Trip overview
DFW → Arusha → Kilimanjaro → Nairobi → Masai Mara → Nairobi → DFW
Heads up — this itinerary crosses two countries. You'll enter Tanzania for Kilimanjaro (Tanzania e-Visa, $50) and then cross into Kenya for the Masai Mara (Kenya ETA, $30). Both are applied online before departure. The Masai Mara is the Kenyan side of the Great Migration — same 1.5 million wildebeest, same Mara River crossings, slightly different character than the Serengeti side. August is peak season for both.
Thu · Aug 14
Flight Depart DFW
DFW → Addis Ababa (ADD) → Kilimanjaro (JRO) via Ethiopian · ~20–22 hrs total · arrives Arusha area Aug 15
Fri · Aug 15
Arrive Land JRO → Transfer to Arusha
Transfer to hotel (included in Faza's package) · rest · evening pre-climb briefing with guides
Sat · Aug 16
Buffer Free day in Arusha
Recover from travel · gear check, rent anything missing · explore Arusha · Cultural Heritage Centre, coffee plantations, Arusha National Park day trip option · early night before the climb
Sun · Aug 17
Kili Day 1 Machame Gate → Machame Camp
Vehicle to gate (~2–3 hrs) · rainforest trek · 1,800m → 3,000m · ~6 hrs hiking
Mon · Aug 18
Kili Day 2 Machame Camp → Shira Cave Camp
Moorland · Shira Plateau views · 3,000m → 3,800m · 4–5 hrs
Tue · Aug 19
Kili Day 3 Shira Cave → Lava Tower → Barranco Camp
Critical acclimatization · climb to 4,630m, sleep at 3,960m · Barranco Wall in sight
Wed · Aug 20
Kili Day 4 Barranco Wall → Karanga Camp
Famous wall scramble (~90 min) · Kibo views · rolling traverse · acclimatization hike
Thu · Aug 21
Kili Day 5 Karanga Camp → Barafu Summit Camp
Short day · Kosovo Camp acclimatization hike · sleep by 6pm · summit tonight
Fri · Aug 22
★ Summit Midnight → Uhuru Peak (5,895m) → Mweka Camp
Depart midnight · 6–8 hrs to summit · descend to Mweka Camp (3,100m) same day
Sat · Aug 23
Kili Day 7 Descent → Arusha
Mweka Gate · certificates · lunch · transfer to Arusha hotel (2nd included night) · tip crew · rest
Sun · Aug 24
Recovery Rest day Arusha — End of Kili tour
Legs are toast · full rest · repack for Masai Mara · leave heavy gear at hotel storage · confirm transfer for tomorrow
Mon · Aug 25
Mara Day 1 Arusha → Nairobi → Masai Mara · Check in Mara Leisure Camp
JRO → NBO (~1 hr) · drop heavy luggage at budget Nairobi hotel / left-luggage storage · transfer or charter to Mara · afternoon game drive
Tue · Aug 26
Mara Day 2 Full day · Mara River crossings
Morning + evening drives · Mara River position · wildebeest crossings · lion, cheetah, leopard
Wed · Aug 27
Mara Day 3 Full day · Full game drives
Full day in the Mara · Big Five · balloon safari optional · pack bags tonight for Aug 28 departure
Thu · Aug 28
Mara Day 4 Final morning drive → Fly to Nairobi
Early 5:30am drive · breakfast · fly Wilson Airport (WIL) or road to NBO · collect stored luggage · budget hotel Nairobi
Fri · Aug 29
Home Depart NBO → DFW
NBO → ADD (or hub) → DFW · ~20–23 hrs · arrive Dallas Aug 29 evening or Aug 30 depending on connection
Flights
Depart DFW Aug 14 · Return NBO Aug 29 · Back in Dallas by Aug 29–30
Outbound — DFW to JRO · Aug 14
Ethiopian Airlines Top pick
~$900–1,200 roundtrip economy
DFW → Addis Ababa (ADD) → Kilimanjaro (JRO) — direct to JRO, no Nairobi connector needed
~20–22 hrs total · Star Alliance (United miles) · 1 checked bag included · skips NBO connector cost entirely
Budget pick. Ethiopian flies DFW → ADD → JRO as one ticket, saving you the separate $150–200 NBO → JRO hop. Book the return as NBO → ADD → DFW (out of Nairobi, not JRO) — Ethiopian connects Nairobi well. One ticket, two different arrival/departure airports, which Ethiopian allows on roundtrip bookings for this region.
Qatar Airways
~$1,100–1,500
DFW → Doha (DOH) → Nairobi (NBO) → Kilimanjaro (JRO)
Requires separate NBO → JRO connector · good seat quality · worth checking if Ethiopian is sold out
NBO → JRO Connector · Aug 15 (only if not flying Ethiopian direct)
Kenya Airways / Precision Air
~$150–200/person
Nairobi (NBO) → Kilimanjaro (JRO) · ~1 hr · book as separate ticket
Allow 3+ hrs layover at NBO · book separately so missed connections are airline's responsibility to rebook
Arusha → Nairobi · Aug 25 (Tanzania → Kenya crossover)
JRO → NBO (Kenya Airways / Precision Air) Recommended
~$150–200/person
Kilimanjaro (JRO) → Nairobi (NBO) · ~1 hr · depart morning Aug 25
Multiple daily departures · drop luggage at Nairobi budget hotel or left-luggage · then transfer or charter to Masai Mara same day
Luggage plan: fly JRO → NBO with all bags. At Nairobi, store your main bags at your Aug 28 budget hotel (most allow early luggage drop) or at NBO's left-luggage facility (~$5–8/bag/day). Take only a soft safari bag (15kg) to the Mara. Pick up main bags Aug 28 when you're back in Nairobi.
Nairobi → Masai Mara · Aug 25 — pick one
Charter flight from Wilson Airport (WIL) Faster
~$150–250/person one way
Wilson Airport (WIL) is 20 min from NBO — take a cab. Safarilink Aviation and Air Kenya fly direct to Mara airstrips (Ol Kiombo, Keekorok, Mara North). ~45 min flight. 15kg soft bag limit. Lands you in camp by mid-afternoon. Worth it after a full travel day.
Road transfer
~$80–150/person shared / ~$200–300 private
Nairobi → Masai Mara ~5–6 hrs. Narok road is mostly tarmac now. Scenic drive through the Rift Valley escarpment. Budget option but given you've already done JRO → NBO that day, it's a long travel day. Book through your camp or a Nairobi transfer operator.
Masai Mara → Nairobi · Aug 28
Charter flight back (Mara airstrip → Wilson Airport)
~$150–250/person
Depart Mara mid-morning · Wilson Airport (WIL) · cab to budget hotel NBO or straight to JKIA if evening flight
Book outbound and return charter together — often cheaper as a package · coordinate with Mara Leisure Camp when booking
Return — NBO to DFW · Aug 29
Ethiopian Airlines NBO → ADD → DFW Book with outbound
Included in roundtrip booking
Nairobi (NBO) → Addis Ababa (ADD) → Dallas (DFW)
Depart NBO morning or afternoon Aug 29 · arrives DFW Aug 29 evening or Aug 30 depending on connection · Ethiopian has strong NBO–ADD–DFW frequency
Book your roundtrip as DFW → ADD → JRO outbound and NBO → ADD → DFW return. Ethiopian allows open-jaw routings (different arrival/departure cities) in East Africa. Confirm this explicitly when booking and double-check the itinerary before purchase.
Budget Nairobi hotel · Aug 28 night
Nairobi has solid budget options near JKIA airport or in Westlands/Karen. Recommended picks under $60/night: Tribe Hotel (design hotel, often discounted), Upper Hill Hotel (~$50–70, reliable), Nairobi Backpackers (~$20–35, hostel-style). If you want to stay near the airport: Eka Hotel or PrideInn Hotel Westlands. Book directly — no Airbnb surcharges. This is just one night before flying home; proximity to JKIA matters more than amenities.
Visas — two countries, two applications
Tanzania e-Visa — $50/person at immigration.go.tz · required for Kilimanjaro · allow 10–15 business days
Kenya ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — $30/person at etakenya.go.ke · required for Masai Mara · usually processed within 72 hours but apply early
Apply for both as soon as flights are booked. Keep digital and printed copies of both with your passport.
Kilimanjaro · Machame Route
Aug 17–23 · 7-day climb · Faza's package · $1,800/person
Included in Faza's $1,800: 2 Arusha hotel nights · all park & entry fees ($957/person) · round-trip transport to gate · 3 meals/day on mountain · professional guides (1:2 on summit) · full porter/cook crew · tents & sleeping mattresses · emergency O₂ & med kit · summit certificates
Not included: Sleeping bag (rent in Arusha ~$20–40) · personal gear & layers · crew tips ($200–300/person cash) · travel insurance · flights & visa
What's happening
Land JRO, transfer to Arusha hotel (included). Rest. Evening group briefing with Faza's guides — gear review, route overview, permit confirmation, questions answered.
Key tasks tonight
!Confirm briefing time with Faza in advance
!USD cash for tips — get it before leaving Dallas
✓Hotel and transport already handled by Faza
What to do
✓Rent any missing gear — sleeping bag, poles, gaiters (Shah's or Kilimanjaro gear shops on India Street)
✓Stock up on snacks and electrolyte tablets for the climb
✓Cultural Heritage Centre (free to browse, good crafts)
✓Arusha National Park day trip option (~$60 entry) — small park, flamingos, colobus monkeys, giraffe
Why this day matters
This buffer gives you a full night's recovery from the 20+ hour travel day before starting the hardest 7 days of the trip. Don't skip it — rested legs on Day 1 directly affect summit success. Go to bed early.
Gear rental in Arusha is significantly cheaper than buying in the US. Sleeping bags rated to -10°C rent for ~$20–40 for the week. Trekking poles ~$10–15. Don't buy brand new gear you'll only use once — rent it here.
What's happening
Vehicle from Arusha to Machame Gate (2–3 hrs). Permits and search & rescue registration, then ~6 hrs through dense rainforest. Longest hiking day. Crew has tents and dinner ready when you arrive.
Pack in your daypack
✗Rain jacket — rainforest is always damp even in August
✗2L water + electrolyte tabs
✗Trail snacks — meals only at camp
✗Trekking poles accessible, not in porter bag
Porters carry your main bag (max 15kg of your gear — weighed and tagged at the gate). Your daypack is yours all day. Pace is "pole pole" (slowly slowly) from the first step — don't let adrenaline push you faster than your guide.
What's happening
Gradual ascent through heath moorland. Vegetation thins, views open dramatically. First views of Shira Plateau and Kibo Volcano. 4–5 hrs. Acclimatization starts in earnest.
Key reminders
!Drink 3–4L today even if you're not thirsty
!SPF 50+ — UV intensity doubles above treeline
!Mild headache at 3,000m is normal; severe headache + vomiting — tell your guide immediately
What's happening
Most important acclimatization day. Climb to Lava Tower (4,630m) for 1+ hour — altitude adaptation at its most effective — then descend to Barranco Camp (3,960m). Net gain despite the drop: "climb high, sleep low."
Key reminders
!Lunch at Lava Tower — eat even if you feel off
!Warm mid-layer needed at 4,600m — noticeably colder
!Barranco Wall is visible from camp — looks terrifying, it's not
What's happening
The famous Barranco Wall scramble (~90 min, both hands needed). Kibo views from the top. Rolling traverse to Karanga with multiple ridge crossings, then a short acclimatization hike upward.
Key reminders
!Leave camp early — wall queues get brutal when groups stack
!Leave poles with porter for the wall — both hands needed
!Gloves for cold early morning rock
The "kissing rock" near the top is a narrow body-squeeze through the cliff face. It sounds alarming, it isn't. Thousands of non-technical hikers do it every month. Move slowly and follow your guide's exact footsteps.
What's happening
Short day (~3–4 hrs) to conserve energy. Acclimatization walk to Kosovo Camp (4,800m) and back. Rest until midnight departure. Eat well even if appetite is suppressed — your body needs fuel.
Summit prep tonight
!Charge headlamp + power banks NOW
!Lay out full summit kit in order — pitch dark at midnight
!Fill insulated flask with hot water
!High-cal snacks (gels, bars) in accessible jacket pocket
!Horizontal by 6pm — sleep or just rest
Temperatures at Uhuru Peak: -15°C to -20°C. You need 5+ layers minimum — moisture base, fleece, down, hardshell top and bottom. Summit mittens (not liner gloves). Balaclava. Goggles if you have them. Phone/camera battery goes inside your jacket against your body or it dies within minutes.
What's happening
Midnight departure from Barafu. ~6–8 hrs to Uhuru via Stella Point (5,739m). One personal guide per pair the entire ascent. After summit: 2-hr rest at Barafu, then long descent to Mweka Camp (3,100m).
What to know
✓Emergency O₂ on mountain (Faza's package)
!Stella Point (5,739m) feels like the summit — Uhuru is 45 more minutes on the crater rim. Do not stop at Stella.
!The descent to Mweka is brutal on knees — poles essential
Mental preparation
Barafu to Stella Point is the grind: steep loose scree, total darkness, extreme cold, altitude fatigue. Your guide's pace feels impossibly slow — trust it anyway. Every person who pushed ahead of their guide's pace on this mountain paid for it. The sunrise from Uhuru looking across the Tanzanian plains, with the mountain's shadow stretching hundreds of miles west, is unlike anything you've ever seen.
What's happening
Rainforest descent to Mweka Gate, group photos, certificate ceremony, lunch and drinks, transfer to Arusha hotel (2nd included night). Rest of day is completely free.
Tonight — before Mara
!Tip crew — $200–300/person USD cash
!Decide: take all luggage or store heavy items at hotel (hotel storage is free, but you fly home from Nairobi, not Arusha — you'll need your main bags in Nairobi)
!Confirm Aug 25 JRO → NBO flight and Mara transfer
What's happening
Full rest day — no hiking obligations, no schedule. Your legs will be sore. Hot food, cold drinks, long shower, local restaurant dinner. Repack bags for the Mara tomorrow.
Luggage plan for Mara
!Pack a soft safari bag ≤15kg for the Mara (for charter flight limit)
!You'll fly home from Nairobi, so bring ALL luggage to Nairobi Aug 25
!Store main bags at Nairobi budget hotel Aug 25–28, take only safari bag to camp
Since you're flying home from Nairobi (not returning to Arusha), take everything with you on Aug 25. Leave the heavy bags at your Nairobi budget hotel or the airport left-luggage when you transfer to the Mara. Pick them back up Aug 28 when you return to Nairobi.
Masai Mara · 3 Nights
Aug 25–28 · Mara Leisure Camp · Great Migration peak · Mara River crossings
Masai Mara vs. Serengeti — same migration, different country. The Mara River crossings happen on both sides of the Kenya–Tanzania border. The Kenyan side (Masai Mara) is what you're seeing here — equally spectacular, slightly different landscape feel, and often easier access from Nairobi. August is the heart of crossing season. Kenya national park fees are $80/person/day (vs Tanzania's $60), but camp rates at mid-range properties often offset this.
Mara Leisure Camp Your pick
Mid-range permanent camp · Masai Mara National Reserve
~$200–350/person/night
A well-established tented camp inside the reserve. Comfortable tents, full-board meals typically included, guided game drives available. Located within the reserve which matters — camps inside the reserve have immediate access to game drives and are closer to the Mara River than those in the conservancies outside. Confirm when booking: whether park fees ($80/person/day), game drives, and meals are all included in the rate — some camps bundle everything, some charge separately.
When booking Mara Leisure Camp, confirm explicitly: (1) Are Kenya national park fees included in the rate? (2) Are morning and evening game drives included? (3) Is full-board included? (4) Can they arrange the charter flight from/to Wilson Airport? Getting all of this in writing before you pay the deposit avoids surprises.
What's happening
JRO → NBO (~1 hr). At NBO: drop main bags at your Aug 28 budget hotel (many allow early drop-off) or NBO left-luggage. Transfer to Wilson Airport (WIL). Charter to Mara airstrip (~45 min). Check in camp, orientation, afternoon game drive — first wildlife of the trip.
Logistics
!JRO → NBO booked separately (~$150–200)
!Wilson Airport is ~20 min from JKIA — take a cab (~$15)
!Charter: Safarilink or Air Kenya (WIL → Mara) ~$150–250/person
!Soft bag only for camp — main bags stay in Nairobi
Arriving by road instead?
If skipping the charter to save money, arrange a shared shuttle or private vehicle from NBO → Masai Mara (~5–6 hrs). Depart NBO by 9am to arrive in time for a late afternoon drive. Most camp operators can arrange this when you book. Road is mostly tarmac but the last section to the gate can be rough.
What's happening
Depart camp 5:30am. Position at the Mara River before sunrise — your guide reads herd movements and communicates with other vehicles. Crossings are unpredictable; you may wait hours or see one immediately. Return to camp for lunch, then back out for evening drive until sunset.
What you might see
✓Wildebeest crossings — thousands at a time through crocodile-filled water
✓Resident lion prides — Mara has one of Africa's highest densities
✓Cheetah on the plains — open grassland is ideal habitat
✓Leopard in the riverine fig and acacia trees
✓Nile crocodile during crossings
Crossings are never guaranteed by time. A herd builds at the riverbank, then something spooks them and they scatter. This can repeat dozens of times before a mass crossing occurs. The waiting is part of it — bring a book, eat your packed lunch at the river, and let the guide read the herd's behavior.
What's happening
Second full drive day. Multiple days at the same crossing points significantly increases odds of witnessing a full crossing event. Your guide will also target Big Five — elephant, buffalo, and rhino (the Mara has a strong black rhino population in the Rhino Ridge area).
Optional add-ons
$Hot air balloon safari (~$450–600) · Governors' Balloon Safaris in the Mara · book direct, at least 2 weeks ahead · champagne bush breakfast included
$Masai village visit (~$25–40) · cultural half-hour · many camps arrange this at dusk or mid-day
Tonight — pack for departure
Pack your safari bag tonight so tomorrow morning is entirely about the game drive. Confirm charter flight time and Nairobi transfer details with camp staff. Tip your guide — standard is $15–25/person/day in Kenyan shillings or USD.
What's happening
Last game drive 5:30–8:30am (predators most active at dawn). Breakfast at camp. Charter or road back to Nairobi. Collect stored main luggage. Budget hotel for one night before the Aug 29 flight home.
Logistics
!Charter back to Wilson Airport (~$150–250/person)
!Cab from WIL to budget hotel or JKIA (~$15–20)
!Collect stored main bags from hotel or NBO left-luggage
!Confirm Aug 29 flight departure time — set multiple alarms
Dawn light is the best photography window of the entire trip — golden hour glow, hunting cheetah, active lion. Pack bags fully the night before so nothing is rushed in the morning. This is the final game drive; make it count.