8 days Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit

8 days Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit route takes on at least 8 days to summit Kilimanjaro offering about 98% success rate, as it allows enough time for the body to properly acclimatize. It offers an all round spectacular scenery, including seldom visited northern slopes, hence this route is highly recommended.

This 8 days Kilimajaro Northern circuit starts from either Moshi or Arusha and approaches Kilimanjaro from the West. From Arusha/Moshi, hed to Londorossi for registration. Two days will be spent walking through the rainforest to shira ridge the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before traversing the Shira Plateau. The 8 days northern circuit then continues to the north, taking a round loop from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut, before Trekking from the east.

Duration: to10 days

Difficulty: Medium

Scenery: Excellent

Traffic: Low

Arrive at the airport, and our driver guide will welcome you. Thereafter you will be transferred to your lodge so as to check in, later in the evening before dinner, our driver guide will brief you about your forthcoming 8 day Kilimanjaro trekking safari to through the Northern circuit route.

You will sort the important gear that you will need to carry, then head for dinner, and an early overnight rest.

DAY 1: LONDOROSSI GATE(2,100 METERS) STARING POINT (2,389/7838FT ) MTI MKUBWA CAMP(2,785/9137FT)

Altitude gained: 396m

At sunrise, you will have breakfast, thereafter set off for Londorossi (2,100 meters), the starting point of the northern circuit to summit Rwenzori. Finish the registration procedures, after when you will be driven to the trail head where the Northern circuit route starts, carry along your packed lunch, and head to Mti-Mkubwa Camp (2,785 meters). Along your way, you might encounter large wildlife like elephant and buffalo that come to the trail as you walk towards the camp. Delicious dinner will be served, followed by an overnight rest in Mti-Mkubwa camp.

Distance: ~4.8km / 3 miles

Trekking time: 3-4 hours

Zone: Rainforest

DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2785M/ 9137FT )- SHIRA I CAMP (3504M/ 11496FT)

Altitude gained: 719m

Following your morning breakfast, you will set off for shira Camp, as you trek through the final areas of the rain forest, and then join with the low alpine moorland zone which continues up the shira Plateau. The trek is gradually short and it ends at Shira Camp 1 (3,504 meters).

Distance: ~7.9km / 5 miles

Trekking time: 5-6 hours

Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone

DAY 3: SHIRA 1 (3504M/11496FT) TO MOIR HUT (4161M/13651FT)

Altitude gained: 657m

On this day, you will start with a delicious breakfast, and take a long trek which passes through the Garden of Scenecios, to the High Alpine zone. You will ascend up the Lava Tower and the iconic Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will break for lunch. Afterwards you will connect with the Northern circuit, leading down to Moir Camp at 4,161 meters. This is a memorable day in your trek as you experience high altitude and then slumber low, which is the best option for the acclimatization process.

Distance: ~ 9.8km / 6.1 miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours

Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone

DAY 4: MOIR CAMP (4,155M/13,632FT) TO BUFFALO CAMP (4,033M/13,232FT)

Altitude loss: 122m

On this day

On this day, you have an average steep hike out of Moir Valley. All trekkers can opt to go for an alternative hike to Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before getting back to the Northern Circuit trail. At this point, the route goes through several inclines and declines, surrounding the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp. Arrive at Buffalo Camp just after lunch , to relax, as you waith for dinner & overnight.

Distance: ~9.2km / 5.8miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours

Zone: High alpine zone

DAY 5: BUFFALO CAMP (4033M/13,232FT) – RONGAI 3RD CAVE (3,936M/12,193FT)

Altitude lost: 97m

Breakfast comes first, followed by a steep hike up the Buffalo ridge and slope down into Porfu Camp for glorious lunch break. You will then trek further eastwards nearby the northern slopes to Rongai Third Cave. This is the shortest trek, and by mid day you will have reached the Rongai 3^rd cave . The ample time left is to allow your body to acclimatized to the altitude.

Dinner will be served, and later on an overnight.

Distance: ~6.8km / 4.3miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours

Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone

DAY 6: RONGAI 3RD CAVE (3936M/12913FT) – SCHOOL HUT (4717M/15,476FT)

Altitude gained: 781m

You wak up for breakfast, thereafter head for a steep hike up, and over the Saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. Thereafter proceed with your trek south-west, till you reach School Hut at 4,800 meters.

You will served dinner early for a short night sleep in preparation prior to the summit day.

Distance: ~4.8km / 3miles

Trekking time: 4-5 hours

Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone

DAY 7: SCHOOL HUT ( 4717M/15476FT) – SUMMIT ( 5,895 M/19341FT) – MILLENIUM CAMP (3,827 M/12556FT)

Altitude gained: 1178m

Altitude lost: 2068m (descent)

With trekking gear warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, headlamp and camera, you will set off at 0000hrs for the summit. You will start by climbing high on an incline to Kibo slpes beneath in darkness. You will take on a brief break at Hans meyer cave. Thereafter you proceed on a steep hike to Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters), where you will stop to enjoy the beautiful sun rising, as well as the magnificent view of of Mawenzi peak. After wards you will further trek for 2 hours to uhuru peak just after the sun has risen. The slope flattens as you walk towards the west around the rim of the crater.

Spend a few minutes celebrating your victory, as you take phots for alifetime, thereafter retrace your way down to Stella Point (5,739 meters) where you will turn south and continue down the lush screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters). Take a short break, and later on continue down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for your last dinner and overnight rest

Note: some tour operators return via Gilman’s Point to Horombo Hut using the Marangu Route.

Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones

DAY 8: MILLENIUM CAMP 3827M/12,556FT – MWEKA GATE 1633M/5358FT – MOSHI 970M

Altitude lost: 2194m

Instantly after breakfast plus a heart warming ceremony, we bid farewell and continue sloping down the Mweka Park Gate to receive the Kiliomanjaro hiking certificate.

Our driver guide will be waiting to receive you, thereafter you will head for lunch, and be dropped at your hotel of preference(your freserved hotel/lodge)

Distance: ~12.2km / 7.6 miles

Trekking time: 3-4 hours

Zone: Rainforest zone

INCLUDED IN TREKKING PACKAGE:

Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary

Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide

Proper Ration of Mountain crew (Cook & Porters)

Pre and Post accommodations (2 nights Bed and Breakfast)

Airport Transfers

Meals according to the itinerary

Drinking water and Full Board Meals

All National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VAT