Tour Overview
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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 Eight day group climb or private climb. A 10-Day variation that includes an overnight at Crater Camp is available as a private climb by special request.
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: Day 3: Shira 1 camp – Lava Tower – Moir Hut
- DAY 4: Moir Hut – Buffalo camp
- DAY 5: Buffalo camp – Third Cave
- DAY 6: Third Cave – School Hut
- DAY 7: School Hut – Uhuru Peak (summit point) – Mweka camp
- DAY 8: Mweka camp – Mweka gate – Back to Moshi/Arusha
DAY 0: ARRIVAL AT ARUSHA/KILIMANJARO AIRPORT – MOSHI
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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 8 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
DAY 1: MOSHI – LONDOROSSI GATE - MTI MKUBWA CAMP
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP - SHIRA 1 CAMP
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
DAY 3: Shira 1 Camp - Lava Tower - Moir hut
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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 4,161 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.
- Elevation (ft): 3504M/11296ft to 4161M/1365ft
- Distance: 9.8 km/6.1 miles
- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
- Habitat: Alpine Zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
- Accommodation: Moir hut Camp
OVERNIGHT STAY AT MOIR HUT CAMP
PUBLIC CAMPSITE:
- NAME OF THE CAMP: MOIR HUT CAMP
- ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
- CAMP LOCATION: MOIR HUT
- ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE
DAY 4: Moir Hut - Buffalo Camp
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
DAY 5: BUFFALO CAMP – THIRD CAVE CAMP
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
DAY 6: THIRD CAVE CAMP – SCHOOL HUT
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
DAY 7: SCHOOL HUT CAMP – UHURU PEAK – MWEKA CAMP
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
After Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. At Gilman’s point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
| School hut to Uhuru Peak | Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp |
|---|---|
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OVERNIGHT STAY AT MWEKA CAMP
PUBLIC CAMPSITE:
- NAME OF THE CAMP: MWEKA CAMP
- ACCOMMODATIONS: FULL BOARD
- CAMP LOCATION: MWEKA
- ROOM TYPE: SINGLE/ DOUBLE
DAY 9: MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE - BACK TO MOSHI
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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
Price Inclusions and Exclusions
8 Days Northern Circuit Route – Kilimanjaro Hiking Tour
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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