Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit (9 Days)
Overview
The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route then heads north and circles clockwise from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut, before summiting from the east. Descend is made via the Mweka route.
Africa Outdoors is happy to offer you the chance to get to the roof of Africa via Northern Circuit route from 7 to 9-day tours. Please well note that the 7-day and 8-day trek skips the additional acclimatization day(s) that is usually spent at Shira Camp 2 and continues straight on to Moir Camp.
Key Considerations
- Success Rate: Highest on the mountain due to the 8-day “walk high, sleep low” structure.
- Scenery: Offers 360-degree views, encompassing everything from rainforest to arctic desert.
- Traffic: Very low, offering a more peaceful experience compared to the Machame or Marangu routes.
- Cost: Generally higher than other routes due to the increased number of days.
- Equipment: Four-season tents and gear are necessary.
Included/Exclude
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary.
- Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide
- Proper Ration of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)
- Pre and Post accommodations
- Airport Transfers
- Meals according to the itinerary
- Drinking water and Full Board Meals
- All National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VAT
- Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages
- Gate Transfers
- Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder
- Portable Private Toilet and Porters
- Flights
- Visa fees
- Travel or Medical Insurance is required and you should ask for Recommendation
- Camel Bag
- Medication
- Tips for porters and mountain crew(Ranges from 250-350$)
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
- Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
- Extra hotel nights if early arrival or descent from the mountain$120 per room
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport, our transfer guide will warmly welcome you. You will be driven to your hotel in Moshi, where you can settle in and relax. In the evening, you will have a brief meeting with your mountain guide to discuss the climb scheduled for the next day. Your guide will also check your climbing gear and equipment to ensure everything is in order.
Meals: Dinner
After breakfast in your hotel you will be given an overall briefing from your guide. At 9am you will be met by our staff, who will drive you several hours to the Western side of Mt. Kilimanjaro and to the Londrossi Gate, where our guides and porters will prepare and pack the equipment and supplies Once at the gate you will be given a packed lunch and after registration with the Kilimanjaro Park office, we will drive for another 45mins to Lemosho Glades where your trek will begin with ascending into the rainforest.
You will ascend for approx. 3 hours in dense rain forest which could be very wet and muddy so be ready with your gaiters and trekking poles. During the trek we will have a break and you can enjoy the rest your packed lunch. We will reach the Mti Mkubwa Camp also known as ‘Big Tree’ Camp in late afternoon. After arrival, you will be taken to your camp and tent which has already been set up by the porters who ran ahead, where you will be greeted with boiled drinking water and hot washing water. Once you have freshened up and settled in, a hot dinner will be served in the mess-tent..
7,742 ft to 9,498 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through a podocarpus and juniper forest and then break out on to a zone of heather and lichen-draped volcanic rock and the Shira Plateau, which used to be Kilimanjaro’s third peak before it collapsed. Lunch is taken on the trail and you arrive in camp mid-afternoon. The view of Kibo (the peak of Kilimanjaro) is breathtaking from this vantage point. Overnight at Shira 1 Camp.
9,498 ft to 11,500 ft, 5 miles, approx. 5-6 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
After breakfast you will continue on your hike across and up the Shira plateau to Shira Camp 2 at 3,850 meters. Here you will join trekkers from the Machame Route whilst enjoying stunning view across the valley below and Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above. The plateau is exposed so be prepared for a cold night with temperatures getting below zero.
11,500 ft to 12,500 ft, 4 miles, 3-4 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We leave the forest behind now and a gentle grade walk takes you across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Shira Cave with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.
12,500 ft to 13,580 ft (Lava Tower), down to 15,190 ft, 8 miles, 5-7 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (15,400ft). After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Pofu Camp.
13,580 ft to 13,200 ft, 7 miles, 5-7 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
From Pofu Camp we cross numerous small valleys as the trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp.
13,200 ft to 12,700 ft, 5 miles, 5-7 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
There is a steady ascent to reach the saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here we continue upwards and reach School Hut in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the summit day.
12,700 ft to 15,600 ft, 3 miles, 4-5 hours
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We start the final and most demanding part of the climb around 1 a.m on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point We rest here for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. We then head on to Uhuru Peak, passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. We retrace our steps along the crater rim to Stella Point and then descend down through Barafu Camp to reach Mweka Camp
15,600 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065, 4 miles ascent, 7 miles descent, 6-8 hours ascent, 4-6 hours descent
Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Once again you will be woken for your final celebratory breakfast where our team will thank and congratulate you in their unique, special way! We will then set off for the final 3 hour scenic descent to Mweka Gate. After lunch you will dropped off at the hotel where you can relax under a long, well deserved hot shower.
10,065 ft to 5,380 ft, 6 miles, 3-4 hours
Accommodations: Moshi Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
If your time in Africa ends today our transfer team will drive you back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your departure. If you have booked with us a safari or a few days to dissolve into the pristine sandy beaches and tropical waters of Zanzibar, we will be there to help you comfortably transition from your climb into your next Tanzanian adventure.
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