Trekking gear lent free
Poles, thermal layers, waterproof shell, hiking boots and a full sleep system are included. Many agencies rent this back to you daily — with us it is simply part of the price.
- All trekking gear included free
- Northern Serengeti river crossings, Jun–Oct
- More lodge nights than $1,000 group tours
Climb Kilimanjaro. See Tanzania. Pay honestly.
Pole Pole means “slowly, slowly.” Small groups from four people, every price published openly, and the parts other operators charge extra for — trekking poles, thermal clothing, boots, sleeping system — lent to you free.
4
Minimum group size
5895 m
Kilimanjaro summit
Jun–Oct
Migration river crossings
$0
Extra for rental gear
Why Pole Pole
The difference is what other quotes charge extra for
Most operators quote a low headline price, then add rental gear, transfer fees and “luxury” supplements later. We publish one number and include it all.
We drive to the north
June to October we run to Serengeti North, where the wildebeest actually cross the Mara River. Central Serengeti cannot show you that scene — and most budget itineraries never go north.
Real beds, not just tents
Our 5.5-day safari is 3 lodge nights + 1 tented night. Typical $1,000-per-person budget groups run the reverse: 1 lodge night and 3 nights in tents.
Four people, max attention
Groups start at four, so your guide is working for your sighting, not for fourteen people's conflicting wish lists. Solo travellers are welcome to join a group.
Moshi Hot Springs included
Every transfer into or out of Moshi includes a free run out to the hot springs on the edge of town — the reset you will want after five days of dawn game drives.
Reachable on WeChat
Plan in English, Mandarin or Swahili. Message us before or during your trip — no ticket system, and no waiting on a reseller who cannot reach the guide.
Packages & Prices 2026
Every price, published. Per person.
No hidden park-fee surprises and no “from” prices that only apply to groups of twelve. Below is exactly what you pay.
Kilimanjaro climbs — all trekking gear included free
7 days · TrekKilimanjaro · 7-day route
Kilimanjaro — 7 Days
The recommended route if you have never been to high altitude. An extra day of acclimatisation raises your summit odds considerably.
- All trekking equipment included free
- Poles, boots, thermal layers, sleep system
- Certified guides & full porter crew
- Minimum 4 people
From$1,320per person
Ask availability
6 days · TrekKilimanjaro · 6-day route
Kilimanjaro — 6 Days
Shorter and cheaper, suited to climbers who already have high-altitude experience and know how their body responds.
- All trekking equipment included free
- Poles, boots, thermal layers, sleep system
- Certified guides & full porter crew
- Minimum 4 people
From$1,180per person
Ask availability
Northern Circuit safaris
Best value · Migration north
5.5 days · SafariNorthern Circuit · 5 + 0.5 days
Grand Safari — 5.5 Days
The only itinerary here that reaches Serengeti North, where the herds actually cross the river between June and October.
- Tarangire 1 · Serengeti Central 2 · Serengeti North 1 · Ngorongoro 1
- Moshi pick-up or drop-off plus free Moshi hot springs (0.5 day)
- 3 lodge nights + 1 tented night
- Jun–Oct: high chance of wildebeest river crossings
From$990per person
Ask availability
4.5 days · SafariNorthern Circuit · 4 + 0.5 days
Classic Safari — 4.5 Days
The right choice from October to May, when the migration herds have moved out of the northern Serengeti and driving there gains you nothing.
- Tarangire 1 · Serengeti Central 2 · Ngorongoro 1
- Moshi pick-up or drop-off plus free Moshi hot springs (0.5 day)
- 2 lodge nights + 1 tented night
From$790per person
Ask availability
3 days · SafariSerengeti & Crater · 3 days
Serengeti & Ngorongoro — 3 Days
The two unmissable names compressed into three days: two nights on the Serengeti plains, then a dawn descent into the crater.
- Serengeti Central 2 · Ngorongoro 1
- 1 lodge night + 1 tented night
From$590per person
Ask availability
2 days · SafariTarangire & Crater · 2 days
Tarangire & Ngorongoro — 2 Days
A compact weekend loop for travellers already in Moshi or Arusha. Big elephant country first, crater floor at sunrise after.
- Tarangire 1 · Ngorongoro 1
- 1 lodge night
From$390per person
Ask availability
1 day · SafariTarangire · 1 day
Tarangire Day Trip
One full day of game drive in Tarangire — back in Moshi or Arusha by evening. Ideal between flights or straight after a Kilimanjaro climb.
- Tarangire 1 day
- No accommodation
From$200per person
Ask availability
All prices are per person and assume a group of four. Ask us for a private two-person quote.
Lodges vs Tents
Where your $1,000 actually goes
This is the comparison nobody puts on their website. Same headline price band — very different mattress.
| Tours around $1,000 per person | Lodge nights | Tented nights | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical budget group tour | 1 | 3 | Mostly camping to hold the headline price down |
| Pole Pole — 5.5 Day Grand Safari | 3 | 1 | Reaches Serengeti North for the river crossings |
| Pole Pole — 4.5 Day Classic Safari | 2 | 1 | Best value Oct–May, when herds leave the north |
More lodge nights means hot showers, real beds and insect-proof rooms — and it costs us more, not less, to run.
Included extras
Two gifts, automatically applied
No booking code to remember and no upsell email — if your trip qualifies, we simply include it.
Free team T-shirts
Any trip over $500 per person
Every qualifying trip gets custom team T-shirts, designed the way you want them — your own names, dates, group name or company logo. Tell us the wording and we will lay it out.
Applies to Kilimanjaro 7 & 6 day, and Safari 5.5 / 4.5 / 3 day50% off hotpot
Trips over $500 with 6+ people
Groups of six or more on a qualifying trip also receive a half-price voucher for the buffet hotpot at a well-known Chinese restaurant in Arusha.
Voucher value ¥75 — 50% off a ¥150 buffet hotpotSerengeti North
Why we drive further than everyone else
The Great Migration is not parked in one place. From roughly June to October the herds mass along the Mara River in the far north of the Serengeti — and that is the only place you will see a crossing.
Most budget itineraries stop in the central Serengeti because the extra drive north costs fuel and park time. We go anyway. It is why our 5.5-day itinerary is priced at $990 and why it sells out in migration season.
- Jun – Oct Northern Serengeti, river crossings likely
- Nov – Dec Herd moving through central Serengeti
- Jan – Mar Calving season, Ndutu in the south
- Apr – May Long rains, best value of the year
What is included
No rental counter at the trailhead
On most Kilimanjaro quotes, equipment hire is a separate line item collected in cash in Moshi. Here it is in the price from the start.
Kilimanjaro — included free
- Trekking poles
- Cold-weather clothing layers
- Hiking boots
- Sleeping bag & sleep system
- Certified guides, cooks & porter crew
- Park & rescue fees
Safari — included
- Private 4×4 with pop-top roof
- Professional English-speaking driver-guide
- All park & crater entry fees
- Accommodation exactly as listed per package
- Transfers to & from Moshi or Arusha
- Free Moshi hot springs visit
Not included
- International flights & Tanzania visa
- Travel & medical insurance (required)
- Personal snacks, drinks & laundry
- Guide & porter gratuities
- Optional balloon safari & village visits
Reviews
What our travellers said
★★★★★
“帮我们省了不少钱，而且服务也是棒棒哒！（It saved us quite a bit of money, and the service was fantastic!） ‘Wei & family, Shanghai’.”
— Wei , 上海
★★★★★
“我提前一天结束了乞力马扎罗的登山行程，临时想去体验一天的Safari，原本旅行社问我要400美金，Chris给我介绍的一天行程只要250美金。（I finished my Kilimanjaro climb a day early and decided on a whim to go on a one-day safari; the travel agency originally quoted me $400, but the one-day trip Chris recommended cost only $250.）”
— Mr. Zhu, 成都
★★★★★
1 day · Safari— 菠菜, 深圳
FAQ
Questions we get every week
Is trekking equipment really free?
Yes. Poles, waterproof clothing, thermal layers, boots and a full sleeping system are lent to you at no charge for both the 6-day and 7-day climbs. Many operators rent the same items daily, which typically adds $150–$300 to the trip — ours already includes them.
Should I choose the 6-day or the 7-day Kilimanjaro route?
Choose the 7-day option if you have no previous high-altitude experience. The extra day of acclimatisation measurably improves summit success. The 6-day route suits climbers who already know how their body behaves above 4,000 m and want the shorter, cheaper itinerary.
Can I see the wildebeest river crossing?
Between roughly June and October, yes — with our 5.5-day Grand Safari, which drives to Serengeti North where the crossings happen. This cannot be seen from the central Serengeti. From October to May the herds move out of the north, and that is when we recommend the 4.5-day itinerary instead.
How many people are in a group?
Group tours start at four people. Private safaris for two can be arranged — message us for pricing.
Which tours include the free team T-shirts?
Any trip priced above $500 per person: Kilimanjaro 7-day and 6-day, and the 5.5, 4.5 and 3-day safaris. If your group is six or more on one of those trips, you also receive a half-price voucher worth ¥75 for the buffet hotpot at a well-known Chinese restaurant in Arusha.
Can you arrange everything in Chinese?
Yes. Reach us directly on WeChat at 541386932 (Chris) or email info@polepolesafaris.com, and we can handle the booking, transfers and guiding arrangements end to end.
What should I book first, Kilimanjaro or the safari?
If you are doing both, most travellers climb first and then safari, since a 1-day Tarangire trip or 2-day Tarangire & Ngorongoro loop fits neatly into post-summit days. We will build the sequence around your flight dates.
What is your cancellation policy?
Please contact us for the current terms before booking, as they vary by season and by lodge cancellation windows. We always confirm this in writing before taking a deposit.