NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE – 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 route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit allows for the best acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate, therefore this route is highly recommended.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Lemoshi 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.
Duration: 8, 9 or 10 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: Low
DAY 1: ARRIVAL KILIMANJARO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
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 route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit allows for the best acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate, therefore this route is highly recommended.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Lemoshi 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.
Duration: 8, 9 or 10 days
Difficulty: Medium
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: Low
DAY 1: LEMOSHO GATE – MTI MKUBWA CAMP
The Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, the same start points 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 (2,785 meters) begins. You may get lucky and spot large wildlife like elephant 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.
(2,785/9137ft))
Altitude gained: 396m
Distance: ~4.8km / 3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest
DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2785m/ 9137ft) - SHIRA I CAMP
You will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone which follows up onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual, ending at Shira Camp 1 (3,504 meters).
(3504m/ 11496ft)
Altitude gained: 719m
Distance: ~7.9km / 5 miles
Trekking time: 5-6 hours
Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
DAY 3: SHIRA 1 - MOIR HUT
A long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Seneca 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 4,161 meters (see map above). This is an important day in your trek as you will get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatization process.
Distance: ~ 9.8km / 6.1 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
(4161m/13651ft)
Altitude gained: 657m
DAY 4: MOIR CAMP - BUFFALO CAMP
Today it 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 (4,033 meters). The trek gives great vistas out across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch 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 hiking.
Distance: ~9.2km / 5.8miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone
(4,033m/13,232ft)
(4,155m/13,632ft)
Altitude lost: 122m
DAY 5: BUFFALO CAMP (4033m/13,232ft) – RONGAI 3RD CAVE
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 3,936 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.
(3,936m/12,193ft)
Altitude lost: 97m
Distance: ~6.8km / 4.3miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
DAY 6: RONGAI 3RDCAVE (3936m/12913ft) – SCHOOL HUT
The passage details the final, most challenging segment of a Mount Kilimanjaro trek, starting between midnight and 2 a.m. Climbers ascend between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, pushing through steep, loose scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim, where they are rewarded with a stunning sunrise. After a brief rest, they continue the final hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, likely encountering snow along the way. After celebrating this achievement, they descend steeply to Millennium Camp, with a brief stop at Barafu for lunch. The day ends with a well-deserved rest at Millennium Camp.
Distance: ~5.9km / 3.7 miles ascent and 8.4km / 5.2-mile descent
Trekking time: 6-8 hours ascent and then 4–6-hour descent
Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones
(3,827 m/12556ft)
Altitude gained: 1178m
Altitude lost: 2068m (descent)
DAY 8: MILLENIUM CAMP 3827m/12,556ft - MWEKA GATE 1633m/5358ft – MOSHI 970m
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles. From the gate, a vehicle will meet to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
Distance: ~12.2km / 7.6 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone
Altitude lost: 2194m
Overnight HOTEL IN MOSHI B&B. before being transferred to your journey home, safari or relaxing trip to Zanzibar.
DAY 0: DEPARTURE
Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro international Airport for your flight back home.
INCLUDED
EXCLUDED
- Gratuities/tips
- Personal trekking gear such as sleeping bag and clothing
- Favored beverages (soda and alcohol at hotels)
- Additional accommodation or meals resulting from early descent
- Tanzania entry visa
- Travel insurance
- Domestic or international flights
- Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
Low Season (April 1st – May 19th)
| Type of Accommodation | 2 persons | 4 persons | 6+ persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| SILVER | $3,048.00 USD* | $2,469.00 USD* | $2,275.00 USD* |
| GOLD | $3,615.00 USD* | $3,006.00 USD* | $2,803.00 USD* |
| PLATINUM | $4,300.00 USD* | $3,701.00 USD* | $3,501.00 USD* |
* Indicative costs per person, excluding international airline tickets
Mid Season (The Rest of the Year)
| Type of Accommodation | 2 persons | 4 persons | 6+ persons |
|---|---|---|---|
| SILVER | $3,245.00 USD* | $2,599.00 USD* | $2,384.00 USD* |
| GOLD | $3,971.00 USD* | $3,294.00 USD* | $3,069.00 USD* |
| PLATINUM | $4,699.00 USD* | $4,033.00 USD* | $3,811.00 USD* |
* Indicative costs per person, excluding international airline tickets
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