9 Days Northern Circuit Route

Itinerary

Day 0: Pre-trek Briefing

If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.

Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend time having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.

Day 1: Hotel to Mti Mkubwa Camp

After breakfast and briefing, drive to Londorossi Park Gate (about a 3-hour drive). From here a forest track requiring a 4WD vehicle leads to Lemosho Glades. Walk along forest trails to Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 2650m/8700ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp

After breakfast, we continue as the trail gradually steepens and enters the giant heather moorland zone. After several streams are crossed we continue over the Shira Ridge then gently downwards to Shira 1 camp located by a stream on the Shira Plateau.

Elevation: 2650m/8700ft to 3500m/11,500ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

After breakfast, a gentle hike across the plateau leads to Shira 2 camp on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of hikes are available on the Plateau, making this an excellent acclimatization day.

Elevation: 3500m/11,500ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Shira 2 Camp to Moir Camp

This day is a long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters 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 you will have lunch. After lunch, you will join the Northern Circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters. This is an important day in your trek as you will get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatisation process.

Elevation: 3850m/11,500ft to 4200m/13780ft
Distance: 14km/8mi
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Moir Camp to Buffalo Camp

Today, we encountered a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. We can do an optional hike to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp.

Elevation: 4200m/13,780ft to 4020m/13,188ft
Distance: 12km/7mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: High Alpine
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Buffalo Camp to Rongai Third Cave

We start the day with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Porfu Camp where lunch is usually served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave. The trek is shorter than the day before and by now you should be feeling well-acclimated to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.

Elevation: 4020m/13,188ft to 3800m/12,467ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Climbing Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: High Alpine
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Third Cave to School Hut

Today involves a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking southwest up to School Hut. After arriving at School Hut you will be served an early dinner and then you should get some shut-eye as you will be awoken before midnight to start your summit attempt. Remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, headlamp and camera before going to bed.

Elevation: 3800m/12,467ft to 4800m/15,748ft
Distance: 15km/8mi
Climbing Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: School Hut to Uhuru Peak to Millennium Camp

You will be awoken around 11:30 with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. Your first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), 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, but remember you still have 2 hours of trekking to reach Uhuru Peak so dig deep for the energy. The slope flattens as you head west around the crater rim and you should arrive at the summit at or just after sunrise.

Your stay here will be brief so get as many pictures as you can of the incredible views and surrounding glaciers. You will then retrace your steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters) where you will turn south and head 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 their final night on the mountain. In total, you will be trekking for 14-16 hours on day eight so it is important to pace yourself, remain hydrated and keep your blood sugar levels up.

Elevation: 4800m/15,748ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3950m/12,959ft
Distance: 6km/3.5mi up / 11km/6mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 9: Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate to Hotel

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).

Monkey Adventures vehicle will be waiting for you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (around 60 minutes).

Elevation: 3950m/12,959ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast

Inclusions

• All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
• Professional, experienced, mountain guides
• Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
• Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
• Sleeping Mattress
• Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
• All meals while on the Mountain
• Quality Mess tents with tables and chairs
• Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
• Clean, purified drinking water
• Conservation fees (part of park fees)
• Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
• Rescue fees (part of park fees)
• VAT (18% charged by the Government)
• Kilimanjaro summit certificate

Exclusions

• Tanzania Visa
• International and domestic flights
• Hotel (available as an optional addon)
• Transfers (available as an optional addon)
• Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
• Tips and gratuities
• Travel Insurance
• Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
• Meals not listed in the itinerary
• Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
• Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)

Supplements

• Off-season supplement = USD 135
  Charged for solo trekkers to start a new departure in the month of March, April, May and November. This does not apply if you join an existing group. This does not apply if others trekkers also join your new group.

Discounts

Available discounts for Northern Circuit – 9 days

• • Children between 5 years and 15 years old
    Code: 5TO15 – USD 900 per person
  • Expatriates/Residents living in Tanzania
    Code: RESTAN – USD 280 per person
  • East African Citizens
    Code: EAC – USD 1000 per person

Addons

Hotels
We offer the following hotel options

• • Lindrin Lodge (Single Room) – USD 55 per night
  • Lindrin Lodge (Double Room) – USD 70 per night
  • Lindrin Lodge (Triple Room) – USD 105 per night
  • Keys Hotel (Single Room) – USD 69 per night
  • Keys Hotel (Double Room) – USD 94 per night
  • Keys Hotel (Triple Room) – USD 122 per night
  • Parkview Inn (Single Room) – USD 81 per night
  • Parkview Inn (Double Room) – USD 91 per night
  • Parkview Inn (Triple Room) – USD 170 per night
  • Kilimanjaro Wonders (Single Room) – USD 140 per night
  • Kilimanjaro Wonders (Double Room) – USD 160 per night

Please note that if any hotel is booked out or is otherwise unavailable, we will book you in an alternate equivalent hotel.

If you are booking a hotel directly, please do check with us before booking, to make sure we can meet you and pick you up from the hotel.

Gear

We offer the following add-ons to your gear

• • Private Toilet – USD 150
  • Private Tent – USD 5 per day
  • Thicker sleeping mattress – USD 10 per mattress
  • Thermarest – USD 15 per thermarest

Our packages by default include a foam sleeping mattress of 2-inch thickness, if you want a thicker alternative you can opt for a 4-inch foam mattress with above mentioned extra cost.

Transfers

We offer the following transfer options

• • Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) to Moshi (one way) – USD 50 per vehicle
  • Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) (one way) – USD 50 per vehicle
  • Arusha to Moshi (one way) – USD 100 per vehicle
  • Moshi to Arusha (one way) – USD 100 per vehicle

Private Trek

Prices for a Private Trek
Please find below the prices for organizing a private trek. The prices are based on your group size.

• • Solo Trekker – USD 2430 per person
  • Group of 2 – USD 2261 per person
  • Group of 3 – USD 2145 per person
  • Group of 4 – USD 2131 per person
  • Group of 5 – USD 2123 per person
  • Group of 6 – USD 2118 per person
  • Group of 7 – USD 2103 per person
  • Group of 8 – USD 2100 per person
  • Group of 9 – USD 2097 per person
  • Group of 10 and above – USD 2094 per person