Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route

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DAY 0: ARRIVE IN TANZANIA

You  will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and  transported to Keys Hotel  in Moshi town, where you will meet  your guide who will educate you on your forthcoming trip and do an  equipment check to ensure that you have all of the required mountain  gear.

On this day, you may hire the missing equipment.

DAY 1: LONDOROSSI GATE (2,100 METERS) – START POINT 2,360 METERS TO MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 METERS)

The Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit Route both start at Londorossi  Gate (2,100 meters) in the west. From Moshi, the journey to Londorossi  Gate takes around two hours, while from Arusha, it takes much longer. At  the gate, you will be required to register with the Kilimanjaro  National Park officials before being transported higher up the mountain  to the trailhead starting point.

Before starting  the short first day hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters), most tour  companies offer lunch here. As you walk towards your first camp, you may  get fortunate and see big animals like elephants and buffalo emerge  from the jungle onto the trail. When you arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp,  dinner will be provided.

• Distance traveled: 5.5km 
• Time spent:4hrs
• Zone: Rainforest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 METERS) TO SHIRA CAMP 1 (3,610 METERS)

The  Lemosho Route and the Northern Circuit Route both begin at Londorossi  Gate (2,100 meters) in the west. From Moshi, it takes around two hours  to go to Londorossi Gate, while it takes much longer from Arusha. You  will be transported higher up the mountain to the trailhead starting  point after registering with the Kilimanjaro National Park officials at  the gate. Before the short first-day hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820  meters), most tour companies offer lunch here. As you walk towards your  first camp, you may be fortunate enough to see big animals like as  elephants and buffalo emerge from the jungle onto the trail. When you  get to Mti Mkubwa Camp, dinner will be provided.

• Distance traveled: 5.5km 
• Time spent: 4hrs
• Zone: Rainforest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 3: SHIRA CAMP 1 (3,610 METERS) TO MOIR CAMP (4,200 METERS)

The  journey traverses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2  for lunch on the third day. Nine-day hikers typically spend the night at  Shira Camp 2, where they will meet up with Machame Route hikers.

However,  for the next eight days, trekkers will continue east, passing through  the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then entering the high alpine desert  zone, before joining the northern circuit and going down to Moir Camp at  4,200 meters.

• Distance traveled: 14km 
• Time spent: 8hrs
• Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone/ High alpine zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 4: MOIR CAMP (4,200 METERS) TO BUFFALO CAMP (4,020 METERS)

A  fairly hard ascent out of Moir Valley awaits you on day five. Before  returning to the Northern Circuit route, hikers may take a short  diversion to the top of Little Lent Hill, which stands at 4,375 meters.

From  here, the trail continues a succession of inclines and dips to Buffalo  Camp, skirting the northern slopes of Kibo (4,020 meters). The trip  offers spectacular views of the plains north of Kilimanjaro, which  extend all the way to the Kenyan-Tanzanian border.

After a hard day of trekking, you’ll arrive at Buffalo Camp just after noon, where you’ll have lunch and relax.

• Distance traveled: 12km 
• Time spent: 7hrs
• Zone: High alpine zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 5: BUFFALO CAMP (4,020 METERS) TO RONGAI THIRD CAVE (3,800 METERS)

The  sixth day begins with a climb over the Buffalo Ridge and then a descent  to Porfu Camp, where lunch is typically given. The trail then heads  east along the northern slopes to the 3,800-meter Rongai Third Cave.

The  hike is shorter than the day before, and you should be fully  acclimatized to the altitude by this point. Around mid-afternoon, you’ll  arrive at the Third Cave.

• Distance traveled: 8km 
• Time spent: 7hrs
• Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 6: 3RD CAVE (3,800 METERS) TO SCHOOL HUT (4,800 METERS)

On  day seven, you’ll climb steadily up and across the Saddle, which lies  between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. The trekkers then go south-west to  School Hut (4,800 meters). You will be given an early supper after  arriving to School Hut, and then you should get some rest since you will  be awakened before midnight to begin your summit attempt. Before going  to bed, make sure you have all of your gear ready, including warm  clothing, insulated water bottles, food, a flashlight, and a camera.

• Distance traveled: 15km 
• Time spent: 5hrs
• Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 7: SCHOOL HUT (4,800 METERS) TO UHURU PEAK (5,895 METERS) AND THEN ONTO MILLENNIUM CAMP (3,950 METERS)

Around  11:30 a.m., you’ll be awakened with hot tea and cookies, and you’ll  begin the arduous ascent up Kibo’s hills under the cover of darkness.  Hans Meyer Cave will be your first stop, where you will take a brief  rest. As you reach Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), which will be about  5-6 hours after leaving School Hut, the climb becomes steeper.

Take  a time to appreciate the coming dawn and the magnificent view out and  over to Mawenzi Peak, but keep in mind that you still have 2 hours of  hiking ahead of you to reach Uhuru Peak. As you go west around the  crater rim, the slope flattens out, and you should reach at the top just  after dawn.

Because your time here will be  limited, take as many photos as you can of the breathtaking vistas and  nearby glaciers. You’ll next return around the crater rim to Stella  Point (5,739 meters), where you’ll turn south and descend Kibo’s highly  scoured slopes to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters).

Most  hikers stop here for a brief rest before heading down to Millennium  Camp (3,950 meters) for your last night on the mountain. On day eight,  you will be hiking for a total of 14-16 hours, so pace yourself, stay  hydrated, and keep your blood sugar levels up. Note that some tour  companies take the Marangu Route back to Horombo Hut via Gilman’s Peak.

• Distance:  10.5km 
• Time spent: 8hrs ascent and then  6hrs descent
• Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all Included

DAY 8: MILLENNIUM CAMP (3,950 METERS) TO MWEKA GATE (1,640 METERS)

The  last day is a short walk from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka  Gate in thick montane rainforest (1,640 meters). You must sign out with  the officials at the gate, who will also give you your official  certificate — a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s  Point and a gold certificate for those who made it to Uhuru Peak. Before being taken back to Keys Hotel in Moshi, it is traditional to  tip your guides, cook and porters.

• Distance traveled: 10km 
• Time spent:4hrs
• Zone: Rainforest zone
• Meals: Breakfast

DAY 9: DEPART TANZANIA

After  the hike, you’ll have the rest of the day free to relax before your  trip home. Depending on flight schedules, you may want to go sightseeing  around Moshi and pick up some souvenirs before going to the airport.

*If you want to continue exploring Tanzania, safaris, Zanzibar, and other add-ons are available.

• Breakfast is included in the price.

Included in the price:

-- 2 Airport Transfers, from JRO Kilimanjaro International Airport
-- 2 nights hotel at Keys Hotel in Moshi town on Bed and Breakfast basis, Double or Triple Occupancy
-- 3 Delicious meals a day, boiled and filtered drinking water while on the mountain.
-- All park entrance, camping and rescue fees
-- All camping equipment, including sleeping tents, mess tent, mattresses, kitchen tent, staff tents and all cooking utensils
-- Warm water for washing to be provided every morning and evening.
-- Oxygen Cylinder - only for emergencies
-- English Speaking Guides (Wilderness First Responder certified), cook and porters
-- Staff salaries and fees.
-- Transport to/from national park gates.
-- First aid kit and pulse oximeter.
-- Portable Chemical Toilet and Tent
-- Emergency telephone between the guides and our office in Moshi town.
-- 3 litres of bottled drinking water to be provided on the first day of your hike, on the mountain porters will fetch water from the streams to   be boiled and filtered for you.

Not included in the price:

-- Prices do not include sleeping bags
-- Gratuities
-- Soda/alcohol unless otherwise noted
-- Health insurance
-- Visa fees
-- International airfare
-- Laundry
-- All Meals and drinks in Moshi town