Northern Circuit Route 9 Days | Kilimanjaro Climbing

Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Total Distance: 7 km
Your adventure begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel around 8:00 AM, followed by a scenic drive to the Lemosho Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro, which takes about 3 to 4 hours. Upon arrival at the gate, which is at an elevation of 2,100 meters, you'll go through the necessary registration process, meet your trekking crew, and prepare for the climb. The trek starts gently through the lush, biodiverse forests of the Lemosho Glades, offering a peaceful introduction to your journey. You might encounter wildlife, including monkeys and various bird species, while walking under the canopy of ancient trees, like the African yellowwood. After roughly 4 hours of hiking, you'll arrive at Big Tree Camp, nestled at 2,780 meters, where your crew will set up camp amidst towering trees. Here, you'll enjoy a nutritious lunch and dinner, crucial for your energy levels. The day concludes with some rest, perhaps listening to the forest's nocturnal sounds, as you prepare for further acclimatization and the next day's trek.

Distance: 7 km / 4 miles

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Afro-alpine moorland

Distance: 14 km / 8 miles

Hiking time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Alpine desert

On this day you can expect a trek of two to three hours through the high alpine desert. You climb to Lava Tower and the Shark's Tooth rock formation. You then head back down to Moir Camp. This is an important acclimatization day.

Habitat: Semi-desert

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Much like the past couple of days, the journey today is lengthy but can be very rewarding. Buffaloes are sometimes spotted here. You cross valleys on this trek of four to five hours and end at Third Cave, where you stay the night. Once again, you sleep a little lower than the previous night, which is great for your acclimatisation.

Distance: 5 km / 3 miles

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Today you undertake a steady climb over the Saddle, a stretch of barren land connecting the two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The terrain is pretty inhospitable, being a high-altitude desert. You climb for four to five hours to arrive at School Hut, where you get some rest before the big day!

Hiking Time:7hrs to summit, 7- 8hrs descent
Total Distance:7km to the summit, 23km descent
Starting Altitude:3,870 m Summit Altitude:5895m – Uhuru Peak
Final Altitude:3819m (12530ft)
Environment: Stone Scree, ice-capped summit, Alpine desert

We will rise early to leave camp at around 12am and after a warm drink and a light snack, you will begin the most difficult though most rewarding day of the trek – your hike to the roof of Africa.

After approximately 6 hours of slow but strenuous hiking, you will reach the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5685m. At this point we stop to rest, eat lunch and take in the views over the clouds. From Stella Point the trail is normally snow-covered, and every step of the two-hour final ascent to Uhuru peak is challenging.

Passing alongside the iridescent blue Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers we reach Elveda Point (5882) we can see Uhuru Peak now only minutes away. The roof of Africa is within your grasp.
Arriving at the summit you feel a huge sense of elation and accomplishment you have done it, you have made it to the highest point in Africa. We spend as much time as you need to appreciate your accomplishment, as this is a day to remember for the rest of your life! The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions and temperature.
We start back down the same trail and descend to Barafu camp. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and remove some of your many layers of clothing as the day begins to heat up. We head down the rock and scree path into the moorland zone, reaching the forest, and eventually arriving at Mweka Camp in the early afternoon where a hot shower and meal await. Today is the longest, and the most mentally and physically challenging of the trek. But a life-changing day that will stay with you forever, as you conquer the summit of Kilimanjaro.

Hiking Time:5-6 hours
Total Distance:13.5 km
Starting Altitude: 3819m (15530ft)
Final Altitude:1652m (5420ft)
Environment: Montane (rain) Forest

Today your legs will be further tested as the trail descends steeply through the lush Mweka rain forest.
The trail is steep in places and the going slippery if wet. The route follows the crest of a broad ridge separating two river valleys until it meets with a road that leads us for the last 40 mins to the Mweka Park Gates where we stop for a well deserved picnic lunch where successful hikers will receive their summit certificates (gold for Uhuru Peale, Green for Stella point) from the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority. Post celebrations, we are taken by either private bus or Jeep to your hotel in Arusha.