The best things to do after climbing Kilimanjaro

Many people like to plan a local reward for having toughed it out on Kilimanjaro. And they deserve it! We suggest three nearby adventures you could choose from, all of which are great post-trek options: gorilla trekking, a Big Five safari, or Zanzibar.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is a truly amazing feat. It requires you to dig deep both mentally and physically. And it also demands a decent commitment to getting there – first to Tanzania, and then to the mountain itself. So if you’re one of the few to summit this epic mountain, you deserve a reward afterwards! Something in the area that lets you unwind and revel in your achievement. Fortunately, there’s a range of great trips to add on to the back of a Kilimanjaro climb. And that’s what this blog post is all about: the best things to do after climbing Kilimanjaro.

Three best things to do after Kilimanjaro

Obviously, 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 three trips, each of which includes plenty of varied and world-class attractions:

1. Tanzania safari
2. Zanzibar
3. Gorilla trekking

1. Tanzania safari

A Tanzania safari is so much more than just a safari. For starters, Tanzania is home to the Serengeti. This is an ecosystem known around the world for its magnificent and extremely abundant large game and other wildlife. It also boasts the Ngorongoro Crater, an immense caldera (collapsed volcano) that's become an amazing wildlife sanctuary. Among its many claims to fame, the crater boasts the largest concentration of lions anywhere in the world.

Speaking of lions, Tanzania is home to the Big Five. This is a big drawcard for international tourists. In case you've forgotten, the Big Five are elephants, lions, rhinos, leopards and buffaloes. It also has all the other greats you wish to see on an African safaris, like cheetahs, giraffes, hippos, warthogs, hyenas and jackals. And let's not forget the fantastic birdlife! Tanzania has well over a thousand species of birds. This number includes eagles, vultures, ostriches and flamingoes, which are common sightings on safari.

The Great Migration

To add to all of this, 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 mesmerising experience.

2. Zanzibar

An incredibly popular post-Kilimanjaro option is heading to the beautiful archipelago of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania. 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 ...

• Swim? Or just float?  ✔ (The waters are warm, clear and calm)
• Dig your toes in the sand? ✔ (The beaches are white sand)
• Go fishing? ✔ (The fishing is epic, and chartered fishing boats are available)
• Tan? ✔ (This is the African sun, after all!)
• Snorkel? ✔ (Zanzibar is surrounded by gorgeous reefs!)
• Eat tasty food? ✔ (Spicy seafood dishes are the name of the game)
• Paddle ski? ✔ (All sorts of water sports are on offer)
• Go yachting? ✔ (Seriously, Zanzibar offers it all!)

3. Gorilla trekking

Picture yourself walking in a small group through dense rainforest high in the mountains. You're following your trek guide, who's leading you to a gorilla troop. At times he brings out his machete to cut back the thick undergrowth so you can all continue on your way. The ground is muddy and drips of water are hovering on the large leaves hanging above your head. Everyone is hiking quietly, eyes open to spot birds and butterflies, and the anticipation as thick as the humidity. Soon you'll be standing a few feet from a family of mountain gorillas. You'll watch these social creatures from up close as they eat, play and from one another.

Gorilla trekking is a very popular trip with conservationists, nature and animal lovers, eco-tourists, and adventure travellers. 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 metres of a troop of gorillas.