Heavenly Wonders Safaris

9 Days Northern Circuit Route with sleeping crater in Kilimanjaro Climbing
Northern-Circuit-route-kilimanjaro-trekking

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1:  Lemosho Trailhead (2,000m/6,600ft) to Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft)  

Elevation Gain:  800 metres / 2,500 feet

This morning you will drive from Moshi to the Londorossi gate, taking approximately 3 hours.   Here you will complete entry formalities. From Londorossi your drive continues for around 1 hour to the Lemosho trailhead along a 4WD track. Upon arrival at the trailhead you will eat lunch and then commence trekking through lush undisturbed forest where you may be lucky enough to see Colobus monkeys.  The path undulates, steeply in places, to arrive at the first camp after 3-4 hours of trekking.  Overnight at Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa Camp).

Day 2:  Big Tree Camp (2,800m/9,100ft) to Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft)

Elevation Gain:  1000 metres / 3,400 feet

Today your trek will begin in the forest; however you will soon leave this ecosystem behind taking a steep track into a zone of giant heather and volcanic rock.  This is a full day ascending through the lush rolling hills below the Shira Plateau. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones. It is filled with the lava flow from Kibo and its rim has eroded and been blasted away by weather and volcanic action.  The day finishes with a gradual climb to Shira 2 Camp. Today is one of your longest days and could take 7-8 hours.

Day 3:  Shira 2 Camp (3,800m/12,500ft) to Moir Hut (4,200m/13,800ft) via Lava Tower (4,550m/14,900ft) (optional)

Elevation Gain:  750 metres / 2,400 feet (maximum)

Elevation Loss:  350 metres / 1,150 feet (maximum)

Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of high desert en route to Moir Hut.  If time and fitness allow it would be beneficial to ascend via the Lava Tower as this is a great opportunity to acclimatise. The trek to the base of Lava Tower is about 4 hours.  This tower is a 300 foot high volcanic plug.  If time and energy allow, you can scramble to the top of Lava Tower for fabulous panoramic views. From Lava Tower head North West beginning your circuit of Kibo, the almighty summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro. Moir Hut Camp is an isolated and seldom used camp affording views over the Shira Plateau.  Trekking time approximately 5-7 hours. An alternative to this route would be to take a gentle ascent across the alpine desert to Moir Hut in the morning and then spend the afternoon on a guided trek of the nearby Lent Group, a series of wind eroded parasite cones and ridges from whose upper slopes you can gaze down to the plains of Kenya in the north.

Day 4:  Moir Hut Camp (4,200m/13,800ft) to Buffalo/Pofu Camp (4,020m/13,200ft)

Elevation Loss:  180 metres / 590 feet

Begin the morning trek heading out of the moorland and into the stark alpine desert, on a steep ridge off the main trail, beginning your venture on the Northern Circuit Route.  If you chose not to explore the Lent Group yesterday, take a short detour to the top of Little Lent Hill (3,375m/14,350ft) in the morning before regaining the trail to Buffalo Camp.  The total trekking time today is approximately 5 – 7 hours.

Day 5:  Buffalo/Pofu Camp (4,020m/13,200ft) to Third Cave Camp (3,870m/12,700ft)

Elevation Loss:  150 metres / 500 feet

Proceed onward through valleys and over ridges through the alpine desert and moorland, continuing your circuit to the east.  This rarely travelled route allows you to enjoy the vast mountain wilderness in peace. Trekking time today is 5 – 7 hours.

Day 6:  Third Cave Camp (3,870m/12,700ft) to School Huts (4,750m/15,600ft)

Elevation Gain:  880 metres / 2,890 feet

Climb steadily to reach the Saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here, continue upwards to reach School Hut Campsite in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for summit day, which will begin in the early hours of tomorrow morning.  Trekking time approximately 4-5 hours today.

Day 7:  School Huts (4,750m/15,600ft) to Crater Camp (5,650m/18,500ft)

Elevation Gain:  900 metres / 2,900 feet

Just as dawn breaks, you set out for the glacier zone atop Mount Kilimanjaro. Climbing over 3,000 feet today on steep scree, you’ll have countless opportunities to marvel at Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro’s second volcanic cone.  After a tough climb, you will reach the rim of the crater at Stella Point. From here cross the crater floor for approximately one hour to reach camp. Crater Camp, the highest camp on the mountain, is located inside Kilimanjaro’s Kibo crater, and offers stunning views of the surrounding glaciers.  If time and energy allows, explore the ash pit and glaciers. Alternatively, relax and enjoy the views in preparation for your climb to the summit early tomorrow morning.

Day 8:  Crater Camp (5,650m/18,500ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,300ft) then descending to Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft)

Elevation Gain:  245 metres / 800 feet

Elevation Loss:  2,785 metres / 9,100 feet

Rise early to watch the sunrise from the summit.  The climb from camp will take about 1.5 hours. After a short celebration at the summit, descend along the gently sloping crater rim to Stella Point.  From here descend the Mweka Route down the steep scree slope back to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) for lunch. In the afternoon continue the descent into the heather zone to Mweka Camp for the night. The trekking time from Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp will be around 6 hours. Total trekking time is around 8 hours.

Day 9:  Mweka Camp (3,110m/10,200ft) to Mweka Gate (1,830m/6,000ft)

Elevation Loss:  1,280 metres / 4,220 feet

Descend straight to the gate through lush forest (2-3 hours), looking for monkeys along the way.  Return to Moshi from Mweka Village.

Prices Include:

Park fees, camping fees, rescue fees, head guide, assistant guides, cook, & porters salaries, all food, drinking water, tents, transport to/from park entry gate.

Additional Costs:

* Hiring of clothing, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, walking poles etc.   

* Tipping to your guides, cook and porters.   The standard recommendation for this is USD$20 per day to the head guide, $12 per day to the assistant guide, $12 per day to the cook and $5 per day per porter.  These costs are split between everyone doing the climb.