Tanzania · Trekking

9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Trek to Uhuru Peak

9 Days Round trip from Mt Kilimanjaro Moderate pace
Stroll around Mount Kilimanjaro
Witness a majestic sunrise at Mount Kilimanjaro
Spot scenic views at Mount Kilimanjaro
Traverse through Mount Kilimanjaro

The journey

Trip highlights
  • 01 Experience the stunning, diverse landscapes of Kilimanjaro's Northern Circuit
  • 02 Savor nearly 360-degree views from the rarely visited northern slopes
  • 03 Enjoy ample acclimatization time for a higher summit success rate
  • 04 Trek through serene rainforests, moorlands, and alpine deserts
  • 05 Conclude with a rewarding summit attempt at Uhuru Peak, the highest point

Embark on an epic 9-day adventure on the Northern Circuit, Kilimanjaro's most scenic and remote route. Traverse lush rainforests, alpine deserts, and breathtaking plateaus while building in excellent acclimatization time for the ultimate summit push. Enjoy nearly 360-degree views, the quiet northern slopes, and the unforgettable achievement of reaching Uhuru Peak at sunrise.

Embark on an epic 9-day adventure on the Northern Circuit, Kilimanjaro's most scenic and remote route.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 9 Days
Tour type Shared
Activity level Moderate
Accommodation Included · Standard
Transport Included
Wheelchair access No
Cities Arusha, Moshi, Mount Kilimanjaro
Languages English, German, Swahili

Day by day

The itinerary

1
Day 01

Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp

  • Distance: ~5.5 km / 3 miles
  • Trekking time: 3-4 hours
  • Zone: Rainforest
  • 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.
  • 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.
2
Day 02

Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira Camp 1

  • Distance: ~8 km / 5 miles
  • Trekking time: 5-6 hours
  • Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
  • On day two, you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of the rainforest trail before entering the low alpine moorland zone, which continues up onto the Shira Plateau.
  • The trek is relatively short and gradual, ending at Shira Camp 1 (3,610 meters).
3
Day 03

Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2

  • Distance covered: ~7 km / 4 miles
  • Trekking time: 3-4 hours
  • Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
  • On day three, the trek crosses the Shira Plateau from Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2.
  • Nine-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.
4
Day 04

Shira Camp 2 to Moir Camp

  • Distance covered: ~14 km / 8 miles
  • Trekking time: 5-7 hours
  • Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
  • Day four 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 and head 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 lower, which is beneficial for the acclimatization process.
5
Day 05

Moir Camp to Buffalo Camp

  • Distance: ~12 km / 7 miles
  • Trekking time: 5-7 hours
  • Zone: High alpine zone
  • Day five 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.
6
Day 06

Buffalo Camp to Rongai Third Cave

  • Distance: ~8 km / 5 miles
  • Trekking time: 5-7 hours
  • Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
  • Day six starts with a climb up Buffalo Ridge and down into Porfu Camp, where lunch is usually served.
  • The route then continues east around the northern slopes to 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 Third Cave around mid-afternoon.
7
Day 07

Third Cave to School Hut

  • Distance: ~15 km / 8 miles
  • Trekking time: 4-5 hours
  • Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
  • Day seven 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 begin your summit attempt.
  • Remember to prepare all your gear before going to bed, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, a headlamp, and a camera.
8
Day 08

School Hut to Uhuru Peak and Millennium Camp

  • Distance: ~6 km / 3.5 miles ascent and 10.5 km / 6 miles descent
  • Trekking time: 6-8 hours ascent and 4-6 hours descent
  • Zone: Glacial zone and all preceding zones
  • You will be awakened around 11:30 pm with hot tea and biscuits and will then begin the steep climb 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 you will reach around 5-6 hours after departing School Hut.
  • Take a moment to enjoy the approaching dawn and the incredible views across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember that you still have about 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 descend 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 your 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.
9
Day 09

Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

  • Distance: ~10 km / 6.5 miles
  • Trekking time: 3-4 hours
  • Zone: Rainforest zone
  • 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.
Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Shark's Tooth, Uhuru Peak at sunrise

Where this trip takes you

Shira Plateau, Lava Tower, Shark's Tooth, Uhuru Peak at sunrise

The route

Where you'll travel

Tour route map
Round trip from Mt Kilimanjaro 3 cities · 9 Days

The fine print

Trip details

What's Included

  • Accommodation
  • Tour guide
  • Entrance fees
  • All transportation to/from the destination location

What's Not Included

  • Any private expenses

What to bring

  • Warm clothes
  • Insulated water bottles
  • Snacks
  • Headlamp
  • Camera

Know before you go

The Northern Circuit route is one of the best routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly 360 degrees of beautiful scenery, including the quiet, rarely visited northern slopes.

As the longest Kilimanjaro route, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. Thus, the Northern Circuit route is highly recommended.

The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route then heads north and circles clockwise from Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp to School Hut before summiting from the east. The descent is made via the Mweka Route.

  • Scenic Beauty: Offers nearly 360-degree views of Kilimanjaro, including the rarely visited northern slopes.
  • Best for Acclimatization: The longest route, providing ample time for acclimatization and the highest summit success rate.
  • Quiet and Remote: Less crowded, with a peaceful, off-the-beaten-path experience.
  • Comprehensive Trek: Approaches from the west, crosses diverse landscapes, and summits from the east before descending via the Mweka Route.

An ideal choice for those seeking a scenic, less crowded route with excellent acclimatization opportunities.

Logistics

Meeting & route

Meeting point
Moshi, Tanzania
Tour start
Mt Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Tour ends at the same location as the start point.
End of the journey

Your 9 days finish where they began, in Mt Kilimanjaro.

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Estimated room rates

Single Room $2,800.00 — $3,640.00
Double Sharing $2,800.00 — $3,640.00

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