Duration: 9 Days on the Mountain, 2 Days before and after climb
Category: Kilimanjaro Trekking
Itinerary: Mount Kilimanjaro Climb 9 Days Northern Circuit Route
Major Attractions:
- Vegetation zones, Wildlife, Mt Kilimanjaro
- World tallest free-standing mountain
NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE is the most amazing journey on Kilimanjaro. This is a relatively new route. is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes. Starting from the west, this is the only route that travels north around Mt. Kilimanjaro. the Northern Circuit allows for the best acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate, therefore this route is highly recommended. This is absolutely the most scenic path available and has almost no traffic on its northern face.
Program Description
Arrival In Tanzania
Arrive anytime from Kilimanjaro Airport, pick up and drive at your lodging in Arusha, Tanzania. With prior arrangements,
Mountain Guide will gather in for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check.
Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge: Bed and Breakfast.
Day 1: Lemosho – Lemosho Forest camp:| Rainforest
Elevation: 2100m/6890ft to 2785m/9137ft
Altitude gained: 685m
After breakfast Arusha/ Moshi, we will drive to Lemosho Gate. Here you will be registered by the national park authorities and your trek through a dense rain forest begins. Today will be a shortest walk of the entire trek, about 2½ hours, which gives you a small taste of what lies ahead in the coming days. The walk takes you through dense and unspoiled rain forest, which is very different from the scenery you will have in the next couple of days. Your destination for the day is the beautiful Big Tree Camp at 2780 m (Swahili Mti Mkubwa). (3-4 hrs Walking)
Day 2: Lemosho Forest camp – Shira I Camp:| Moorland
Elevation: 2785m/9137ft to 3504m/11,496ft
Altitude gained: 719m
We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the center of the plateau at Shira One. (4-6hrs Walking)
Day 3: Shira I Camp – Shira II Camp:| Low Alpine
Elevation: 3504m/11,496ft to 3895m/12,779ft
Altitude gained: 391m
Today we explore the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations of the plateau. We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral (12,800 ft), a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially when the afternoon mists roll in. From our camp near Shira Hut (12,600 ft), we take in the unforgettable views of Mt. Meru as she floats among the clouds. (3-4hrs Walking)
Day 4: Shira II Camp – Lava Tower – Moir Camp: | High Alpine
Elevation: 3895m/12,779ft to 3986m/13,077ft
Altitude gained: 91m
In the morning we follow the main trail up to Lava Tower (15,150 ft), and for those feeling strong, there is a possibility to climb up to the ruined hut at Arrow Glacier (15,700 ft). We then continue from Lava Tower to reach our campsite at Moir Hut.(6-7hrs Walking)
Day 5: Moir Camp – Buffalo Camp: | High Alpine Zone
Elevation: 4155m/13,632ft to 4033m/13,232ft
Altitude loss: 122m
We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (15,400 ft). After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked on. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Buffalo Camp. At the camp, there is a huge feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north. (5-7hrs Walking)
Day 6: Buffalo Camp – Rongai 3rd Cave: | Alpine Desert
Elevation: 4033m/13,232ft to 3936m/12,193ft
Altitude lost: 97m
From Buffalo Camp, we climb to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’ cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp in the middle afternoon. (5-6hrs Walking)
Day 7: Rongai 3rd Cave – School Hut: | Glacial Zone
Elevation: 3936m/12,913ft to 4717m/15,476ft
Altitude gained: 781m
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. (4-6hrs Walking)
Day 8: School Hut – Summt– Mweka Camp: / Glaciers, Snow Capped Summit
Elevation: 4717m/15,476ft to 5895m/19,341ft
Altitude gained: 1178m
Descent to 3106m/10,190ft
Altitude lost:2789m
We start the final and most demanding part of the climb by headlamp around 1 a.m. We plod very slowly in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point (18,600 ft). We rest here for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the three-hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (19,345 ft), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. We leave the summit heading northwest, down steep switchbacks for a short distance to Crater Camp (18,900 ft), where the rest of the crew will join us to set up camp. There is an option to hike Reusch Crater and the Ash Pit (19,140), or stay in the area and explore Furtwangler Glacier. Sleeping at this high altitude can be dangerous. Serious AMS can develop if adequate altitude acclimatization has not been achieved so the guides will monitor you very closely later descend to Mweka Camp. [10-13 hours walking]
Day 9: Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate | Rainforest
Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft
Altitude lost: 1473m
A sustained descent on a well-constructed path takes us through a lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the Kilimanjaro National Park gate at Mweka (5,400 ft); and on through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village, where we are transferred to your lodge in Arusha.(3-4hrs Walking)
Dinner and overnight at Ilboru Safari Lodge: Bed, Dinner, and Breakfast included.
Departure Day:
Depending on your flight schedule and departure point you will be transferred to the Airport for your journey home, safari, or a relaxing trip to Zanzibar Beach.
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb 9 Days Northern Circuit Route Includes:
• All National Park fees
• Airport Transfers
• Accommodations before and after trekking
• Qualified Professional, English-speaking mountain guide, Assistant guides
• Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees
• Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summing aid)
• Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
• Porters, and cook
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Quality Imported Equipment (tents, camp chairs, tables & sleeping mattress
• Porter to carry your duffel bag (max weight 15kg / 32 lbs)
• Chemical Portable toilet
Mount Kilimanjaro Climb 9 Days Northern Circuit Route Excludes:
• Flights and airport taxes
• Items of a personal nature
• Compulsory tips for guides, porters, and cook
• Visa
• Highly recommended travel and medical insurance.
• Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania
• Snacks, personal medicine, and water purifying tablets
• Meals & drinks not specified and snacks.
