The Northern Circuit is a good 8 days hike for those who have not trekked much at high altitudes, with an effective extra day acclimatisation, giving a better success rate.
Experienced trekkers may opt for the more difficult 7 days ascent along the Northern Circuit. After reaching the summit, you will descend by the Mweka trail, rather than retracing your steps along the ascent route. The trail then joins the Rongai and Marangu routes in the east for the final summit ascent via Gilman’s Point.
8 Days Northern Circuit Route Itinerary
Arrival
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met and transferred for overnight accommodation. Your head guide will meet you for your briefing, gear check and arrange for you to hire any equipment you may need.
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.
Elevation: 2,100 M to 2,785 M
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours
Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp
Meals Plan: Lunch & Dinner
Habitat: Rainforest Forest
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.
Elevation: 2785M to 3504M
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 5 - 6 hours
Accommodation: Shira Camp 1
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat: Rainforest Forest
Shira 1 Camp To Moir Hut
Today, we will have the chance to view the Northern ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. The terrain during our steady climb will change from the moorland of the Shira Plateau to the broad upland desert beneath the Lent Hills with great panoramic views. Our camp is close to Moir Hut (4175m). In the afternoon we do an acclimatization walk to the lower part of the Lent Hills group, to an altitude of 4300m. Night Camp at Moir Hut Camp.
Elevation: (3504M to 4161M
Distance: 9-10 km
Hiking Time: 5 - 7 hours
Accommodation: Moir Hut
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat:Alpine Zone
Moir Hut To Pofu Camp
Starts with a climb up where lunch is usually served. We walk heading North to Moir Valley, we climb out of this to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375m before striking eastwards around the Northern Circuit Trail and Finish our day at Pofu Camp.
Elevation: 4,155M to 4,033M)
Distance: 9.4 km
Hiking Time: 5 - 7 hours
Accommodation: Pofu Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat:Alpine Zone
Pofu Camp To Third Cave Campsite
Day five starts with a climb up the Pofu 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 by now you should be feeling well acclimatized to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.
Elevation:4,033M to 3,936M)
Distance: 6-7 km
Hiking Time: 5 - 7 hours
Accommodation: Third Cave Campsite
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat:Alpine Zone
Third Cave Campsite - School Hut
We begin a day with a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. We then continue 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 and headlamp before going to bed.
Elevation:3,936 M to 4717M)
Distance: 4-5 km
Hiking Time: 4 - 5 hours
Accommodation: School Hut
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat:Alpine Zone
School Hut – Uhuru Peak- Mweka Camp
We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breath-taking.
Another hour walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Elevation:4717M to 3,827 M)
Distance: 6 - 10 km
Hiking Time: 4 - 5 hours
Accommodation: Mweka Camp
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Habitat:Rainforest
Mweka Camp- Mweka Gate
A gentle trek takes us down through the rain forest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to your hotel where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower (and a cold beer or two!) before your celebration.
Elevation:3,827 M to 1633M)
Distance:12 km
Hiking Time: 3 - 4 hours
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Plan: Breakfast, Lunch
Habitat:Rainforest
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.