Northern Circuit 9 days Trekking
- Duration
- Group size
unlimited
- Type tour
- Language
Any desired
short overview
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 Kilimanjaro route, 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.
itinerary
Arrival
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where you will meet a Kilimanjaro Unforgettable representative, and transfer to the hotel under the rate. The hotel will provide all the essentials for a comfortable stay, cozy rooms, hot water, polite staff, a swimming pool, and Internet access. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are ready to begin the climb.
DAY 1 - Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
A guide and the mountain support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold a quick briefing, after which you will travel by vehicle (roughly 3-4 hours) to Kilimanjaro National Park’s western entrance: Londorossi Gate (2,250 m /7,380 f). After the quick formality of acquiring climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, the group will start trekking towards the first camp of the route, Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m /8,692 f). Raincoats are necessary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through a rainforest. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have prepared everything necessary, put up the tents, and begun preparing lunch. After lunch, the group will depart on an acclimatization hike towards Shira 1 Camp that features a 300-meter (984-foot) gain in altitude, after which you will hike back down to Mti Mkubwa Camp, where a hot dinner will be served.
The acclimatization hike is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude done in order to speed up the acclimatization process. You should take the acclimatization hikes very seriously. They help increase your chances to climb Kilimanjaro successfully and save you from the consequences of altitude sickness.
DAY 2 - Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
On the whole, the passage from Mti Mkubwa Camp to the second high-altitude camp, Shira 1 Camp (3,610 m / 11,841 f), is rather easy and takes about 5-6 hours. This will allow you to start the acclimatization process gradually, which is a mainstay of good trekking. When you reach the camp, your team of specialists will cook lunch and you will have the chance to rest in your tent or walk around the nearby area.
DAY 3 - Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
During the trek between camps, our guides will offer ascending Cathedral Peak – 3872 meters (12,703 feet), one of the highest points of the extinct Shira volcano. Besides the captivating hiking experience, reaching the summit of Cathedral Peak on a clear day offers breathtaking views down into the valley. In our decade of experience working on the mountain, the valley below resembling a lost world is among our favorite views. This is a straightforward hike with no technical challenges. Although the peak may be shrouded in clouds at times, there’s a stella providing an opportunity for a memorable photograph. If you prefer to skip this ascent or encounter unfavorable weather, heading directly to Shira 2 is an option. This choice doesn’t impact acclimatization since Shira 2 and Cathedral Peak stand at a similar elevation. Nevertheless, we believe the hike to Cathedral Peak is worth it and wholeheartedly recommend it.
DAY 4 - Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Moir Hut
DAY 5 - Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp
DAY 6 - Buffalo Camp to Third Cave
DAY 7 - Third Cave Camp to School Hut
DAY 8 - School Hut to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
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 Gilmanβs 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 make our descent to Mweka Camp, 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.
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DAY 9 - Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate - Hotel
On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. A vehicle takes us back to the hotel in Moshi, where we receive our summit certificates.
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Departure
Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.
Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.
Included/excluded
- Oxygen
- Oximeters
- Camp pillow
- Airport Transfer
- Extra sleeping pad
- Hut or camping fees
- National Park gate fees
- Hyperbaric pressure bag
- Dining chairs with backs
- All meals on the mountain
- Hot lunches on the mountain
- Salaries for all crew members
- Kilimanjaro map for the group
- Rescue fees (as required by the national park)
- Accommodation in Moshi/ Arusha
- Celebration dinner at the hotel after returning from trek
- Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
- Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
- Special Kilimanjaro guide with Wilderness First Responder certification
- Transport from Moshi/ Arusha to starting point on the mountain and return to Moshi/ Arusha
- Drinks
- Laundry
- Tips or gratuity
- Travelers insurance
- Communication charges
- Visas, international airfares
- Lunch or dinner in town (option and extra charges direct)
- Sightseeing not included in the package; optional activities