to their staff.

During the hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro, porters will carry everything up the mountain other than your daypack. That includes, but is not limited to, your gear, sleeping bags and mattresses, tents, food, water, chairs, tables, toilets, medical gear and much, much more. A chef and his staff will cook fresh meals every day as well.

Tips on Kilimanjaro should be between US200 and US300 per person.
Tips for the safari should be between US100 and US150 per person.

VACCINATIONS and MEDICATIONS
There are no required vaccinations, however please visit your Traveler's Health Clinic or your family doctor to see what they recommend. Please note that the Yellow Fever vaccination (or an exemption card) is sometimes required to land in Tanzania.

TwinRX (Hep A & B) and Typhoid are highly recommended.
Diamox or similar is typically recommended to prevent altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro

INSURANCE
Full medical travel insurance is mandatory for this trip for anyone visiting Zanzibar and/or hiking Kilimanjaro, but coverage including cancellation/interruption insurance is highly recommended. When talking to your insurance provider, let them know that Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb, but a hike that goes to 5895m.

Our group ManuLife Travel Insurance Packages (available only to Canadians) include medical only or full coverage including the following:

• Cancel For Any Reason coverage*

• Trip cancelation

• Trip interruption

• Full medical

• Baggage

Click here for more information and a quote

Please use the following when purchasing your insurance so that we can assist you in case of an issue or need to use your insurance:

*Please read the policy for details on the Cancel for any reason coverage

PLEASE NOTE THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE THE CANCEL FOR ANY REASON (CFAR) COVERAGE, THE INSURANCE MUST BE PURCHASED WITHIN 72 HOURS OF YOUR DEPOSIT BEING PAID.

CANCELLATION INFORMATION
Those that purchased cancellation insurance may place a claim for the entire amount of their deposit(s) and/or payment(s) assuming that they are cancelling for insurable reasons. Those that have Cancel For Any Reason coverage do not need to have an insurable reason to cancel, but may not be entitled to receive a 100% refund.

As we have to order park and hike permits and more as soon as you book with us to secure your space, the following non-refundable cancellation fees will apply:
-$250 for cancellations up until May 1, 2024
-50% of your package amount for cancellations from May 2, 2024 – 120 days prior to departure
-100% of package amount for cancellations 119 days or less, prior to departure

Can I participate in just the safari or just the hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro?
Yes, you may pick and choose as you wish. Packages and prices are set up to reflect the different options.

Do I have to run one of the races?
No. You may elect to run, walk or spectate a race, or stay poolside sipping drinks at the hotel or head out and do your own thing.

Why is tipping customary on the hike and the safari?
Once you’re on Mt. Kilimanjaro and you watch porters haul up all your gear (with the exception of your day pack), chairs, tents, food, water, private flush toilets and everything else you require to be comfortable for the better part of a week, you’ll understand. Porters work for minimum wage and work very hard for you to make sure you have a fantastic trip. The same goes for the safari.

How much should I tip?
The total recommended tips for the safari should be between $100 and $150 per person.
The total recommended tips for the hike should be between $250 and $300 per person.

Can I pay the tips in advance?
You’re not able to pay it in advance as you’ll be giving cash directly to the guides so that they can divvy up the money properly.

How much money should I bring and are there ATM's?
There are plenty of ATM's where we are traveling to, however, we recommend you bring enough USD for the tips for the safari and hike and an extra $50 to $100 in small bills for restaurants, drivers, etc.

Is Tanzania safe?
Absolutely! Tanzania is very safe, the people very friendly and besides, you’ll be in a group setting the entire time unless you leave the hotel on your own.

Will I see the Big 5 on the safari?
Although you’ll never hear someone guarantee that you see the “Big 5” (lions, rhinos, elephants, buffalo and leopards), we have seen each of these animals almost every time we go. On top of that, you’ll see zebras, monkey’s, water buffalo, hippo’s, giraffe’s, wildebeest, hyenas, baboons, warthogs, more than 500 species of birds including flamingos, and hundreds more!

How is the food in Tanzania?
The food is fantastic, and choice of meat dishes or vegetarian and vegan dishes are possible. During the hike, a personal chef will prepare the meals and they won’t disappoint! On safari, you'll be staying at lodges with fantastic food as well! During your free time, there are good restaurants with a wide variety of choices.

What clothes/gear should I bring?
Dream Travel will send everyone a comprehensive list of items to bring and what to leave at home, as well as clothing suggestions.

Do I need special gear to hike up Kilimanjaro?
Not at all. You do need a good pair of hiking shoes/boots that have been broken in, then proper clothing. Nothing else is required as it’s not a technical climb, it’s a hike.

Can I rent poles, jackets, etc for the hike instead of bringing the from home?
Absolutely. Dream Travel will provide a list of items available to rent and their prices.

May I bring my children?
You may, and depending on their age, there will be receive a discounted price. The minimum age to hike up Kilimanjaro is 10.

Can anyone hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro?
We have seen children as young as 10 (minimum age) hiking up Mt. Kilimanjaro and people late into their 80’s. That said, this is a very individual thing as everyone reacts differently to long hiking distances and altitude (see medication recommendation above to help with that). We will explain more during the Zoom meetings.

How fit do I need to be to hike up Mt. Kilimanjaro?
This is a difficult question to answer as it’s not just about fitness. Some days the hike is long, but it is never fast, it’s always “pole pole” (pronounced pole-y, pole-y) which means “slowly slowly”. We have had clients of all fitness levels hike up Kilimanjaro.

Can I stay longer than the itinerary calls for?
Yes, you may stay longer if you wish, come in a few days earlier to get over jetlag or do both. You may even want to consider flying to Zanzibar after the group tour ends and get some R&R on the beach!

What money do they use in Tanzania?
Tanzanian shillings are used locally, but many restaurants and souvenir shops will accept credit cards or US Dollars. Leave your CAD Dollars at home as it won’t be accepted.

Are there things that I should be aware of while on the hike or the safari?
Dream Travel will provide a comprehensive list of things to consider as well as rules of conduct while on safari or hiking.

What’s the weather like?
Typically in February and March the weather ranges from 20 to 30 degrees between day and night. It’s dry and warm, so quite comfortable.

Are there a lot of bugs?
Surprisingly not at all!

Will my cellphone work there?
It will but even with a “good” roaming plan, you’ll pay too much. You can pick up a local sim card for cheap or get an e-sim card if your phone is unlocked.

Will I have any free time?
Between the hike and the safari you’ll have three evenings to do your own thing, and one or two full days depending on whether your run or not. If you wish to add more free time, we recommend that you arrive a few days earlier and this way you'll acclimatize prior to hiking Kilimanjaro.