Northern Circuit Route 9 Days

Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Moshi
Elevation: 1,000m to 1,200m
Distance: 50 km
Driving Time: 1 hour
Vegetation Zone: Town Our driver will be waiting for your arrival at JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight (B/B plan). Do not worry if your flight is late or if the immigration process is taking a long time, our driver will wait just outside the secured area with a Nature Protector Adventures sign with your name on it. If you unfortunately miss a connection and won't be on your scheduled arriving flight, if you find a way to contact us that would be appreciated. Unless you have a late night arrival time, on this day we will go through an equipment check and you will have a pre-climb briefing with your guide and all questions will be answered. All equipment/clothing needed for the trek can be rented locally and are of good quality. For late night arrivals, the briefing and equipment check will be done early the next morning.

Day 1: Moshi to Londorosi Gate to Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Campsite
Elevation: 1,200m to 1,950m to 2,850m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Vegetation Zone: Montane Forest After breakfast at your hotel, we will pick you up and transport you to Londorosi Gate for registration. After this formality, you board the vehicle and drive again to Lemosho Glade. From this point you will start the trek across undisturbed Montane forest decorated with black and white colobus monkeys to the camp where dinner and overnight will take place.

Day 2: Big Tree Campsite to Shira One Campsite
Elevation(m): 2850m to 3500m
Distance: 13km
Hiking time: 8 hours
Vegetation Zone: Moorland and heather This is an acclimatization trek because you will gain over 650m by starting walking across a beautiful valley outside Shira’s Caldera Rim (3600m). After few hours you will reach into Shira Caldera. A high altitude desert, Shira is one of the three peaks which erupted in Kilimanjaro ecosystem. The peak later collapsed and formed a crater which eventually became filled with the lava flow from Kibo Peak. Its rim is eroded and blasted away by weather and volcanic action. Camp and overnight at 3500m elevation at the Shira One Campsite.

Day 3: Shira One Campsite to Shira Two Campsite
Elevation: 3500m to 3850m
Distance: 7km
Hiking time: 4 hours
Vegetation Zone: Moorland On day three the trek crosses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2. At Shira Camp 2 it is worth trekking a little higher up the plateau to enjoy the stunning view across the valley below and Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above. The plateau is exposed so be prepared for a cold night with temperatures getting below freezing.

Day 4: Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters) to Lava Tower (4,600 meters) and then north to Moir Camp (4,200 meters)
Elevation:3850m - 4600m (Lava Tower) - 4200m (Moir Camp)
Distance: 14km
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low Alpine zone / High Alpine zone Day four 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.

Day 5: Moir Hut Campsite to Buffalo (Pofu) Campsite
Elevation: 4155m to 4145m
Distance: 6
Hiking time: 4 hours
Vegetation Zone: Moorland Today you will start the hike by hiking out of the Moir Valley. Hike to the summit of Lent Hills before returning to the main trail. Continue east through a rock field. Finally reach Buffalo (Pofu) Camp at the end of the day.

Day 6: Buffalo Campsite to Third Cave Campsite
Elevation: 4145m to 3936m. Elevation loss 209m
Distance: 8 km
Hiking time: 5 hours
Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert Today you will climb to the top of Buffalo Ridge before continuing on through the barren landscape to Third Cave Camp. You cross many gullies during this day you will actually lose 209m of altitude today.

Day 7: Third Cave Campsite to School Hut Campsite
Elevation: 3936m to 4717m
Distance: 8 km
Hiking time: 5 hours
Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert Begin the day by backtracking yesterday’s trail until the dry riverbed. Head west toward Kibo on a steady upward climb. By the early afternoon, reach School Hut on the eastern slopes of Kibo. The Saddle to Mawenzi lies just a few minutes from the camp. Prepare for your midnight ascent to Uhuru Peak.

Day 8: School Hut Camp/ Uhuru Peak/ Millenium Camp
Elevation: 4717m to 5895m to 3950m
Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10 – 12 hours
Vegetation Zone: Desert and ice to Moorland Due to the steep ascent at high altitude, this is the most challenging day of the ascent. Leave School Hut around midnight to begin your hike to the top of Kibo Crater. It is important to remember to snack during the ascent to keep your energy up. You will likely lose your appetite during this day and begin to feel new effects of altitude sickness. Reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim. Continue on to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The hike to the summit is slow, and will take approximately 1.5 hours from Gilman’s Point. After reaching the summit, descend to Barafu Camp for a rest and brunch. Around 1pm, descend to Millennium Camp. Typically you will reach Millenium Camp a bit before sunset.

Day 9: Millenium Campsite to Mweka Gate
Elevation: 3950m to 1700m
Distance: 10km
Descending time: 5 hours
Vegetation Zone: Montane forest Today is your last day on the mountain. After breakfast you will descend down to Mweka Park Gate walking across Montane forest. Here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel for your certificate presentation and a well deserved celebration.

Departure Day: Our driver will be ready to take you to Kilimanjaro Airport in time for your flight to home or your next adventure (Zanzibar? Safari?). Hotel checkout time is 10am. If you have a later departure, we can try to get the hotel to allow a late checkout or we can arrange a day room for you (extra charge if a day room is rented).
Meals: Breakfast