9 Days Northen Circuit Route

Pickup at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town, afterward your guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Then overnight in the hotel.

Departing from Moshi, it’s a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Lemosho Gate, where you will complete entry formalities. We will patiently wait for our permits and enjoy lunch before commencing your trek through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys. The path undulates, steeply in places. At these lower elevations, the trail can be muddy and quite slippery. We highly recommend gaiters and trekking poles here

Your trek will begin in the forest; however, you will soon leave it behind, taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock. This is a full day ascending the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. The trail begins to ease as you reach the edge of the plateau, reaching camp after 5-6 hours. The view of Kibo across the plateau is incredible.

Trek across the Shira Plateau with an optional climb to Shira Cathedral (3,880 m). Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth. The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp.

On day four the trek crosses the Shira Plateau and Shira Camp II and heads directly to Moir Hut camp. Today is a short day with the best acclimatization as we will trek close to Lava Tower and go down to Moir Hut camp for lunch and overnight.

Today it is a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4375 m before returning to the Grand Traverse trail. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Pofu (Buffalo) Camp (4000 m). The trek gives great vistas out across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Pofu Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch, dinner and overnight.

The day begins with a climb up Buffalo Ridge, followed by an eastward trek along the northern slopes to Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. Today’s trek is shorter than the previous day, and by now you should be well acclimatized to the altitude. Arrival at Third Cave is expected around mid-afternoon.

The trek involves a steady ascent across the Saddle, which lies between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. From there, climbers continue southwest toward School Hut (4,800 m). Upon arrival, an early dinner is served before you rest and prepare for the midnight wake-up call to begin your summit attempt.

You will be woken at 5am and have a full breakfast before starting our sunlight summit around 6am. Your first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave, where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman’s Point (5681 m), which will be around 5 - 6 hours after departing School Hut. Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and incredible view out and across to Mawenzi Peak. From here you gather all your energy and every bit of determination to reach Uhuru Peak (5895 m). How long you stay at the summit will depend on the time, weather and your physical condition. You will then head around the crater rim to Stella Point (5739 m), where you will turn south and head down the heavily scree slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4680 m). Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3950 m) for their final night on the mountain.

The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3950 m) to Mweka Gate (1630 m). At the gate you will need to sign out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak.

Today you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight, or if you’ve decided to Extend your Tanzanian adventure, begin the next part of your journey!