10 Days Kilimanjaro Climbs The Northern Circuit Route

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be greeted and transported to your hotel in either Moshi or Arusha. There, you will meet your guide, who will provide an overview of your forthcoming trek and conduct an equipment check to ensure you possess all the essential mountain gear. Any missing items can be rented from a store in town.

Transfer from the airport : 1 hour 

Overnight: 

Meal plan: Meals

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

• Overnight: Big tree camp

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:7 km / 4 miles

Trekking time: 3 hours

Climatic Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone

Altitude Change: +719 m / +2,359 ft

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

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: 11 km / 6.8  miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours

Altitude Change:  2,155 ft

Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone

Overnight: Moir Hut

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

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
• Overnight: Buffalo Camp
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Day six starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Pofu 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
•  Overnight: Rongai Third Cave
•   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

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
• Altitude Change: 2,562 ft
• Overnight: School Hut
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Counted in

To avoid prolonged exposure to the sun's heat, we will commence our ascent to Uhuru Peak around midnight. The initial part of the trail features a rocky path leading to the Hans Meyer Cave. Following this, you will navigate a series of switchbacks that ascend to Gillman’s Point, located at 5,681 meters (18,638 feet) on the crater rim. This segment is particularly steep and characterized by loose stone scree, making it the most challenging portion of the route. From Gillman’s Point, you will continue your hike for an additional two hours to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Congratulations on your achievement! Take a moment to relish your time on the Roof of Africa before starting your descent.

• Trekking Time: 5-7 hours
• Distance: 6 km / 3.7 mi
• Altitude Change: +3,865 ft
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and  Dinner Included

After a brief celebration and photo session at the summit, you will start your descent by passing Stella Point. From there, you will navigate the scree slope down to Barafu Camp, before continuing to Millennium Camp for a meal and a well-deserved rest. During the descent, you will be treated to stunning views of the plains and Mawenzi Peak.

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: 12 km / 7.5 mi
• Approx. time: 4-5 hours
• Overnight: Millennium Camp
•  Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Following breakfast, you will embark on the next phase of your adventure, whether that be a wildlife safari in the Serengeti, a relaxing beach holiday in Zanzibar, or a transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.