Londorossi Gate 2,100m – Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,820m

Lemosho Route - Distance: ~5.5km / 3 Miles | Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours | Zone: Rainforest

The Northern Circuit Route commences at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, sharing the starting point with the Lemosho Route. The journey to Londorossi Gate takes about two hours from Moshi town. Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities is completed at the gate, followed by a drive further up the mountain to the trailhead. Lunch is provided here before embarking on the short first-day trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters). Lucky trekkers might spot large wildlife such as elephants and buffalo that occasionally appear from the rainforest onto the path as they head towards the first camp. Dinner is served upon arrival at Mti Mkubwa Camp.

Mkubwa Camp 2,820m to Shira Camp 1 - 3,610m

Shira Camp 1 - 3,610m to Shira Camp 2 - 3,850m

Shira Camp Two - Distance: ~7km / 4 Miles | Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours

After breakfast, the trek crosses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2. Trekkers on a nine-day journey typically spend the night at Shira Camp 2, where they join trekkers from the Machame Route. At Shira Camp 2, it’s worthwhile to trek a bit higher up the plateau to enjoy the breathtaking view across the valley below and the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above. The plateau is exposed, so prepare for a cold night with temperatures dropping below zero. Note: Trekkers on an eight-day hike will continue east up the Shira Plateau ridge to Lava Tower (4,600 meters) and then descend via the Northern Circuit to Moir Camp (4,200 meters).

Shira Camp 2 - 3,850m - Lava Tower 4,600m - Moir Camp 4,200m

Mount Kilimanjaro National Park - Distance: ~14km / 8 Miles | Trekking Time: 5-7 Hours

After breakfast, a long trek heading east begins, passing through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and entering 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 lunch is served. After lunch, trekkers join the northern circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters. This day is crucial for acclimatization as trekkers experience high altitude and then sleep at a lower elevation.

Moir Camp 4,200 m to Buffalo Camp 4,020m

Mount Kilimanjaro - Distance: ~12km / 7 Miles | Trekking Time: 5-7 Hours

After breakfast, the day involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. The route then follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters). The trek offers stunning views across the plains north of Kilimanjaro, extending to the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. Trekkers arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where lunch is served, and there is time to rest after a long day of hiking.

7: Buffalo Camp 4,020m to Rongai Third Cave 3,800m

Rongai - Distance: ~8km / 5 Miles | Trekking Time: 5-7 Hours

After breakfast, the day starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and descends into Porfu Camp, where lunch is typically served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. The trek is shorter than the previous day, and by now, trekkers should be well acclimatized to the altitude. Arrival at the Third Cave is around mid-afternoon.

3rd Cave 3,800m to School Hut 4,800m

School Hut 4,800m - Uhuru Peak 5,895m - Millennium Camp 3,950m

Uhuru Peak - Distance: ~6km Up 10.5km Down | Trekking Time: 6-8 Hours Up 4-6 Hours Down

Trekkers are awoken around 11:30 with hot tea and biscuits before beginning the steep ascent up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. The first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave, where a short break is taken. The climb becomes steeper approaching Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), reached approximately 5-6 hours after leaving School Hut. Trekkers can enjoy the approaching dawn and the incredible view across to Mawenzi Peak, but must remember there are still 2 hours of trekking to reach Uhuru Peak, requiring deep reserves of energy. The slope flattens heading west around the crater rim, with arrival at the summit at or just after sunrise. The stay at the summit is brief, so trekkers should capture as many photos as possible of the stunning views and surrounding glaciers. The descent retraces steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters), then turns south down the heavily screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for the final night on the mountain. In total, trekkers will be hiking for 14-16 hours on day eight, so it is important to pace oneself, stay hydrated, and maintain blood sugar levels.

Millennium Camp 3,950m to Mweka Gate 1,640m

• Private transportation
• Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters, and cook
• Salaries for mountain crew compliant with Kilimanjaro National Park guidelines
• Emergency oxygen and basic first aid kit
• Three meals a day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Accommodations at a hotel before and after the climb, meals included
• Camping equipment including tents, chairs, tables, and sleeping mattress
• All park fees, taxes, and camping charges included
• Fresh drinking water and daily hot water for washing
• Roundtrip transfers between Kilimanjaro airport and Moshi

• Visas, Flights, Health & Travel Insurances
• Gratuities
• Items of personal nature
• Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania
• Optional but highly recommended Portable toilet
• Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets
• Meals & drinks not specified and snacks

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.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.