10-Day Kilimanjaro Trekking via Northern Circuits Route

• You'll be collected from the airport.
• Accommodation before the tour starts can be arranged for an extra cost.

Arrive in Tanzania

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, you will meet our guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.

Main Destination:

Moshi (Town)

Accommodation:

Panama Garden Resort

• Mid-range hotel located in Moshi (Town)

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Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast (Lunch & dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Lemosho Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

-Elevation: 2100 m to 2820 m
-Approx. hiking time: 3-4 hours
-Distance covered: 11 km
-Habitat: Rainforest
The Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2100 m) in the west, the same starting point as the Lemosho Route. The drive to Londorossi Gate takes approximately two hours from Moshi. Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities is at the gate and then you will be driven further up the mountain to the trailhead starting point. You may get lucky and spot large wildlife like elephants, giraffes, and buffalos that sometimes emerge from the rainforest onto the path as you trek toward your first camp. Dinner and overnight at Mti Mkubwa Camp (2820m).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp I

-Elevation: 2820 m to 3610 m
-Hiking time: 5 hours
-Distance covered: 8 km
-Habitat: Rainforest / Moorland
Today, you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of the rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone, which leads up to the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual, concluding at Shira Camp I (3610 m).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Shira Camp I to Moir Camp

-Elevation: 3610 m to 4200 m
-Hiking time: 3-4 hours
-Distance covered: 7 km
-Habitat: low alpine zone
On day three, the trek takes us from Shira Camp I to Shira Camp II as we cross the Shira Plateau. We will continue eastward to reach the Shira Plateau ridge, proceed to Lava Tower (4600 m), and then descend to Moir Camp (4200 m).

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Moir Hut

• Budget mountain hut located on Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Moir Camp to Pofu Camp

-Elevation: 4200 m to 4020 m
-Hiking time: 5-7 hours
-Distance covered: 12 km
-Habitat: high alpine zone
Today, there is a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4375 meters before returning to the Grand Traverse trail. From here, the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Pofu (Buffalo) Camp (4020 m). The trek offers great vistas across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro, stretching out to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Pofu Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch, and dinner, and stay overnight.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Pofu Camp to Rongai Third Cave

-Elevation: 4020m to 3800 m
-hiking time: 5-7 hours
-Distance covered: 8 km
-Habitat: alpine zone
Day five starts with a climb up the Buffalo Ridge and then continues east along the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3800 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.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Third Cave to School Hut

-Elevation: 3800 m to School Hut 4800 m
-Hiking time: 4-5 hours
-Distance covered: 7 km
-Habitat: high alpine zone
On day six, you will experience a steady incline up and over the Saddle, which is situated between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Trekkers will then continue walking southwest to reach School Hut (4800 m). Upon arriving at School Hut, you will be served an early dinner, and you should get some sleep because you will be awakened before midnight to begin your summit attempt.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

School Hut to Uhuru Peak and then down to Millennium Camp

-Elevation: 4800 m to 5895 m and down to 3950 m
-Hiking time: 12 hours
-Distance covered: 18 km
-Habitat: glacial zone and all preceding zones
You will be awakened at midnight with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. Your first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave, where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman’s Point (5681 m), which will be approximately 5-6 hours after departing from School Hut. From here, gather all your energy and every bit of determination to reach Uhuru Peak (5895 m). The duration of your stay at the summit will depend on the time, weather, and your physical condition. Afterward, you will head around the crater rim to Stella Point (5739 m), where you will turn south and descend the heavily scree-covered slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4680 m). Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3950 m) for your final night on the mountain.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Budget camping

• On Mt Kilimanjaro

Meals & Drinks:

• All meals included
• Drinking water (Other drinks not included)

Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

-Elevation: 3,950 m to 1,640 m
-Hiking time: 5 hours
-Distance covered: 14 km
-Habitat: glacial zone and all preceding zones
The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3950 m) to Mweka Gate (1640 m). 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.

Main Destination:

Mount Kilimanjaro

Accommodation:

Panama Garden Resort

• Mid-range hotel located in Moshi (Town)

Meals & Drinks:

• Breakfast & lunch (Dinner not included)
• Drinks not included

Depart Tanzania

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.

Main Destination:

Kilimanjaro Airport

Accommodation:

No accommodation (End of tour)

Meals & Drinks:

• Meals at own expense
• Drinks not included

• Additional accommodation can be arranged for an extra cost.
• You'll be dropped off at the airport.