9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Trek from Moshi

• After breakfast, you will be picked up at the lodge and taken to Londorossi Gate at an altitude of 2,250 m.
• After completing the necessary registration, a bumpy drive will take you into the dense rainforest, where your adventure begins.
  • The moderately steep track passes through an unspoilt natural forest to Big Tree Camp (2,780 m). An armed ranger will accompany you for the first 2 days of your trek, as wild game can be found in the area.
• You will spend the night in tents at Big Tree Camp.

Elevation (ft): 7,800 ft to 9,500 ft
Distance: 6 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp

Habitat: Rain Forest

• We continue on the trail leading out of the rainforest and into a savannah of tall grasses, heather, and volcanic rock draped with lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before dropping gently down to Shira 1 Camp.
• Here, we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau.

Elevation (ft): 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Habitat: Heath

• Compared to yesterday, your climbing today is less, with 240 meters of ascent, taking you up to 3,850 meters.
  • The distance you cover will be similar, at approximately 7 km. It is a steady uphill climb, and you should expect about 3.5 to 4 hours of walking time in total. Breakfast today is at the civilized hour of 08:00, and your departure is one hour later. You set off in a south-eastern direction across the moor and heathland of the Shira Plateau. Buffalo, dik-dik, and klipspringer graze here and can occasionally be seen.
• You aim to reach Shira 2 Camp - also known as Shira Huts - by 13:00 to be served a hot lunch. Dinner tonight will be at 18:00.

Elevation: 11,500 ft to 12,500 ft
Distance: 7 km / 4 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Heath
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

• You will finish trekking up the northern slope of Kilimanjaro and stop for the night at 3rd Cave Camp, where the route meets the traditional Rongai route.
• On this day, the trekking will be shorter than the day before. By this time, your body will already have completely acclimated to an altitude of 4,000 meters, contributing to your general well-being.

Elevation: 4,020 m to 3,870 m
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 8 km
Habitat: Moorland

• You climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4,375 m).
• After admiring the views, you return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here, the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked.
• The final section of today's walk undulates until reaching Buffalo Camp (4,020 m). The camp has a tremendous feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch far below to the north.

Elevation: 13,580 ft to 13,200 ft
Distance: 12 km / 7 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Buffalo Camp

• From Buffalo Camp, you climb to 'Buffalo Ridge' and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape with increasingly sparse vegetation until you eventually reach Third Cave Camp (3,800 m).

Elevation: 13,200 ft to 12,700 ft
Distance: 8 km / 5 miles
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Third Cave Camp
Habitat: Heath

• On a relatively easy path, today's leg takes you over the so-called "saddle."
  • This piece of rock is a lava flow formed when Mount Kilimanjaro erupted. It has now solidified and connects two of Mount Kilimanjaro's three peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo.
• You will arrive at School Hut in about 4.5 to 5 hours and go to bed after dinner, as the summit calls for an early start at approximately 11 p.m.

Elevation: 12,700 ft to 15,600 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

• Very early in the morning, around midnight, we begin our push to the summit.
  • This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent but short breaks.
• At Gilman's Point (18,600 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you will ever see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.
• From the summit, we descend, stopping for lunch and rest at Kibo before continuing to the Horombo encampment. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel on the way down.
• Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep at Horombo Hut.

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Altitude: 5,895 ft to 3,700 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 miles up
Distance: 14 km down
Altitude: 4,640 m to 5,895 m
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Habitat: Arctic | Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

• The final leg of your amazing adventure begins after breakfast with a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain crew.
• Then, a gentle 2 to 3-hour descent through the rainforest continues to Mweka Gate, where your driver will be waiting for you. He will take you back, and after a warm shower, the rest of the day is free to relax, relax at the pool, or celebrate your achievement. Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration.

Altitude: 3,080 m to 1,630 m
Distance Covered: 9.3 km down
Time to be used: 2-3 hours
Meals: Breakfast and lunch
Habitat: Rainforest