Embark on an 8-day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro climb for unparalleled views and high summit success. Experience the least traveled, most scenic route on Kili.
Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
Kilimanjaro National Park - Drive to Londorossi Gate where you complete registration formalities. Following registration you continue a further 12km by vehicle to the route’s start point. This final drive can take anywhere between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30, depending on road conditions.
From the Lemosho starting point (2389m) to Big Tree Camp (2785m) the distance is just about 5km, and just under 400m of elevation gain. The whole of the first day’s trek is spent in some of the most pristine and beautiful to be found anywhere on the mountain. Our first day ends at Mti Mkubwa, the Big Tree Camp (2785m), where, as with every night on the trek, you will arrive to find your tent already erected and a snack awaiting. A full dinner follows before you settle down to sleep to the sounds of the forest, with monkeys calling and the noisy turaco bird in this most blissful of locations, underneath the spreading branches of a beautiful old podocarpus tree.
Mti Mkubwa Camp - Overnight at Mti Mkubwa Camp during your first night on the mountain.
Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
Kilimanjaro National Park - This second day, the most varied on the trek, starts off with a continuation of yesterday’s march through the forest. Before long, however, you leave the trees behind to enter the grasses and wild flowers of the heather and moorland zone.
Still climbing, you eventually round the northern slopes of the Shira Ridge – Kili’s little known third summit – and pause to admire a glimpse of your final destination, the magnificent snow-covered Kibo summit. Descending a short distance, you arrive at your second campsite, the Shira One Campsite (3504m), on the western edge of the Shira Plateau, with views across the plateau to Kibo. It is normal to experience mild headaches on this day which should be alleviated with paracetamol. The distance to Shira 1 is 7.9km.
There’s an optional afternoon acclimatisation ascent of Shira Ridge 3959m for which you get arguably the best views of Kibo. From there you descend to sleep lower at Shira One (3504m) for overnight. The excursion distance is 7.6km.
Shira 1 Camp to Moir Hut
Kilimanjaro National Park - Leaving the campsite, it’s less than an hour before you meet Simba Camp and a junction with the 4WD emergency track running from Shira 2 back down the mountain. From the junction with the main trail a 135-minute path picks its way between boulders, around or over petrified lava flows, and through grassy swards.
Just over an hour’s schlep afterwards the path curves in the shadow of some low cliffs past an impressive cave just before the Moir Huts (4161m). Today you’ve managed to gain 657m in total over the distance of 9.7km. You can walk more, too, before dinner, with a sunset acclimatisation climb to 4300m to the ridgeline, a total excursion distance of 1.9km and a 139m gain in height.
Moir Hut to Second Pofu Camp
Kilimanjaro National Park - Peace and solitude are the main characteristics of the Northern Circuit Route. Today you reach the altitude of 4402m today before falling to the Second Pofu Camp at 4033m. It is not unusual to feel some symptoms of altitude sickness (often a headache). Try to go pole pole and to drink lots to avoid this!
The walk begins with perhaps the steepest climb of the day, a relentless slog up a barren slope to exactly 4300m. Make your way around Kibo’s northern face, dropping down into several valleys before clambering back out of them. Eventually, after three hours, you’ll come to the first of the Pofu Camps – followed in short order by some boulders that you need to scramble over to Second Pofu Campsite.
If the skies are clear enough you should get a full frontal view of Kibo, while Mawenzi peers coyly over your shoulder and the lights of Kenya twinkle in the far distance below. The total walking distance is 9.2km - though you’ve actually lost 122m in altitude over the course of the day.
Second Pofu Camp to Third Cave Camp
Kilimanjaro National Park - This up and down 6.8km stage continues around the northern slopes in pretty much the same vein as the previous day. The gradients aren’t quite as dramatic on this stage and the day slightly shorter though you’ll still find yourself pretty puffed out by the time you reach Third Cave Campsite. The reason for this is clear when you look at the gradient profile and see how much ascending and descending you have to do on this stage. The views, however, provide ample compensation, with Kibo to your right and Mawenzi gradually looming larger and larger ahead of you, though you won’t see much of the glorious Saddle that separates them until the next stage. Once again, it may disappoint you to find out that you’ve once again lost altitude over the course of the day, from 4033m to 3936m - a total loss of 97m.
Third Cave Camp to School Hut
Kilimanjaro National Park - After gently traversing the eastern slopes of Kilimanjaro, start the trek upwards from Third Caves Campsite (3936m) to School Hut (4717m). It’s a shorter distance than yesterday, but still involves 781m of height gain. Do not underestimate today and the valuable preparation you have completed prior to arriving here. The distance is 4.9km and you should arrive early to mid-afternoon.
Once at camp, aim to get to sleep as soon as possible as you will be woken at around 11pm to midnight to begin your assault. Don’t worry about waking yourself for meals – your staff will wake you for these. You probably won’t feel like eating but please try to do so as you’ll need the energy reserves. You are advised to get all your gear ready for the summit bid before you go to sleep as you may feel disoriented when awoken for the assault.
School Hut to Summit to Mweka Camp
Kilimanjaro National Park - Around midnight of Day 6 you depart camp for the assault to the summit. Tonight is difficult - particularly the final 550m - and you’ll need to commit to fight for the summit.
Ascend from School Hut (4717m) via Hans Meyer Cave (5259m) and Gillman’s Point (5719m), to Uhuru Peak (5895m). On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. After a rest at the top, you continue 4.86km back down to Barafu Camp – a walk that is considerably quicker than it was on the way up! At Barafu you take breakfast and relax for an hour, before continuing your march a further 6.6km down the mountain, this time on the Mweka Trail. The walk takes you back down through the alpine desert, heath and moorland zones until you once more enter the forest zone. There, amongst the trees, you find the Mweka Huts (3106m), your final stop on the trek. You have been walking for around 16 hours, less breaks!
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Kilimanjaro National Park - After breakfast, hike from the campsite to Mweka Gate (1633m), where those who made it to the summit or Gillman’s Point will collect their certificates. A car will be waiting to take you back to your hotel, and a land of warm showers and cold beers. Your trek is at an end. Back to Arusha.
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Gratuities
Duma’s recommended option, the Northern Circuit climb circles the mountain, and is the least traveled route on Kili. You’ll start in the west, circle around to the north, and ascend via Marangu on the east. You’ll then descend via the south, so you’ll see the entire mountain during your trek. This route provides the most comprehensive views of the mountain and crosses other climb routes, including Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, and Mweka routes. The longer 8 day climb allows for greater acclimatization and as such, high summit success rates.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
