9-Day adventure
Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit
Tanzania
Hiking Kilimanjaro Summits
Trip highlights
- Spend the night in Crater Camp
- High summit success rates (over 95%)
- High guide to client ratio
- Duration: 8 or 9 days
- Difficulty: Medium
- Scenery: Good
- Traffic: High
Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Overview
At Hiking Kilimanjaro . With over 15 years of experience we have helped more than 12,000 people reach the summit of Africa. With top quality equipment and the best guides on the mountain, we have a 95% success rate on every route that we operate. The newest of the official routes to ascend Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit is the longest and most beautiful. The first three days of the ascent follow the Lemosho route. The route then turns north and follows the Northern Circuit proper to where it meets the Rongai route to the east. A wonderful route in terms of remoteness, its circumnavigation of the mountain offers almost 360 degree views. The longer route provides unequalled acclimatisation opportunities. At 5730 metres, Crater Camp is an almost untouched and unvisited wilderness, and is a fantastic option for climbers who are confident that they acclimatise well
Itinerary
Day 1
Arrival
All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet your local Kandoo representative and have a full pre-climb briefing.
Day 1
Arrival
- Transport: Private transfer
- Accomodation: Hotel
Day 2
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
4WD transfer to Londorossi Park Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite at 2895m. We will stay here overnight.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 535 m
- Max. altitude: 2895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 3
Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
Our journey continues eastwards across the Shira Plateau with spectacular views of Shira Cathedral. We cross moorland meadow to reach Shira 1 Camp for dinner and overnight camping at 3500m. By now we will be able to see the stunning glaciers of the Western Breach. It will be colder tonight than the previous night with temperatures possibly falling below freezing.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
- Ascent: 605 m
- Max. altitude: 3500 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 4
Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Today we walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral, 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, we take in the unforgettable views of Mt Meru.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
- Ascent: 310 m
- Max. altitude: 3810 mm
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 5
Shira 2 Camp to Moir Hut
We leave the moorland behind now and a gentle grade walk takes us across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Shira Cave with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Ascent: 390 m
- Max. altitude: 4200 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 6
Moir Hut to Pofu Camp
We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4700m). After admiring the views we return to the trail and heads eastwards around the Northern Circuit trail. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Pofu Camp.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
- Ascent: 500 m
- Descent: 680 m
- Max. altitude: 4700 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 7
Pofu Camp to Third Cave Camp
From Pofu Camp we cross numerous small valleys as the trail continues through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
- Descent: 60 m
- Max. altitude: 4020 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 8
Third Cave Camp to School Hut
Today 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.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
- Ascent: 830 m
- Max. altitude: 4790 mm
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 9
School Hut to summit to Millennium Camp
We start the final and most demanding part of the climb around 1 am 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, where our porters will meet us with a packed lunch. We will then continue to descend to reach Millennium Camp.
Day 1
- Hiking time: 14 - 16 hours
- Ascent: 1105 m
- Descent: 2068 m
- Max. altitude: 5895 m
- Accomodation: Camping
- Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Day 10
Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Your final day on the trek. Departing after breakfast, we descend a further 1300m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. We will then transfer toy our hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
- Descent: 2027 m
- Max. altitude: 3827 m
- Accomodation: Hotel
- Meals included: Breakfast
Day 11
Departure
After a much-needed night’s rest we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you from the hotel for your onward journey.
- Meals included: Breakfast
Day 1
- Transport: Private transfer
- Meals included: Breakfast
The price includes:-
- Professional, English-speaking Guide
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary
- Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)
- Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder
- Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages Cylinder
- Meals And Drinks
- Drinking water and Full Board Meals
- Pickup and Transfer to Airport
The price Excludes:-
- International flights; available upon request
- Tips for porters and mountain crew
- Personal gear rentals; (available upon request)
- Visa fee (100 USD for American citizens and 50 USD for all others);
- Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks & beverages
- Travel or Medical Insurance is required and you should ask for Recommendation
- Additional lodge nights if early descent from the mountain
- Medication
