10 Days Kilimanjaro Climbs The Northern Circuit Route With A Crater Overnight

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi/Arusha town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented in our store.

Meal plan: Dinner only.

LONDOROSSI GATE (2,100 M) – START POINT (2,360 M) TO MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 M). (Mti Mkubwa is a Swahili word meaning A big tree)

The Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, the same starting point as the Lemosho Route. The drive to Londorossi Gate takes approximately two hours from Moshi and considerably longer from Arusha. Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities occurs at the gate and then you will be driven further up the mountain to the trailhead starting point. Most tour operators serve lunch here before the short first-day trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) begins. You may get lucky and spot large wildlife like elephants and buffalo that sometimes emerge from the rainforest onto the path as you trek towards your first camp. Dinner will be served when you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp.

• Distance: 5.5km / 3 miles
• Trekking time: 3-4 hours
• Zone: Rainforest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,820 M) TO SHIRA 2 CAMP (3,850M).

On day two you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of the rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone which follows up onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual,  passing at Shira camp one and ending at Shira Camp two.

Distance:14km / 9miles

Trekking time: 6-7 hours

Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

SHIRA 2 CAMP (3850 M) TO MOIR CAMP (4,200 M).

Day four is a 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 trek as you will experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for acclimatization.

Distance: 14km / 8 miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours

Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

MOIR CAMP (4,200 M) TO BUFFALO CAMP (4,020 M).

Day five involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can 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). The trek gives great vistas across the plains north of Kilimanjaro and stretches out to the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day of hiking.

• Distance: 12km / 7 miles
• Trekking time: 5-7 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

BUFFALO CAMP (4020 M) TO RONGAI THIRD CAVE (3,800 M).

Day six starts with a 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. The trek is shorter than the day before and you should be feeling well-acclimatized to the altitude by now. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.

• Distance: 8km / 5 miles
• Trekking time: 5-7 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

THIRD CAVE (3,800 M) TO SCHOOL HUT (4,800 M).

Day seven involves a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking southwest 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. Before going to bed, remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, a headlamp, and a camera.

• Distance: 15km / 8 miles
• Trekking time: 4-5 hours
• Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

SCHOOL HUT (4,800 M) TO UHURU PEAK (5,895 M) TO CRATER CAMP (5,790 M).

You will awake before dawn to start your summit attempt, meandering up the switchbacks to Gilman’s Point before hiking around the edge of the caldera to Uhuru Peak – The Roof of Africa. After pictures are taken and the views enjoyed, you will head to Crater Camp inside the volcano.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

CRATER CAMP (5,790M) TO MILLENNIUM CAMP (3790M).

In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on the scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.

• Distance: 13.4km / 8.3miles
• Approx. time: 11 – 13 hours
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

MILLENNIUM CAMP (3,950 M) TO MWEKA GATE (1,640M).

The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). At the gate, you will need to sign out with the authority, 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 Moshi.

• Distance: 10km / 6.5 miles
• Trekking time: 3-4 hours
• Zone: Rainforest zone
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included