9 Days Northern Circuit Route

Description

The Northern Circuit route is a nine-day climb, which is the longest route in terms of time and distance travelled. The days spent at around 13,000 feet are great for acclimatization, resulting in the highest success rates for all routes on Mount Kilimanjaro. With a high success rate, incredible varied scenery and a very low number of visitors, the Northern Circuit route is certainly one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro.

Program (60 minutes)

• Day
  1

  Londorossi Gate To Mti Mkubwa Camp

  Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 11,500ft

  Distance: 8 km

  Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

  Habitat: Moorland

  Аftеr brеаkfаst yоu will bе рiсkеd uр аt the lоdgе and tаkеn to the Lоndоrоssi Gаtе аt thе height of 2,250 m. Аftеr thе nесеssаry registration hаs bееn соmрlеtеd, а bumpy drive will take yоu into thе dеnsе rаinfоrеst, from where your аdvеnturе соmmеnсеs. Тhе moderately stеер trасk makes its way through an unsроilt natural forest to thе Вig Тrее Саmр (2,780 m). Yоu will bе ассоmраniеd by an аrmеd ranger for thе first 2 days оf your treks as wild game саn bе found in thе аrеа. Yоu will sреnd thе night in tents аt Вig Тrее Саmр.

• Day
  2

  Mti Mkubwa Camp To Shira One Camp

  Elevation (ft): 9,500ft to 11,500ft

  Distance: 8 km

  Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

  Habitat: Moorland

  We соntinuе on thе trail lеаding out оf thе rаin forest and into а sаvаnnаh оf tаll grasses, hеаthеr and vоlсаniс rосk drареd with lichen brads. As wе аsсеnd through thе lush rоlling hills and сrоss sеvеrаl strеаms, we rеасh thе Shirа Ridge bеfоrе drоррing gently down to Shirа 1 Саmр. Неrе wе саtсh our first glimpse оf Кibо асrоss thе рlаtеаu.

• Day
  3

  Shira One Camp To Shira Two Camp

  Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,580ft

  Distance: 14 km

  Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

  Habitat: Moorland

  This extra day for acclimatization will be spent exploring the Shira plateau. Here you can explore the ancient collapsed Shira cone, the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes. You will camp for the night at Shira Camp 2. Here you will have a full view of Uhuru Peak for the first time.

• Day
  4

  Shira Two Camp To Lava Tower To Moir Hut

  Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,580ft

  Distance: 14 km

  Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

  Habitat: Moorland

  Today you will trek east, passing through the “Garden of the Senecios’, where you will be surrounded by large senecio plants, before reaching the high alpine desert. The day starts with a trek up to the Lava Tower and the Sharks Tooth rock formation which will be the highest point reached today. You will have lunch at this iconic site before pressing onto joining the Northern Circuit and heading down to Moir Camp (4,200 m). Today is an important addition to your trek as it helps you acclimatize and ultimately prepare for the summit!

• Day
  5

  Moir Hut To Buffalo Camp

  Elevation: 13,580 ft to 13,200 ft

  Distance: 12 km

  Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

  Habitat: Alpine Desert

  Today will be a relatively strenuous stage in your journey to the summit. However, the views make it all worth it. Your day starts with a steep climb out of the Moir Valley before taking a detour to Little Lent Hill. After this, you will reconnect with the Northern Circuit trail and continue over a number of inclines and declines surrounding the slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp. You will arrive at camp around midday where you will have lunch and spend the rest of the day resting and preparing for tomorrow.

• Day
  6

  Buffalo Camp To Third Cave CAMP

  Elevation: 13,200 ft to 12,700 ft

  Distance: 8 km

  Hiking Time: 5-7 hours

  Habitat: Alpine Desert

  Today’s hike will be short but sweet, with your body steadily adjusting to the high altitude. You will begin the day with a hike up the Buffalo Ridge and then down into Porfu Camp. Here you will rest and have lunch. After lunch you will press on eastwards, around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave (3,800 m) where you trek will end for the day.

• Day
  7

  Third Cave Camp To School Huts Camp

  Elevation: 12,700 ft to 15,600 ft

  Distance: 5km

  Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

  Habitat: Alpine Desert

  Today is another short hike. You will start upwards over the Saddle which sits between Kibo Peak and Mawenzi Peak. You will then continue south-went towards School Hut. Here you will stop for the night and enjoy an early dinner before preparing for the big day tomorrow. Be sure to rest and prepare all your gear for the journey to the peak in the morning!

• Day
  8

  School Huts Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

  Elevation: 15,600 ft to 19,341 ft

  Distance: 18 km

  Hiking Time: 10-14 hours

  Habitat: Artic

  Today is the day! You’ll awake before midnight, with hot tea, and start your final ascent. The climb will take you past the final waypoint, Hans Meyer point after which you will reach the summit of Uhuru Peak. You have finally done it! You have reached the highest point on in Africa. This achievement will be tough to top, that’s for sure. After a moment of basking in your triumph, you will start your descent around the crater rim to Stella Point then down past Barafu Camp before continuing onto Millennium Camp. Here you will enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and some well-earned sleep.

• Day
  9

  Mweka Camp To Moshi - Departure

  In the morning you will head back to the road, an easy journey after the adventure you just had. Now it’s time to say goodbye to your guides and porters. You will be taken to your hotel for dinner and for what will probably feel like the best shower you have ever had.

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