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.
We offer the Northern Circuit as a nine-day group climb or private climb. A 10-Day variation that includes an overnight at Crater Camp is available as a private climb by special request.
Upon arrival at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your Migration Seekers Expedition guide who will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL). Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 9 DAYS KILIMANJARO HIKING TOUR VIA NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE the next day.
After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Londorossi Gate at the height of 2,250 m. After the necessary registration has been completed, a bumpy drive will take you into the dense rainforest, from where your adventure commences. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unspoilt natural forest to the Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). You will be accompanied by an armed ranger for the first 2 days of your trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.
•Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
•Distance: 6 km
•Hiking Time:3-4 hours
•Habitat: Rain Forest
•Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
•Accommodation: Mti mkubwa Camp
We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.
• Elevation (ft): 9,498ft to 11,500ft
• Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Compared to yesterday, you’re climbing today is less (240 metres of ascent) and takes you up to an altitude of 3,850 meters. The distance you cover will be similar, at approximately 7 km. It is a steady, uphill climb and you should expect about 3.5 to 4 hours of walk time in total.
Your breakfast today is at the civilized hour of 08.00 and your departure one hour later. You set off in a south-eastern direction across the moor and heathland of the Shira Plateau. Buffalo, dik-dik and klipspringer graze here and can occasionally be seen. You intend to reach Shira 2 Camp – which is also known as Shira Huts – by 13.00, in time to be served a hot lunch. Dinner tonight will be at 18.00.
• Elevation: 11,500 ft to 12,500 ft
• Distance: 7 km/4 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Heath
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Today you are back to your early, 07.00 breakfast time, ready for 08.30 departure. You would expect to spend about 6.5 to 7 hours walking today, covering a distance of 14 km. You will finish your day 350 meters higher than you started it, in between you have to climb to the base of the famous Lava Tower at 4,600 meters. This part of the route is rife with ups and downs and may bring some discomfort. You will spend one or two hours at higher altitude in order to properly acclimatize yourself, so the lunch break will take place at Lava Tower itself. The afternoon part of the route climbs slightly before descending to Moir Hut Camp. Your guide may decide to bypass Lava Tower altogether, taking the porter trail instead, if any of the members of the group do not appear to have acclimatized properly. In this case the highest altitude reached will be 4,400, rather than 4,600 meters.
• Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Moir Hut
• Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft to 13,580 ft
• Distance: 14 km/8 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Moir hut Camp
You climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4,375 m). After admiring the views, you 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 (4,020 m). At the camp, there is a huge feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north.
• Elevation: 13,580 ft to 13,200 ft
• Distance: 12 km/7 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Buffalo Camp
From Buffalo Camp, you climb to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’ and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp (3,800 m).
• Buffalo Camp to Third Cave
• Elevation: 13,200 ft to 12,700 ft
• Distance: 8 km/5 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Heath
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Third Cave Camp
On a relatively easy path, today’s leg takes you over the so called “saddle”. This piece of rock is actually a lava-flow formed when Kili was still young. It has now solidified and connects two of Mount Kilimanjaro’s three peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo. You will arrive at the School Hut in about 4.5 to 5 hours and go to bed straight after dinner as the summit calls for an early start, at approximately 11 p.m.
• Third Cave to School Hut
• Elevation: 12,700 ft to 15,600 ft
• Distance: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: School Hut
After Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
•School hut to Uhuru Peak
•Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
•Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
•Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
•Distance: 6 km/4 miles
•Distance: 12 km/7 miles
Altitude: 4,800 m to 5,895 m •Altitude: 5,895 m to 3,080 m
•Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
•Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
•Habitat: Arctic
•Habitat: Rain Forest
>Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
>Accommodation: Mweka Camp
The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 2 to 3 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to relax, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement
Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!
• Altitude: 3,080 m to 1,630m
• Distance Covered: 9.3km km down
• Time to be used: 2 - 3 hrs.
• Habitat: Rain Forest
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
_THE END OF TREK_
