9 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE

Difficulty: difficult

Scenery: Fantastic

Traffic: Very low

Not only is the Northern Circuit the newest of all the official routes to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro, it is also the longest and most beautiful. And by rule of thumb, the longer the route, the better the chances of making it to the top.

The climb from through this trail is an extended one and begins with a drive from the town of Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From the gate, the Northern Circuit follows the route of Lemosho for first few ddays before ascending to Shira Ridge. The same lush rainforests that trekkers enjoy on Lemosho trail are enjoyed by tourists on this route. Upon reaching the Lava Tower, trekkers turn north and follow the proper Northern Circuit.

This detour that trekkers take allows them to circle around to the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro. The northern side of the mountain is more remote and so trekkers venturing along this trail can hike in solitude will less fellow trekkers. Furthermore, the trail is untouched, untrammelled, and virgin. This ends up in a unique climbing experience.

Depending upon the season and local conditions, the best route for trekking Kilimanjaro changes. But all the routes converge at Gilman’s Point and approach the summit. Descend is usually via the Mweka route, where you will likely see other trekkers who went up on either the Lemosho, Shira, Umbwe or Machame routes.

If you have both time and some extra cash, consider taking the northern circuit route which is certainly one of the most enjoyable ways to climb Kilimanjaro. You circle the mountain at nearly 4000 meters and in the process get a 360 degree view of the highly diverse surrounding region. It is the longest route by which you can summit the mountain and also provides excellent opportunity for acclimatization. This also makes it one of the safest and most successful routes.

Day 01 : Londorossi Gate (2,250m) - Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780m)

Distance: 3km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 3 to 4 hours

In the morning you will be taken to Londorossi Gate, a 3 hour’s drive from Moshi. After completing all the park entry formalities and travelling 15 km on a bumpy road, you’ll get to the edge of the rainforest from where you’ll start hiking. Lunch will be served before you begin travelling through the rainforest. The walk on this day is going to be quite short compared to the forthcoming days and will take about 3 to 4 hours. This allows you to enjoy the lush green scenery on the trail which will invariably change over the course of your trek. You might even catch a glimpse of the thumbless colobus monkeys sitting in the branches above you.

Day 02 : Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,780m) - Shira 2 Camp (3,900m)

Distance: 8km

Environment: Moorland

Time: 4 to 5 hours

As you walk along the thin trail through the rainforest, you will notice the vegetation becoming scarcer and scarcer until you finally reach moorland filled with Lobelia and Eric plants. Ascending through rolling hills, you will reach Shira 1 Camp in about 4 - 5 hours.

You’ll be unmistakably able to see the snow-capped summit of Kibo from your campsite looking over the Shira Plateau. After a hearty evening meal you’ll doze off looking at the stars in the night sky which will bring the day to a close.

Day 03 : Shira 1 Camp (3,500m) - Shira 2 Camp (3,900m)

Distance: 7km

Environment: Moorland

Time: 4 to 5 hours

Today, you’ll walk past the Shira Ridge which has rocky ground, low grasses, and shrubs around it. Your hike will seem more leisurely and easy as the terrain is much flatter than the previous day, and in the process you’ll enjoy fantastic views of the Great Rift Valley and Mount Meru. The giant Lobelias which are distinctive in this environment dot the moor landscape. Walking on ground where lava used to flow you will reach Shira 2 Camp, where you will have your evening meal and overnight stay.

Day 04 : Shira 2 Camp (3,900m) –Moir hut Camp(4,200m)

Distance: 14km

Environment: Semi desert

Time: 6 to 8 hours

After breakfast you will start your trek to Moir hut camp.Just after Shira 2 Camp the Lemosho Route joins the Machame Route, and we will follow it for a short time. Expect to see other trekkers there. We’ll diverge from teh main trail and get to Moir Hut Camp which is located beneath the scenic Lent Hills. Arrive at the camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 05 : Moir hut Camp (4,200m)- Pofu Camp (4,020m)

Distance: 12km

Environment: Semi-desert

Time: 7 to 8 hours

We will take a short but steep hike from Moir Valley to the top of the Lent Hills.Not only is the view worth the effort, proper acclimatization requires you to 'walk high, sleep low'. Afterwards we will rejoin the trail and cross several valleys on Kilimanjaro's north side before reaching Pofu Camp.

Day 06 : Pofu Camp (4,020m) –Third Cave Camp (3,960m)

Distance: 7km

Environment: Alpine desert

Time: 5 to 6 hours

Leaving Pofu Camp, we'll Leaving Pofu Camp behind, we’ll be circling along the mountain’s north side and get magnificent views of Kenya along the way. We’ll get to cross more valleys before turning eastwards where the vegetation decreases and the territory becomes drier. Arrive at the camp for lunch, dinner and overnight.

Day 07 : Third Cave Camp (3,960m) –School hut Camp (4790m)

Distance: 6 km

Environment: Alpine desert

Time: 6hours

A long and steady ascent takes us to The Saddle, and a landscape that can only be referred to as 'lunar', with the peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo rising on either side. We'll reach School Hut and make camp in the early afternoon, giving us a chance to rest and prepare for the summit tomorrow.

Day 08 : School hut Camp (4,790m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895m) - Millennium Camp (3,827m)

Distance: 16 km

Environment: Alpine desert/stone scree/ice-capped summit/Montane forest

Time: 12 to 15 hours

Day nine starts early, around 1 am. We’ll ascend to the Gilman’s Point which is located at the rim of Kilimanjaro’s crater. From here, you can see the sun rise over the peak of Mawenzi, and after a short break, you’ll ascend further to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa.

Descending from the peak will lead us to Barafu Hut where we’ll meet with the porters for a packed lunch. After the meal and some rest, we make our way down to Millennium Camp. This last stretch will be through loose gravel which makes the trekking slightly easy. You’ll be served with your last lunch on the mountain at Millennium Camp after which you’ll get some well-earned sleep.

Day 09 : Millenium Camp (3,827m) - Mweka Gate (1,630m) – Moshi

Distance: 12km

Environment: Montane forest

Time: 5 to 6 hours

The final ascend of your amazing Kilimanjaro trekking adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew. Then a gentle 5 to 6 hours’ descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your transferring driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back to the Hotel in Moshi and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to rest, relax at the pool or celebrate your achievement.