11-Day Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Trek from Moshi via Uhuru Peak

• You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. There, you will meet your guide, who will brief you on your upcoming trek and carry out an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Any missing gear can be rented on this day.

• The Northern Circuit route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the west, the same starting point as the Lemosho route. The drive to Londorossi Gate takes approximately two hours from Moshi and considerably longer from Arusha.
• Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities takes place at the gate, after which you will be driven further up the mountain to the trailhead starting point. Most tour operators serve lunch here before the short first-day trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) begins.
• You may get lucky and spot large wildlife such as elephants and buffalo, which sometimes emerge from the rainforest onto the path as you trek towards your first camp. Dinner will be served when you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Stretch: 5.5km/3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest

• We continue on the trail leading out of the forest 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. The view of Kibo from across the plateau is amazing.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Distance: 5.5km/3 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest
Full board at Shira Camp 1

• On this day, the trek crosses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2. Eleven-day trekkers usually spend the night at Shira Camp 2, where they will join trekkers from the Machame Route. At Shira Camp 2, it is worth trekking a little higher up the plateau to enjoy the stunning view across the valley below and the Western Breach of Kilimanjaro above.
• The plateau is exposed, so be prepared for a cold night with temperatures dropping below zero. Trekkers on an eight-day hike will continue east up the Shira Plateau ridge and on to Lava Tower (4,600 meters), then back down via the Northern Circuit to Moir Camp (4,200 meters).

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Distance: 7km/4 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest/low alpine zone

• This day is a long trek heading east, passing through the 'Garden of the Senecios' before entering the high alpine desert zone. The morning is spent trekking up to Lava Tower and the iconic Shark's Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will have lunch.
• After lunch, you will join the Northern Circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters. This is an important day in your trek, as you will experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatization process.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Distance: 14km/8 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: Low alpine zone/high alpine zone

• This day involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. From here, the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters).
• The trek offers great vistas across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and time to rest after a long day of hiking.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Distance: 12km/7 miles
Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone

• This day starts with a climb up the Buffalo Ridge and down into Pofu Camp, where lunch is usually served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. The trek is shorter than the day before, and by now, you should be feeling well acclimatized to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave around mid-afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Distance: 8km/5 miles

Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone

• This day involves a steady incline up and over the saddle, which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking southwest up to School Hut (4,800 meters). After arriving at School Hut, you will be served an early dinner, and then you should get some rest, as you will be awakened before midnight to start your summit attempt.
• Remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, a headlamp, and a camera, before going to bed.

Distance: 15km/8 miles
Trekking time: 4-5 hours
Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

• Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 a.m.), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and, weather permitting, be rewarded with one of the most magnificent sunrises you are ever likely to see.
• From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise.
• From the summit, we begin our descent, continuing straight down towards Mweka campsite and stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will need gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel on the way down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
• Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. You will be awakened around 11:30 with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep incline up the slopes of Kibo under the cover of darkness. Your first checkpoint is Hans Meyer Cave, where you will take a short break. The climb steepens as you approach Gilman's Point (5,681 meters), which will be around 5-6 hours after departing School Hut.
  • Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and the incredible view across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember that you still have 2 hours of trekking to reach Uhuru Peak, so dig deep for the energy.
• The slope flattens as you head west around the crater rim, and you should arrive at the summit at or just after sunrise. Your stay here will be brief, so take as many pictures as you can of the incredible views and surrounding glaciers. You will then retrace your steps back around the crater rim to Stella Point (5,739 meters), where you will turn south and head down the heavily screed slopes of Kibo to Barafu Camp (4,680 meters).
• Most trekkers take a short break here before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for their final night on the mountain. In total, you will be trekking for 14-16 hours on day eight, so it is important to pace yourself, remain hydrated, and keep your blood sugar levels up.

Note: Some tour operators return via Gilman's Point to Horombo Hut using the Marangu Route.

Distance: 6km/3.5 miles ascent and 10.5km/6-mile descent
Trekking time: 6-8 hours ascent and then 4-6-hour descent
Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

• The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). At the gate, you will need to sign out with the authorities, who will also provide your official certificate - a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman's Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak. It is customary to tip your guide and porter before being driven back to your hotel in Moshi.

Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Distance: 10km/6.5 miles
Trekking time: 3-4 hours
Zone: Rainforest zone

• The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on your flight time, you could explore Moshi town and pick up some souvenirs before heading to the airport.

Meals: Breakfast included