Northern Circuit 8-9 Days Climb

The drive from Arusha to Londorossi Park Gate takes about 2hrs. The final 45minutes before you arrive at the park gate is on a bumpy forest track. At the entrance gate, the guides and porters shall distribute the supplies and fulfill the park formalities which should take approximately an hour. After finishing the formalities at the park gate, we start our three-hour journey through the rain forest where you need to keep a look out for Colobus Monkeys. You shall have short afternoon lunch break and then continue towards Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Campsite in the early hours of the evening. The porter who arrive at the campsite before you will set up your tent and boil water for drinking and washing. You shall have some snacks and then dinner will be served courtesy of our chef! Mountain temperatures may drop to freezing point during the course of the night so be prepared for it.  

• Elevation (m) – 1200 to 2100 to 2750
• Distance – About 11kms
• Hiking Time – About 3 to 4 hrs
• Habitat – Montane Forest

We continue on the trail leading out of the forest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is an amazing view at this point.  

• Elevation (m) – 2750 to 3840
• Distance – About 15kms
• Hiking Time – About 5 to 7hrs
• Habitat – Moorland

Shira 2 Camp is a spectacular camp located beneath the Northern Ice Fields of Kilimanjaro. It is a gentle walk east toward Kibo’s Glaciered Peak across the plateau which leads to Shira 2 Camp on Moorland Meadows by the stream which is available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira is one of the highest plateaus on earth.

• Dinner and overnight at Shira 2 Camp.
• Elevation (m) – 3540 to 3840
• Distance – About 15kms
• Hiking Time – About 5 to 7 hrs
• Habitat – Moorland

Following an early morning breakfast, you will leave the moorland environment and enter the semi desert and rocky landscape. After 5hrs of walking east, you will come face to face with Lava Tower standing at 4600m. Packed lunch shall be served at the tower and hikers have the option of climbing the massive Lava Tower (WEATHER PERMITTING) At this point, it is normal to start feeling the effects from the altitude including headache and shortness of breath. We then divert from the main trail and drop in altitude to Moir Hut at 4200m which is seldom used camp at the base of the Lent Hills

• Overnight at Moir Hut
• Elevation (m) – 3840 to 4600 to 4200
• Distance – About 15kms
• Hiking Time – About 7hrs
• Habitat – Semi Desert

This is a short hiking day meant for acclimatization. After an early morning breakfast, we trek out of camp and the Moir Valley starting with a bit of a steep climb and then we have a detour option to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4700m which is great for acclimatization before returning to the main circuit trail. The path crosses a rock field and undulates up and down before reaching Buffalo Camp at 4000m. The views this day are simply breathtaking across the plains to the north of Kilimanjaro to the border and Kenya’s Amboseli National Park.

• Overnight at Buffalo Camp
• Elevation (m) – 4200 to 4000
• Distance – About 12kms
• Hiking Time – About 5 to 6hrs
• Habitat – Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we leave camp and ead up the Buffalo Ridge in the morning and usually have some lunch at Porfu Camp before we start our trek around the northern slopes heading towards the eastern side of the mountain. The terrain becomes increasingly sparse and dry with little shrubs. This route is rarely travelled and feels remote, wild and free as we then reach our camp at whats know as Rongai’s Third Cave.

• Overnight at Rongai Third Cave
• Elevation (m) – 4000 to 3800
• Distance – About 8kms
• Hiking Time – About 6 to 7hrs
• Habitat – Health

We climb steadily up and over the Saddle, which sits between Kilimanjaro’s two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi through an environment akin to the moon or a high altitude desert. We then continue to our high camp at School Hut. Plenty of rest in the afternoon and to prepare for the early start and summit day.

• Overnight at School Hut.
• Elevation (m) – 3800 to 4800
• Distance – About 6kms
• Hiking Time – About 4 to 5hrs
• Habitat – Alpine Desert

Around midnight, we begin our summit hike. This is a night time ascent on rock, scree and occasionally snow to the crater rim and beyond the summit. We wake up at about 1130hrs and have tea, biscuits and some snacks before starting our trek up to the summit. Its not a steep climb from the beginning to end but undulates and changes throughout. We stop for rests along the way and the pace is slow. The final slope to the crater rim is steep and has loose scree and you can expect cold temperatures and wind chill throughout, however as you approach the crater rim you will start to see the sun rising over the African Plains thousands of feet below. The rising sun brings warmth and delivers scenery that will remain with you forever more. The heat and light also brings motivation and encourages you to make the final 45 minute climb up from the crater rim to the summit of Kilimanjaro. After some time on the summit we then descend to Barafu for a rest and early lunch and then walk down along a gentle path to Millennium Camp, dropping out of altitude arriving around mid afternoon.

• Overnight at Millenium Camp.
• Elevation (m) – 4800 to 5895 to 3850
• Distance – About 6kms ascent and 10kms descent
• Hiking Time – About 8hrs ascent and 6hrs descent
• Habitat – Alpine Desert

Following a well-deserved breakfast, we will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. After celebrations, you shall descend for 3hrs to Mweka Gate where you shall get your certificates. After receiving your certificates, you will descend to Mweka Village which is another hour where you shall get hot lunch and then drive back to Arusha.

• Dinner and overnight at Venus Premier Hotel (BB)
• Elevation (m) – 3850 to 1980 to 1200
• Distance – About 10kms
• Hiking Time – About 3 to 4hrs
• Habitat – Forest

After breakfast, day at leisure. You check out by 1100hrs and depending on your flight time, you shall then be transferred to the airport for your flight back home with wonderful memories.