tour

9 days Northern Circuit

From $ 2850

Overview

The longest and newest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, Northern Circuit, is known for excellent acclimatization and breathtaking views of Kilimanjaro’s northern slopes. For the present moment, a minimal number of travelers have set foot on this trail, and the route is hardly ever crowded.

It is recommended to those who enjoy long trekking experiences in remote wilderness, with a few other trekkers around.

It takes at least eight to 9 days to climb Kilimanjaro through the Northern Circuit which is why the route boasts a very high success rate.

Itinerary

9 days Northern Circuit

DAY 1 - MOSHI - LEMOSHO GATE - MTI MKUBWA CAMP

You’ll be picked up from your Moshi or Arusha accommodations and make the drive towards the Londorossi Gate.

Stopping along the way in a local village for lunch and to buy last minute supplies, you’ll then liaise with your guides and begin your ascent through the verdant rainforest that clothes the lower reaches of Kilimanjaro.

You’ll have a short three-hour hike through the forest today, but keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife such as Colobus monkeys as you make your way to Mti Mkubwa Camp to set down for the evening.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 2 - MTI MKUBWA CAMP - SHIRA 1 CAMP

You’ll bid farewell to the Kilimanjaro rainforest after breakfast, as your climb takes you gradually into scrubby moorland criss-crossed with quietly bubbling mountain streams.

You’ll cross over a vast plateau on your way to Shira 1 Camp, where you’ll have spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.

Setting up camp here for the evening, you’ll find your path has now crossed with those on the Machame Route.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3 - SHIRA CAMP 1 - SHIRA 2 CAMP

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. 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.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4 - SHIRA CAMP 2 - MOIR HUT CAMP

On the fourth day of the Northern Circuit Route Kilimanjaro will take you east into the High Alpine desert zone. Here the Lemosho Route connects with the popular Machame Route before you leave for a more secluded trail. You’ll get to marvel at curious desert plant species and view the iconic Shark’s Tooth volcanic rock formation on the way to Lava Tower. This part of your journey involves gradual exposure to much higher altitudes, consolidating your acclimatization process. The end of the day sees you heading towards the Moir Camp (4,200 m), situated behind the magnificent Lent Hills. There you’ll put up your feet up and enjoy a steaming hot meal.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5 - MOIR HUT CAMP - POFU CAMP

Wake up to the refreshing mountain air in the high altitude Kilimanjaro slopes. You’ll have breakfast, gather your gear, and climb out of the Moir Valley. A short detour sees you reach the summit of Lent Hills to admire the views before rejoining the Northern Circuit trail. Journey along rolling terrain that incline and decline, taking you around the northern slopes of Kibo before reaching Pofu Camp. Set up for the night at a stunning campsite with the spacious Kenyan plains stretching out below you..

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6 - POFU CAMP - THIRD CAVE

Your Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit adventure continues with a revitalizing morning climbing up to the top of ‘Buffalo Ridge’. After stopping for lunch, you’ll continue eastwards through High and Low Alpine scenery passing increasingly sparse and rare vegetation. The day’s journey ends after circumventing the northern slopes to reach the Rongai Third Cave Camp. By this stage of the trek, you’ll be fully acclimatized to the high altitude.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 - THIRD CAVE - SCHOOL HUT

This is the final leg of the trip before your last ascent up to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. The highlight of the day will be the trek up and over The Saddle, a lunar landscape that lies between the Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. You’ll then head southwest to School Hut (4,800 m) to rest in preparation for the end of your amazing journey. Your guides will thoroughly check all your gear and supplies in preparation for an early morning start.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 - SCHOOL HUT - MWEKA CAMP

Your last morning on the Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit will get off to an early start. You and your guides will travel through the darkness towards Kilimanjaro’s main crater rim at Gilman’s Point. There you’ll rest before the final push, passing spectacular ice cliffs and glaciers. You’ll arrive at the Mount Kilimanjaro summit just in time to catch the sunrise, the most spectacular of nature’s backdrops. Share the sense of exhilaration and accomplishment with your guides and support team. Soak in the beauty of the view before retracing your steps down the crater rim. Then you’ll descend on the Mweka Route towards the last stop on your journey – Mweka Camp.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 - MWEKA CAMP - MWEKA GATE

The last hike is a short one and will lead us to Mweka Gate. Your Viva Africa Tours team will proudly issue you with a Gold Summit Certificate and celebrate. Our drivers will be in the nearby village to transport you to the hotel for a hot shower, soft mattress and set of clean clothes.

Meals Provided: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Climbing cost

Included

Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
18% VAT on tour fees & services
3 Season mountain tents
Double layered Sleeping Mats
Transportation to & from the mountain gate
Professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters
3 meals daily while on the mountain
Filtered water throughout the trek
Pre & Post Trek accommodation at the Parkview Inn
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
2- way private airport transfers
Oxygen cylinder
Oximeter

Excluded

$ 2850

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