The Northern Circuit route 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 also is highly recommended.

Since this 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. Trekking down  is done via the Mweka route.

Hike type:  Small- Medium& Large group size, Youth and Family, High altitudes. Summit success rate: Gilman’s Point (94%). Uhuru Peak (97%).

Tour No: K028

Booking Availability: 98%

Offer per Person: Start from US$ 2,560

Best time: All year around

Duration: 10Days/ 9nights

Departures: Daily

Departing From: Arusha

Departure Time: 0800 Hrs (possible to leave earlier than)

Minimum Travelers: 2

Language: English Mountain guide

Transportation Means: Land cruiser/ Land rover, 4 by 4 cars models are available

 

Day 1. Arrival

International Airport (JRO) on arrival in Tanzania, you will be met by one of Giraffe Safari representative who will welcome you and who will transfer you from the airport to Arusha town. You will spend the night in this busy tourist town. Where will get short briefing from our representative at hotel and leave you to relax for while and have dinner and overnight stay at Venice Hotel. 

Day 2: Londorossi Gate- Starting Point – Mti Mkubwa Camp.

After your breakfast in morning you will leave from the hotel with Giraffe porters and guides and you will be driven to Londorossi Gate. Where the Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, the same start point as the Lemosho Route. Where you will get  Londorossi Gate Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities occurs at the gate and then you will be driven further up the mountain to the trail head commencing. Dinner will be served when you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp and overnight stay.

  • Hiking time:3-4hours.
  • Elevation:2360m-2820m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 5.5km.
  • Habitat: Rainforest

 

Day 3: Mti Mkubwa Camp – Shira One Camp.

After your breakfast you will proceed with hiking where you will leave Mti Mkubwa Camo to Shira One Camp. Today the hike will take a gain of an altitude of approximately 800m. Lunch will be served in an exciting valley just outside the Shira crater at 3004m. After lunch, you will go across the rim into the Shira Caldera which filled from lava from Kibo. You will camp and have dinner and overnight at Shira One camp (3610m).

  • Hiking time:5-7hours.
  • Elevation:2820m-3610m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 8km.
  • Habitat: Rainforest & Low Alpine Zone

Day 4: Shira Camp1 – Moir Camp.

After your breakfast in morning you will progress with hiking ,this day will be long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters the high alpine desert zone. The morning is spent trekking up to Lava Tower and the iconic Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will have lunch. After lunch you will join the northern circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters see map above. This is an important day in your hike as you will be experiencing high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatization process.

  • Hiking time:5-7hours.
  • Elevation:3610m-4200m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 15km.
  • Habitat: Alpine Zone.

Day 5: Moir Camp – Buffalo Camp. 

After your breakfast in morning you will progress with hiking this day relates with moderate steep climb out of Moir Valley.Hikers tend to take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters). You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after mid day, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day hiking.

  • Hiking time:5-7hours.
  • Elevation:4200m to 4020m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 12km.
  • Habitat: High Alpine Zone.

Day 6: Buffalo Camp – Longai Third Cave.

After your breakfast in morning you will progress with hiking. This  day you will commence climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Porfu Camp where lunch is usually served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon where you will have dinner with overnight stay.

 

  • Hiking time:5-7hours.
  • Elevation:4200m to 3800m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 8km.
  • Habitat: Alpine Zone.

Day 7: Longai Third Cave – School Hut.

After your breakfast in morning you will progress with hiking. This day relates with a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Climbers tend to resume with walking south-west up to School Hut (4,800 meters). After arriving at School Hut you will be served an early dinner and then you should get some shut-eye as you will be awoken before midnight to start your summit attempt. Remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, headlamp and camera before sleeping.

  • Hiking time:4-6hours.
  • Elevation:3800m-4800m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 15km.
  • Habitat: Alpine Zone & Glacial Zone

Day 8: School Hut- Uhuru Peak- Millennium Camp. 

Around 11:30pm,Guide will wake up you and give you hot tea and biscuits and around midnight you will then commence the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), which will be around 5-6 hours after departing School Hut. Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and incredible view out and across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember you still have 2 hours trekking to reach Uhuru Peak so dig deep for the energy.

You will then retrace your steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters) where you will turn south and head down the heavily screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for your final night on the holy mountain. In total you will be trekking for 14-16 hours on day seven so it is important to pace yourself, remain hydrated and keep your blood sugar levels up.

  • Hiking time: Ascent 4-6hours & Descent 5-6hours
  • Elevation:3800m-5895m:
  • Meal: Lunch & Dinner
  • Distance: Approximately 10km.
  • Habitat: Ice-caped summit

Day 9: Millennium Camp – Mweka Gate – Arusha

After your breakfast in morning you will progress with trekking down. This day will be final day is a short hike through the dense mountain rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak. It is customary to give your guide and porter tips before being driven back to your hotel in Arusha city.

  • Hiking time: 2-4hours
  • Elevation:3950m-1630m:
  • Meal: Lunch
  • Distance: Approximately 10km.
  • Habitat: Rainforest

Day 10: Arusha-Airport.

 

In morning you will get your breakfast, Then you will relax and you will be driven to the Airport depending with your flight schedule or continue with your plan in Arusha city.

 

Package Includes;

  • 2nights’ hotel(Full board accommodation) bed & breakfast in Arusha before and after the climb.
  • Emergence Rescue
  • 2 transportation from Arusha to Londorossi gate & return back
  • 3 meals per day while trekking: Vegetarian OR non-vegetarian.
  • 8 days Kilimanjaro Hiking to North Circuit Route.
  • All park entrance fees, and government revenues.
  • English speaking mountain guide and assistant.
  • Climbing certificate
  • Porters – minimum of 3 per client.
  • First Aid Kit including Oxygen Kit.
  • Camping Equipment’s including sleeping tents, sleeping mats, dining tent, chairs and table.

Package Excludes:

  • International flight ticket
  • Travel documents i.e Insurance, Visa, Health certificate
  • Sleeping bag
  • Tips