Often, when folks think they’re going to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, they might fall into the trap of thinking, “We’ll get there, climb it, and leave.” Not that it’s ever that easy or simple, but thinking of Kilimanjaro as just a climb misses a whole, massive part of the experience.

You’ll be in Tanzania, after all! It’s an amazing land of wildlife and culture and scenery. Going on safari in Tanzania is an adventure so captivating that you yearn for the 5am wake up call. On safari, you will experience the bush of Africa in its raw, uncensored entirety as you become increasingly attached to the litter of lion cubs by the minute, your heart races for the wildebeest desperately fleeing the leopard, your mind rushes to comprehend the skillful tactics of the wild dogs and your stomach aches from laughter at the hilarious antics of the meerkat.

Or you might get to see this kind of elephant action:

Now, just to get you even more fired up, here’s a video from “Nick and Team Sanfilippo.” First they went on safari, then they climbed Kili, which you should remember starts in the rain forest and winds up in glacier country. They took a different route than Embark does to the summit, but it’s still a great video that should give you an idea of what a Kilimanjaro trip — not just a climb — looks like.

So, with thanks to user nmcilwain on YouTube, let’s go off for a safari and then climb Mt. Kilimanjaro!