THE BEST THING DO AFTER CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO

 

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is truly an amazing feat. Fortunately, there’s a range of great trips to add on to the back of a Kilimanjaro climb. Although many people just think there is nothing to do after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro but let me tell you one good thing.

There are a lot of things you can do and enjoy after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and you deserve it. There are many adventures you could choose from all of it which are great options like Zanzibar, Big Five safari, Hot springs (check), waterfalls ( Materuni, Kilasia, Ndoro ), also coffee tour, Serengeti, Ngorongoro, lake Manyara, and Tarangire. The best thing to do after climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Tanzania is home to all sorts of spectacular wildlife, and a safari also presents a unique opportunity to get to know the customs of the local people. And there's an almost endless list of things one can do after climbing Kilimanjaro, both within Tanzania and just beyond its borders. But we don't think such a list is useful what you really want is to know the very best options for nearby travel. With that in mind, we suggest the following trips, which include plenty of varied and world-class attraction

THE BEST THING TO DO AFTER CLIMBING MOUNT KILIMANJARO

1. Tanzania Safari

v  Safari in Serengeti

v  Explore Tarangire

v  Wildebeest migration

v  Camp in Ngorongoro crater

v  Cultural tourism

v  Adventure Activities in Lake Manyara

2. Zanzibar

3. Gorilla Trekking

We’ve rounded up the things to do after climbing Kilimanjaro.

TANZANIA SAFARI

1. Safari in Serengeti

Serengeti National Park might just be the most famous safari destination in the world, and its reputation is well deserved.   This is an ecosystem known around the world for its magnificent and extremely abundant large game and other wildlife. Serengeti National Park is a world heritage  Site teeming with wildlife: over 2 million ungulates, 4000 lions, 1000 leopards, 550 cheetahs, and some 500 bird species inhabit an area close to 15,000 square kilometers in size. Join us on a safari and explore the endless Serengeti plains dotted with trees and kopjes from which majestic lions control their kingdom; gaze upon the Great Migration in awe or find an elusive leopard in a riverine forest.

2. Wildebeest Migration

Have you ever heard of the Great Migration? This is an annual mass migration of literally millions of wild animals in northern Tanzania. The migration starts in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, heads to the Serengeti National Park, and then moves to the Maasai Mara Reserve. Driven to find good grazing grounds, around 260 million zebra, 470,000 gazelles, and 1.7 million wildebeest take part in the Great Migration. To see animals move in such numbers across the plains of Tanzania is a truly mesmerizing experience. Booking a specialized migration tour is the best way to gain insider access to these sights.

3. Explore Tarangire

Tarangire National Park sets an impressive backdrop for roaming buffalo, giraffes, zebras, and other animals. If you visit during the right time of year June to September you might be lucky enough to see a migration of elephants, wildebeest, and zebras. Tarangire is a relatively small park compared to the vast expanse of the Serengeti, but it’s only 118 kilometers from Arusha, which makes it the perfect safari if you have limited time available after your climb.

Nearby you’ll find Maasai and Barabaig villages. History lovers can also view ancient rock paintings at Kolo, not too far away.

3. Camping in Ngorongoro crater

The Ngorongoro crater has a singular appeal for the local wildlife as it provides comfortable access to food and water all year long. Here you’ll find the big five, as well as zebras, warthogs, cheetahs, hyenas, flamingos, and hippos at Lake Magadi. Measuring 18km in diameter and more than 600m deep, the crater provides a striking backdrop.

Staying here gives you the chance to explore not only the crater but also the rest of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area including the impressive Munge Falls and the Laetoli footprints from early humans more than 3 million years ago. There is a very high concentration of game in the crater, which can make sightings a lot easier and more reliable.

4. Cultural Tourism

Tanzania with over 120 different ethnic groups Go on a cultural tour to visit their villages, which are nestled amongst rainforests and waterfalls, and learn about indigenous culture from an insider’s point of view. Optional activities during a cultural tour include climbing Mount Hanang, seeing hippos and going fishing in local canoes on Lake Babati, learning to brew beer, or visiting up-and-coming development projects in farming, water, and bio-gas energy. Cultural Tourism is beneficial to everyone…. the tourists get unforgettable and unique experiences while the local people generate income that improves their standard of living. Cultural tours can be half-day excursions or customized to longer stays for a couple of days among local people in their home villages and towns.

5. Adventure Activities in Lake Manyara
Those who want a more relaxed pace after their Kilimanjaro climb can visit Lake Manyara, National Park. The park consists mainly of water and is home to populations of baboons and the famous tree-climbing lions. Driving through the park, you’ll also come across playful Sykes’ monkeys and perhaps the odd elephant or two.

Here you can go abseiling, mountain biking, and canoeing when conditions permit. The park also offers night game drives in addition to the regular daytime tours.

At only one and a half hours drive from Arusha, this is a good option if you don’t have a lot of time after your climb.

 

VISIT ZANZIBAR

In the Indian Ocean about 25 miles from the Tanzanian mainland, Zanzibar is a perfectly preserved island gem that harks back to ancient times. This is the perfect addition to Kilimanjaro if you wish to follow up your trek with idle days on the beach. Picture stretching yourself out on the warm, white sand, ordering a cocktail, and figuring out whether you want to read your novel under the umbrella or take another dip in the clear, blue waters of the Indian Ocean.

Hit the beaches of Zanzibar

Think what it is you'd like to do on a beach holiday, and you've got it in Zanzibar...

Stone Town

Zanzibar has a long history of trade and cultural exchange. The World Heritage Site of Stone Town, for instance, which sits on the west coast of Unguja Island, is a centuries-old town that has been beautifully preserved. Exploring the narrow and winding streets of this ancient town with its heavy and embellished timber doors is an absolute must. Everywhere in Stone Town, you can see the influences of diverse cultures, including Swahili, Arab, Persian, Indian, and European. The Old Fort of Stone Town is another must-see; it was built by Omani Arabs in 1699 after they successfully expelled the Portuguese.

You might also enjoy going on a spice tour, where you're taken to local spice farms and do plenty of smelling and tasting. Zanzibar is actually known as the Spice Island and has a long history of spice growing and trading. Think cinnamon, nutmeg, turmeric, cardamom, and clove. Yum.

Gorilla Trekking

Exploring Uganda is an absolute delight. The world-famous gorilla trekking in the Bwindi impenetrable forest of southwest Uganda is a blue-list must for every traveler. Gorilla trekking is a very popular trip with conservationists, nature and animal lovers, eco-tourists, and adventure travelers. Since mountain gorillas don’t live anywhere in the world outside of the forests of Central and Eastern Africa, gorilla trekking is the only way for humans to come into contact with these gentle giants. A gorilla trek usually brings visitors to within a few meters of a troop of gorillas

Who are these mountain gorillas?

Mountain gorillas are mostly gentle creatures. They live off a vegetarian diet of shoots, bark, and fruit. They're highly social animals and live in families, known as troops, their whole lives. Male mountain gorillas are called silverbacks because of the silver fur that grows on their backs and hips from around age 12. They're an endangered species, but fortunately, their numbers are on the rise. The money generated from gorilla trekking helps to secure their habitat and well-being.

Mountain gorillas don't migrate but instead live all year round in the forest. This is convenient for gorilla trekkers, as you can visit them any time of the year. That said, their habitat is mountain rainforest, and things can get pretty wet and slippery at certain times of the year. The best (driest) times of the year for gorilla trekking tours are December to February and June to October. But you can learn more specifics about the Best time to go gorilla trekking in Uganda.

Gorilla trekking Uganda versus Rwanda

There are two main countries for mountain gorilla trekking: Rwanda and Uganda. In Rwanda, you can trek to see mountain gorillas in Volcanoes National Park. In Uganda, you can visit mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park or Mgahinga National Park. The gorilla population in Mgahinga isn’t as large and steady as that of Bwindi, making the latter the better and more popular option.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park and Volcanoes National Park meet at the Uganda-Rwanda border, so each park admits you to the same forest. This means that visitors to either country are visiting the same gorilla habitat, just from different entrance points. The decision to go gorilla trekking in Rwanda or Uganda therefore really rests on other factors, like cost and accessibility

Gorilla trekking in Uganda is the better choice, partly because the permits are far cheaper. But we explain the pros and cons of gorilla trekking in each country and the different factors to consider before choosing a destination

There’s more to Tanzania than Kilimanjaro!

Climbing Kilimanjaro is something you will have planned and trained for, so after all that exertion, why not treat yourself to some of the spectacular and unique sights that Tanzania has to offer?

Whether it’s lying around on the beach in Zanzibar, tackling a second climb of Ol Doinyo Lengai or Mt Meru, or taking the opportunity to go on safari, there’s plenty to do after your climb. And immersing yourself in the sights and sounds of Tanzania will extend your memories of your amazing climb.

Get in touch with our friendly staff now and we will be happy to make some suggestions or offer any help and guidance you may need. And if you haven’t booked your Kilimanjaro climb yet, what are you waiting for? Let’s go!