This 9 days Northern Circuit Route climb offers excellent views from all sides of the mountain, including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. While you trek, you will see nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery as you traverse the mountain at 13,000 feet. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the longest acclimatization time, giving you the highest chance of reaching the summit successfully.
| safari type : | Trekking / Climbing |
| You will visit: | Mweka Gate, Mti Mkubwa Camp, Shira Camp 1, Shira Camp 2, Moir Camp, Buffalo Camp, Rongai Third Cave, School Hut, Millennium Camp |
| Start/End: | Arusha |
| Getting Around: | Walking |
| Minimum Age: | 18+ |
After your long flight, you’ll be pleased to spend your first night in comfort at your hotel, the Planet Lodge in Arusha. You will be picked-up by Gifted Adventures driver, who will be waiting to meet and welcome you and take you to your hotel in Arusha to relax after your flight. Your adventure has begun!
Accommodation:Mount Meru Hotel
Meals: Dinner
Drinking Mineral Water only
After breakfast we set off for the Londorossi Gate where you are registered to climb and the porters will assemble all the equipment and supplies that we need. We then begin our climb through the forest to Mti Mkubwa, our first camp at 2895m.
Elevation:2,100M to 2,360M
Distance:5.5km
Hiking Time:3-4 hours
Habitat:Rainforest
In the morning after breakfast, you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone which follows up onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual, ending at Shira Camp 1 (3,610 meters) for dinner and overnight.
Elevation:2,820M to 3610M
Distance:8km
Hiking Time: 5-6hours
Habitat:Rainforest
In the morning after breakfast the trek crosses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2. Nine-day trekkers usually spend the night at Shira Camp 2 where they will join trekkers from the Machame Route. At Shira Camp 2 it is worth trekking a little higher up the plateau to enjoy the stunning view across the valley below and Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above.
Elevation:3,610M to 3,850M
Distance:7km
Hiking Time: 3-4hours
Habitat:Rainforest
In the morning after breakfast follows a long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters the high alpine desert zone. The morning is spent trekking up to Lava Tower and the iconic Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will have lunch. After lunch you will join the northern circuit heading down to Moir Camp. This is an important day in your trek as you will get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatization process.
Elevation:3,850M to 4600M
Distance:14km
Hiking Time: 5-7hours
Habitat:Alpine Zone
In the morning after breakfast involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day hiking.
Elevation:4200M to 4020M
Distance:5-7km
Hiking Time: 5-7hours
Habitat:Alpine Zone
In the morning after breakfast starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Porfu Camp where lunch is usually served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave. The trek is shorter than the day before and by now you should be feeling well acclimatized to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.
Elevation:4020M to 3800M
Distance:8km
Hiking Time: 5-7hours
Habitat:Alpine Zone
In the morning after breakfast involves a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking south-west up to School Hut. After arriving at School Hut, you will be served an early dinner and then you should get some shut-eye as you will be awoken before midnight to start your summit attempt.
Elevation:3800M to 4800M
Distance:15KM
Hiking Time: 4-5hours
Habitat:Alpine Zone
TAt around 1am, we set off on a tough zig zag trail taking us to the rim of the crater at Gillman’s Point. From here we take a short break to watch sun rise over Mawenzi. Then it’s a trek around the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, close to the glaciers that still exist at the summit of Kilimanjaro. Time for a celebration and and a few summit photos before the start of our descent down to the Mweka Hut camp site. This will take us back to Barafu for lunch. That evening we will enjoy our last dinner on Kilimanjaro and sleep well after the day exertions.
Elevation:4800M to 5895M to 3950M
Distance:6km Ascent / 11Km Descent
Hiking Time:6-8hours Ascent / 4-6hours Descent
Habitat:Glacial Zone
In the morning after breakfast, you will descend and this is the final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest to Mweka Gate. At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak. After sign out to the park gate you will be transferred to a hotel in Arusha.
Elevation:3950M to 1640M
Distance:10km
Hiking Time:3-4hour
Habitat:Rainforest
Today is the day that you say goodbye to our team. Congratulations, you just hiked the highest freestanding mountain on planet Earth and the tallest mountain in Africa. You will remember these memories for the rest of your life. Upon waking up today, your guide will be with you until you need to leave for Kilimanjaro International Airport.
AccommodationMount Meru Hotel
Meals:Breakfast
Drinking Mineral Water only
Kindly call us at +255 753 900 422 if you require any immediate assistance.
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