9 DAY NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE KILIMANJARO CLIMB

Arusha to Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa /Forest Camp

7,742 ft to 9,498 ft, 4 miles, approx. 3-4 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Forest Camp to Shira 1 Camp

9,498 ft to 11,500 ft, 5 miles, approx. 5-6 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shira 1 to Shira 2

11,500 ft to 12,500 ft, 4 miles, 3-4 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Shira 2 to Moir Hut Camp

12,500 ft to 13,580 ft (Lava Tower), down to 15,190 ft, 8 miles, 5-7 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Moir Camp to Buffalo Camp/Pofu Camp

13,580 ft to 13,200 ft, 7 miles, 5-7 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Buffalo Camp / Pofu to Third Cave

13,200 ft to 12,700 ft, 5 miles, 5-7 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Third Cave to School Hut Camp

12,700 ft to 15,600 ft, 3 miles, 4-5 hours

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.

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

School Hut to Uhuru Peak to 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

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

Accommodations: Kilimanjaro Camping
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

10,065 ft to 5,380 ft, 10 miles, 4-6 hours

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.

Accommodations: Arusha hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Departure

10,065 ft to 5,380 ft, 10 miles, 4-6 hours

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.

NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE