9-Day Northern Circuit Route Trekking

Your adventure kicks off with a delightful welcome at Kilimanjaro International Airport, which is followed by a 30-40 minute drive to a hotel in Moshi. At this hotel, a lively town located at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, you will spend a night. You will then spend some time in a pre-trek briefing with a tour guide, which is focused on the trek’s milestones, safety measures, gear to bring, and ways to mitigate acute mountain sickness (AMS). Moshi is full of vibrant experiences waiting to be discovered. You can enjoy wonderful Tanzanian coffee with the warm welcome of the town, roam around and buy some of the locals’ crafts, or listen to the Chagga people tell stories about their culture. You can then enjoy some wonderful food and get a nice shower to prepare you. Getting some food and going to bed will prepare you for the expectations of the trek around Kilimanjaro, and the wonderful landscapes. This day prepped you to get focused on the challenges the Northern Circuit has to offer. You will be able to appreciate a trek of a different kind – one which combines culture along with breathtaking views and the test of physical endurance.
Activities: Cultural tour, hotel check-in in Moshi, and an airport pickup.
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi.
Meals: Dinner,

After a hearty breakfast, you embark on a 2-hour drive to Londorossi Gate (2,100m/6,890ft) in Kilimanjaro National Park. Right after breakfast, you will go on a 2-hour drive to Londorossi Gate in Kilimanjaro National Park, where formal registrations will take place. The trek consists of a 6 km hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp, which will take you 3-4 hours to complete. Mti Mkubwa Camp is located 2,800m/9,186ft above sea level. The hike is beautiful as it is filled with dense forests where one can observe blue and colobus monkeys as well as a wide variety of birds, Hartlaub's turacos to name one. There is also special plant life, such as impatiens kilimanjari, that contributes to the beauty of the hike. A park ranger will accompany the hike for safety, and your guide will stress the “pole pole” (slow, slowly) method to hike to make the trek energizing and aid acclimatization. Get ready to enjoy a wholesome meal step by step as the trek will take you through vibrant wildlife, you'll see monkeys and birds, along with beautiful flowers and plants. Mti Mkubwa is a campsite where you can relax and explore the rainforest.
Hiking Duration: 3-4 hours
Distance: 6km
Altitude Gain: 700m
Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, begin the 5-7 hour trek to Shira 1 Camp, which is 3,500m/11,483ft located 8km away (elevation gain of 700m). The trek progression starts from rainforest to heather and moorland, navigating the Shira Plateau's rolling hills, showcasing Kibo Peak and the Western Breach. Accompanying the landscape are giant groundsels and lobelias, which further enhance the scenery. To minimize the risk of AMS, slow and steady pacing, hydration of 3-4 liters daily, and regular health checks via pulse oximeter are essential, which your guide will perform. Shira 1 Camp sits on the Shira Plateau, which is widely known for the breathtaking views it offers and the sunsets. And hot lunch will be ready upon your arrival. After lunch, roam around the ridges for some light acclimatization or rest. Throughout the journey, your guide will explain Kilimanjaro's volcanic geology and what makes the region ecologically significant, enabling you to appreciate the trek further and make the trek eco-friendly.
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 8 km
Altitude Gain: 700m
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your achievement for the day will be hiking for 5-7 hours, covering 7 km, which will take you to Shira 2 Camp at an altitude of 3,840m(12,598ft), which is an increase of 340m. It is set at the highest altitudes, making you walk through the Shira Plateau, which is famous for its spectacular views of Kibo Peak and the nearby moorlands, which makes it easy to overlook and take in its beauty. The pleasant climb through the heather and grass slopes is vital for proper acclimatization, which is essential for a successful summit attempt. Your guide will be motivating but will invite you to take water breaks at your own pace to combat altitude sickness, which further adds to your trek experience. Shira 2 Camp, which is the next resting campsite, is placed in the middle of the moorlands, and this adds not just to the beauty but when the sun sets to the beauty of the campsite, making it aesthetically pleasing at the same time. The pace of the guide is set in a way to cope with rest and a voted acclimatized stroll for the edges. After lunch, the guide at the campsite will tell the visitors about the plants and animals in the area, and many tourists come to this area just for this talk.
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 7 km
Altitude Gain: 340m
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This acclimatization trek is designed for better acclimatization and involves a 5-7 hour hike to Moir Hut, which sits at 4200m (4,200m/13,780ft) with an elevation gain of 360m. The trail moves northward along the Shira Plateau into an alpine desert with harsh, barren beauty. Stunning panoramic views of Kibo Peak and the northern slopes are visible along the route, and observant trekkers can spot some volcanic rock outcrops. The very gradual elevation gain is good for acclimatization, and guides will check your condition to encourage a slow pace with plenty of fluid intake (3-4 liters daily) to avoid Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). Moir Hut, a campsite along the northern circuit, is rather remote with wonderful vistas of Kilimanjaro’s northern face. Midday arrival ensures a hot lunch and the option to rest or do an acclimatization trek around the nearby ridges. The guides share important facts about Kilimanjaro’s geology, making this eco-friendly trip even more exciting.
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 10 km
Altitude Gain: 360m
Accommodation: Moir Hut
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your trek today is about 5-6 hours long and will take you to Buffalo Camp, which is 8 km away and at an altitude of 4,400 m (14,436 ft). You will gradually ascend 200m. You will be traversing along the northern slopes, which will be an alpine desert and provide you with a greater Kenyan plains and Mawenzi Peak. This part of the circuit is still quite wild and remote, which helps with acclimatization. Your guide will frequently check your health for AMS to monitor your altitude acclimatization. The volcanic rock, which makes up the stark landscape, gives you the sense of seclusion from where you will be connected to a greater wilderness, which is connected to Kilimanjaro. The camp is quite still, providing beautiful northern views of the mountain. The camp still provides quite a stunning view to the north. You will arrive there in time to have hot lunch, and the rest of the afternoon can be spent resting or on an optional acclimatization walk to get used to the altitude. Your guide will tell you about the trek from the northern side, which provides a whole new perspective on high-altitude trekking.
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 8 km
Altitude Gain: 200m
Accommodation: Buffalo Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

On this 8 km trek, you can trek for 4-6 hours, and you will be at 3900m at the third cave (12795 feet), losing 500m in elevation. There are great views of Mawenzi Peak and the Eastern Ice Fields. The moorland descent reduces the risk of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). The pace will be slow, and you will be checked on frequently to encourage drinking water and monitored for health concerns. The third cave is a calm campsite in the moorlands that is good for watching some animals, for instance, the Kilimanjaro white-necked raven. You will reach the third cave by noon to ensure you have a hot lunch and ample time to nap. Afterwards, you can go on a gentle approach to make sure the body adapts to low altitude. While walking, the guide will describe the northern part of the Kilimanjaro mountains to make you appreciate the trek and the eco-friendly approach of this trek.
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 8 km
Altitude Loss: 500m
Accommodation: Third Cave
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

For today, join us as we go on a 4-5 hour trek that is roughly 5 km long. This trek will lead us to the School Hut at 4,700m (15,420ft), which requires an 800m climb. Today, we will be getting a lot of breathtaking views as we trek through the alpine desert scenery of Kibo Peak. This will give us dramatic views of the Saddle, which is the vast expanse of the land between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. Due to the lack of oxygen, the ascending path requires a lot of stamina and pace. Your guide will be keeping an eye on AMS symptoms, so regular health checks will be conducted. School Hut is a basic campsite that lies at the base of the final summit challenge. It is simple, but tranquil, and helps the climbers to calm down before the intense hour-long climb. Arriving before noon is ideal so that a hot lunch can be enjoyed with a detailed summit briefing afterwards. Your guide will go through the climb preparation, which consists of warm clothes and drinking plenty of water. Taking a long nap is essential to ensure energy for the remaining trek to Uhuru Peak.
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 5 kilometers
Altitude Gain: 800 meters
Accommodation: School Hut
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner

The start of the day begins around midnight, so you need to be ready well in advance. The goal is to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,341ft) in 5 to 7 hours. The trail is steep and quite challenging. It consists of switchbacks made up of rocks and loose scree, which makes the path very slippery. There is also a 1,195m altitude gain, so remember to pack a headlamp and trekking poles within your clothing layers to ensure you stay warm and toasty. During the slog to Gilman’s Point (5,681m/18,638ft), which is the sunrise stop, you can catch sight of the beautiful eastern ice fields and the crater rim. After around 1-2 hours of pushing yourself, you will reach your goal, which is appropriately and famously known as the ‘tipping point’. Uhuru Peak. From there, snap as many photos as you can, as you will be surrounded by dramatic and jaw-dropping glacial backdrops. After all the pictures, you will need to walk back to the School Hut, which is around a 3-4 hour walk. During this walk, ensure you get some rest and a light meal to boost your energy.
The first 12 kilometers of the 6-8 hours walk from Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,171ft) to the rest of the destination is quite impossible to get lost in due to the beautiful yet demanding path. As suggested, don't forget to pack a few extra warm layers as well as gaiters and poles to make the journey easier on yourself. The rest of the beautiful destination consists of 1,640m (5,381ft) of Mweka Gate (10km), where you will lose 1,460m. If you take my advice and pack light, you will be receiving your summit certificates at the gate as well as a badge to endorse your accomplishments.
After a 30-minute drive, you arrive in Moshi, where you can enjoy a hot shower, a farewell dinner, and relax in the hotel to think about the adventurous journey you took from the rainforest to the glacier summits.
Hiking Time: 14-18 hours (5-7 hours ascent, 9-11 hours descent)
Distance: 28km (6 km ascent, 22 km descent)
Altitude Gain/Loss: +1,195m, -4,255m
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner