The Northern Circuit Route is one of the newest and longest routes to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. Known for its stunning scenery and high success rate, it offers trekkers a more secluded and less crowded experience while providing ample time for acclimatization.
After arrival at the airport (Kilimanjaro / Arusha), your private driver guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your accommodation for dinner and overnight awaiting for your departure on the following day. Your safari guide will meet you at your accommodation for the briefing and equipment checkup.
Accomodation: Arusha Planet lodge
Meal plan: Bed & Breakfast
Hiking time: 3 hours, Distance: About 9 km's, Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast at your hotel, you will drive two hours and a half from Arusha (1400m) to Londorossi Park Gate (2150m). At the entrance gate, the guides and porters distribute the supplies and register with the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). You are now ready to begin your 3-hour hike into the rain forest. Be on the lookout for Colobus monkeys! At the gate, we will have hot lunch, and then commence through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site. The porters, who arrive at the campsite before the clients, will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. The chef will prepare a snack then dinner for the clients. At nighttime, mountain temperatures may drop to freezing so be prepared!
Hiking time: 5-6 hours, Distance: About 5 km's, Habitat: Moorland
Early in the morning after breakfast, the day is spent to reach Shira campsite (3610 m). After arrival at shira camp, you will have hot lunch. The trail take us for an hour or so to the top of the forest and then for about two hours at a gentler gradient through the moorland zone. Hiking to this point you will be able to see in an easterly direction, the Western Breach with its spectacular glaciers. You are now due west of Kibo and after a short hike you will reach the Shira campsite.
Hiking time: 4-5 hours, Distance: About 8 km's, Habitat: Moorland
Today you will cross Shira Ridge with its rocky ground, low grasses, and shrubs. As the terrain is much flatter than the day before, your hike will seem more leisurely and you will enjoy fantastic views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru. Beautiful and distinctive giant lobelias still dot the moor landscape. Before reaching Shira 2, you will reach cathedral point which is 3872m which is good for acclimatization. Walking on the ground where lava used to flow, you will reach Shira Camp 2, where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.
Hiking time: 8 hours, Distance: About 10 km's, Habitat: Semi desert
From the Shira Plateau, we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth.” Shortly after the tower, we come to the second junction which brings us up to the Arrow Glacier at an altitude of 16,000ft. We now continue down to the Barranco camp at an altitude of 13,000ft. Here we rest, enjoy dinner, and overnight.
Hiking time: 4 hours, Distance: About 6 km's, Habitat: Alpine Desert
We start with a moderately steep climb out of the Moir Valley. We can climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,400 meters via a small detour before we return to the Northern Circuit. The route follows a series of ascents and descents that lead to Buffalo Camp on the northern slopes of Kibo. On the way we have spectacular views of the plains north of Kilimanjaro, which extend as far as the Tanzanian border into Kenya. We arrive at Buffalo Camp in the early afternoon, where we have lunch and enough time to rest. You will have well prepared dinner and overnight at your camp.
Hiking time: 6 hours, Distance: About 7 km's, Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day six begins with an ascent up Buffalo Ridge and down to Pofu Camp, where lunch is served. We continue to hike east around the north slopes to Third Rongai Cave. Today's ascent is shorter than the day before and we should be more accustomed to the altitude by now. We reach the camp in the afternoon. You will have well prepared dinner and overnight at your camp.
Hiking time: 6 hours, Distance: About 7 km's, Habitat: Alpine Desert
This is a steady ascent over the saddle which lies between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. We continue to hike southwest to the School Hut, where an early dinner will be served as you will be leaving for the summit shortly before midnight. Here we can relax and have dinner very early, at 5:00 p.m., and go to sleep around 7:00 p.m. The ascent to the summit starts at around 2300hrs, so it is important that we rest well beforehand. Make sure to prepare all of your equipment, including warm clothing, a thermos, headlamp, and camera, before going to bed. You will have well prepared dinner and overnight at your camp.
Hiking time: 9 hours to reach Uhuru Peak 7 hours to descend to Mweka, Distance: About 19 km's, Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
The tension increases. This is the most difficult part of the hike, mentally and physically. After a hot tea and a light snack, the ascent begins around 2300hrs. Warmly dressed and with the light of our headlamps, we climb the scree slopes of the Kibo. It’s steep and uphill in serpentines. After 5 to 7 hours of ascent in the dark, we reach Stella Point (5,757 m), the crater rim of Kilimanjaro. From here strong wind and cold can be expected. Another 1 to 2 hours ascent along the crater ridge leads us to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Here we see Kilimanjaro in all its glory and enjoy the 360 ° view over the landscape at sunrise. You are now on the “roof of Africa”. The comparatively easy but long descent leads to Barafu Camp (4,667 m) on the south side of Kilimanjaro. We will have hot lunch atMillenium Camp. After another 2 hours we arrive at Mweka camp for dinner and overnight.
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5757m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. At the Mweka Gate, you will have lunch and celebration with your mountain crew. After that, you will be transferred to Arusha at your accommodation for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Arusha Planet lodge
Meal plan: Full Board (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner)
After breakfast or lunch, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight to the next destination.
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