10 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT WITH CRATER ROUTE – KILIMANJARO HIKING TOUR

Ten Days Northern Circuit route with overnight in the crater is the best option If you are looking for a really unique adventure, try sleep in Crater Camp on Mt Kilimanjaro. Crater camp stands on the Roof of Africa and is an incredible wilderness environment. If you have experience at altitude and love something challenging then sleeping overnight in Kilimanjaro's Crater Camp is a fantastic option.

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 also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi 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. Descend is made via the Mweka route. We offer the Northern Circuit as a Ten-day group climb or private climb.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

• DAY 0: Kilimanjaro Airport – Moshi/ Arusha
• DAY 1: Moshi/ Arusha – Londorossi gate – Mti mkubwa (big tree camp)
• DAY 2: Mti Mkubwa – Shira 1 camp
• DAY 3: Shira 1 camp – Shira 2 camp
• DAY 4: Shira 2 camp – Lava Tower – Moir Hut
• DAY 5: Moir Hut – Buffalo camp
• DAY 6: Buffalo camp – Third Cave
• DAY 7: Third Cave – School Hut
• DAY 8: School Hut –Crater Camp
• DAY 9: Crater Camp - Uhuru Peak (summit point) – Mweka camp
• DAY 10: Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Back to Moshi/Arusha

Upon arrival at Arusha /Kilimanjaro Airport you will meet your SERENGETI MIGRATION EXPERTS Co LTD guide who will pick you up and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi Tanzania (for budget hotels we recommend KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL).

Settle into your accommodation, relax and get used to the African atmosphere. Ready to start your 10 DAYS KILIMANJARO HIKING TOUR VIA NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE WITH OVERNIGHT ) the next day.

OVERNIGHT STAY; KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL (Optional)

BADGET LODGE (HOTEL):

• NAME OF THE HOTEL: KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL
• ACCOMMODATIONS: BED AND BREAKFAST
• HOTEL LOCATION: MOSHI -KILIMANJARO
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

After breakfast you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to the Londorossi Gate at the height of 2,250 m. After the necessary registration has been completed, a bumpy drive will take you into the dense rainforest, from where your adventure commences. The moderately steep track makes its way through an unspoilt natural forest to the Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). You will be accompanied by an armed ranger for the first 2 days of your trek as wild game can be found in the area. You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.

• Elevation (ft): 7,800ft to 9,500ft
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Mti mkubwa Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT MTI MKUBWA CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: MTI MKUBWA CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: MTI MKUBWA
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.

• Elevation (ft): 9,498ft to 11,500ft
• Distance: 8 km/ 5miles
• Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT SHIRA 1 CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: SHIRA 1 CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: SHIRA 1
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

Compared to yesterday, your climbing today is less (240 meters of ascent) and takes you up to an altitude of 3,850 meters. The distance you cover will be similar, at approximately 7 km. It is a steady, uphill climb and you should expect about 3.5 to 4 hours of walk time in total.

Your breakfast today is at the civilized hour of 08.00 and your departure one hour later. You set off in a south-eastern direction across the moor and heathland of the Shira Plateau. Buffalo, dik-dik and klipspringer graze here and can occasionally be seen. You intend to reach Shira 2 Camp – which is also known as Shira Huts – by 13.00, in time to be served a hot lunch. Dinner tonight will be at 18.00.

• Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 12,500ft
• Distance: 7 km/ 4 miles
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT MOIR HUT CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: SHIRA 2 CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: SHIRA 2
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

Today you are back to your early, 07.00 breakfast time, ready for 08.30 departure. You would expect to spend about 6.5 to 7 hours walking today, covering a distance of 14 km. You will finish your day 350 meters higher than you started it, in between you have to climb to the base of the famous Lava Tower at 4,600 meters. This part of the route is rife with ups and downs and may bring some discomfort.

You will spend one or two hours at higher altitude in order to properly acclimatize yourself, so the lunch break will take place at Lava Tower itself. The afternoon part of the route climbs slightly before descending to Moir Hut Camp.

Your guide may decide to bypass Lava Tower altogether, taking the porter trail instead, if any of the members of the group do not appear to have acclimatized properly. In this case the highest altitude reached will be 4,400, rather than 4,600 meters.

• Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Moir Hut
• Elevation (ft): 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft to 13,580 ft
• Distance: 14 km/8 miles
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: : Moir hut Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT BARRANCO CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: MOIR CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: MOIR HUT
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

You climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4,375 m). After admiring the views, you return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked on. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Buffalo Camp (4,020 m). At the camp, there is a huge feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north.

• Elevation: 13,580 ft to 13,200 ft
• Distance Covered: 12 km/7 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Buffalo Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT KARANGA CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: BUFFALO CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: KBUFFALO
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

From Buffalo Camp, you climb to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’ and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp (3,800 m).

• Buffalo Camp to Third Cave
• Elevation (ft): 13,200 ft to 12,700 ft
• Distance Covered: 8 km/5 miles
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hrs
• Habitat: Health
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Third Cave Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT BARAFU/KOSOVO CAMP

CAMP:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: THIRD CAVE CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: THIRD CAVE
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

On a relatively easy path, today’s leg takes you over the so called “saddle”. This piece of rock is actually a lava-flow formed when Kili was still young. It has now solidified and connects two of Mount Kilimanjaro’s three peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo. You will arrive at the School Hut in about 4.5 to 5 hours and go to bed straight after dinner as the summit calls for an early start, at approximately 11 p.m.

• Third Cave to School Hut
• Elevation (ft): 12,700 ft to 15,600 ft
• Distance Covered: 5 km/3 miles
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: School Hut

OVERNIGHT STAY AT CRATER CAMP

CAMP:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: SCHOOL HUT CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: SCHOOL HUT
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

We have a long and steep ascent with many switchbacks up to Gillman’s Point, from which we traverse the crater rim, then at Stella Point descend slightly into the crater. Across the floor of the crater is Crater Camp, with its great views of the surrounding glaciers.

• Elevation: 15,600 ft to 18,865 ft
• Distance Covered: 2.8km km
• Time to be used: 1 - 2 hrs
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
• Accommodation: Crater Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT MWEKA CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: CRATER CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: CRATER
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

The final ascent begins in the early morning hours with the first signs of the sunrise. Though this leg is just two hours long, the high altitude ensures that it is particularly slow and arduous. After ascending 170 meters or so you will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak (5895 m). Now standing on the “Roof of Africa” you will be able to see the surrounding summits and landscapes in all their glory – a truly special experience.

After a short break and a few celebratory images, you will return to Barafu Camp just before midday where the rest of the climbing crew is waiting for you with a warm and well-earned meal. After an hour or so you will continue to descend to Mweka Camp (3080 m) which is approx. 3 hours away. Here you will have an evening meal followed by a relaxing evening and a good night’s sleep.

• Start: Crater Camp (5730 m)
• Finish: Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3080 m)
• Altitude: 165 m to 2815 m
• Distance Covered: 9.3km km down
• Walking time: 7-9h
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
• Accommodation: Mweka Camp

OVERNIGHT STAY AT CRATER CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: MWEKA CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: MWEKA
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 2 to 3 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to relax, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement Don’t forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

• Altitude: 3,080 m to 1,630m
• Distance Covered: 9.3km km down
• Time to be used: 2 - 3 hrs
• Habitat: Rain Forest
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

OVERNIGHT STAY AT CRATER CAMP

PUBLIC CAMPSITE:

• NAME OF THE CAMP: CRATER CAMP
• ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
• CAMP LOCATION: CRATER
• ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE

_THE END OF TREK_

OVERNIGHT STAY; MOSHI WHITE HOUSE HOTEL (Optional)

BADGET LODGE (HOTEL):

• NAME OF THE HOTEL: KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL
• ACCOMMODATIONS: BED AND BREAKFAST
• HOTEL LOCATION: MOSHI -KILIMANJARO
• ROOM TYPE: DOUBLE

Read

Price Inclusions

• Tourist Entry Park Fees and Bike entry fee
• Experienced Professional Tour guide
• All taxes
•  Gate transfer, Airport pick up and Drop up
• Crew Wages
• 2-nights Budget Hotel Accommodation – Before and after Trekking
• Private Cook and Porters

Price Exclusions

• Tips (Gratituities) to Guides, Cook and Porters
• Local and International flights
• Mountain Climbing Gears
• Visa & Travel insurance
• Expenses of a personal nature