9 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking - Northern Circuit Route

9 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE ITINERARY

DAY 0: ARRIVAL TO TANZANIA.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day .
DAY 1: LEMOSHO TRAILHEAD (2,000M/6,600FT) TO MTI MKUBWA CAMP (BIG TREE CAMP – 2,800M/9,100FT)
Elevation Gain: 800 meters/ 2,500 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
After breakfast, you’ll be picked up from your hostel/hotel and driven to Londrosi Gate (which is approximately 3 hours from Moshi). After registration, you will then drive a further 12km on a forest track that leads to the Lemosho starting point. From here you will enter the beautiful and undisturbed rainforest to begin your ascent up the mountain. This is by no means a difficult trek, but it will give you plenty of time to adjust and witness some of Tanzania’s wildlife. Sightings of Black and White Colobus monkeys and small antelopes are quite common, and you may even be lucky enough to spot buffalos and elephants too. After 3 to 4 hours of trekking, you will arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp, also known as Big Tree Camp because of the large conifer trees that provide shade over the campsite.
DAY 2: MTI MKUBWA CAMP (2,800M/9,100FT) TO SHIRA 1 CAMP (3,500M/11,500FT)
Elevation Gain: 700 metres / 2,400 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
On the second day, you’ll rise early for breakfast and begin climbing a slightly steeper gradient through the moorland vegetation zone. Here you will start to get fantastic views of Kibo, the summit cone of Mt. Kilimanjaro, while continuing along a rocky ridge to Shira Plateau. Shira is actually a collapsed volcanic crater and was the first of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanic cones to expire. Once on the plateau, the trail becomes a little easier as you make your way to Shira Camp. If it’s a clear day, you’ll also get to enjoy superb panoramic views.
DAY 3: SHIRA 1 CAMP (3,500M/11,500FT) TO SHIRA 2 CAMP (3,840M/12,600FT)
Elevation Gain: 340 metres / 1,100 feet
Hiking Time: Approximately 5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, you will then continue to hike across the rocky ridge onto Shira Plateau, where you will be able to see the easterly side and the western breach with its dramatic glaciers. You are now on the west of Kibo Peak and it will take another short walk before reaching the Shira Two Campsite. Tea/coffee and some nuts will be served to help warm up your body before the main dish of the evening and retiring to sleep. Shira 2 Camp is very exposed and will be much colder with temperatures dropping below freezing point.
DAY 4: SHIRA 2 CAMP (3,840M/12,600FT) 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)
Hiking Time: Approximately 5 to 7 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Your climb today will take you steadily up and over the expansive ridgelines of the high desert. If time and fitness allow, it would be beneficial to ascend via the Lava Tower as this is a great opportunity to acclimatize. This tower is a 300-foot high volcanic plug and the trek to the base is about 4 hours. Once you have scrambled your a way too to the top of Lava Tower, you will be rewarded with fabulous panoramic views. From Lava Tower, you will then head North West beginning your circuit of Kibo, the almighty summit cone of Mount Kilimanjaro. 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 where you can gaze down to the plains of Kenya. Moir Hut Camp is an isolated and seldom used camp affording views over the Shira Plateau.
DAY 5: MOIR HUT CAMP (4,200M/13,800FT) TO BUFFALO/POFU CAMP (4,020M/13,200FT)
Elevation Loss: 180 metres / 590 feet
Hiking Time: 5 to 7 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
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.
DAY 6: BUFFALO/POFU CAMP (4,020M/13,200FT) TO THIRD CAVE CAMP (3,870M/12,700FT)
Elevation Loss: 150 metres / 500 feet
Hiking Time: 5 to 7 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert 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.
DAY 7: THIRD CAVE CAMP (3,870M/12,700FT) TO SCHOOL HUTS (4,750M/15,600FT)
Elevation Gain: 880 metres / 2,890 feet
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
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.
DAY 8: SCHOOL HUTS (4,750M/15,600FT) TO UHURU PEAK (5,895M/19,340FT) TO MWEKA CAMP (3,110M/10,200FT)
Elevation Gain: 1,145 metres / 3,740 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,785 metres / 9,100 feet
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours to Uhuru Peak; 7 to 8 hours to Mweka Camp
Habitat: Arctic conditions
This is where the going gets really tough! Just before midnight, you will venture into the night and begin your = final ascent to the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. Head northwest through the heavy stone scree following multiple switchbacks between Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (5,685m). This section is probably the most challenging part of the route and will require great physical and mental effort. Continue to move slowly, always listening to your guide.
After a short rest at Stella Point, you will hike along the crater rim for another hour before reaching your ultimate goal – Uhuru Peak! Congratulations! You have now made it to the “Roof of Africa”. Weather conditions on the summit will determine how long you will be able to spend there, but it is important to start your descent within good time to ensure you get enough rest back at Barafu Camp. After your rest, you’ll gather the rest of your belongings and descend to Mweka Hut (3,100m) where you’ll enjoy dinner and a well-earned sleep!
DAY 9: MWEKA HUT (3,100M) TO MWEKA GATE (1,980M)
Elevation Loss: 1,280 metres / 4,220 feet
Hiking time: Approximately 3 to 4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
After eating breakfast, you will begin the easiest part of your adventure on Mount Kilimanjaro via scenic path through the forest to Mweka Gate. Successful hikers who made it to Stella Point and Uhuru Peak will be awarded their certificates at the gate. Then it’s time to drive back to your hotel to enjoy a shower, dinner and celebrations with a Kilimanjaro beer!

PRICE INCLUDES

Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
2 nights of accommodation in Moshi.
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate.
Park entry fees.
Camping fees.
Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees.
18% VAT on tour fees & services.
4 Season mountain tents.
Double layered Sleeping Mats.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters.
3 hot meals daily while on the mountain.
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek.
Hot water for washing.
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO).
Government taxes.
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter.
Emergency first-aid kit.

PRICE EXCLUDES

Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
Travel insurance.
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 225 for the entire trek.
Flights.
Laundry (Available at hotel).
Personal items and toiletries.
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain).
*Tips on Mountain Kilimanjaro are recommended for group sharing as follows:
Guide $25 - $30 per day
Assistant Guide $20 - $25 per day
Waiter/camping crew/dish washer $15 per day
Chef $20 - $25 per day
Porters $10 per day

TREKKING EQUIPMENTS

Technical Clothing:

• 1 - Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood

• 1 - Insulated Jacket, synthetic or down

• 1 - Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell

• 2 - Long Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Waterproof Pants, breathable (side zipper recommended)

• 2 - Hiking Pants

• 1 - Fleece Pants

• 1 - Shorts (optional)

• 1 - Long Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric

• 3 - Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric recommended

• 2 - Sport Bra (women)

Equipment

• 1 - Sleeping Bag, warm, four seasons

• 1 - Camp Pillow, inflatable (optional)

• 1 - Trekking Poles, collapsible (highly recommended)

• 1 - Head Lamp, with extra batteries

• 1 - Duffel Bag, 50-90L capacity, for porters to carry your equipment

• 1 - Daypack, 30-35L capacity, for you to carry your personal gear

Paperwork

• Passport – Valid more than 6 months.

• Visa (applied online but also available at JRO)

• Immunization Papers

• Insurance Document (That covers 6000m recommended) *

Accessories

• 1 - Sunglasses or Goggles

• 1 - Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)

• 1 - Water Bottle (Nalgene, 32 oz.)

• 1 - Water Bladder (Camelbak type, 3 liters)

• 1 - Towel, lightweight, quick-dry (optional)

• 1 - Pee Bottle, to avoid leaving room/tent at night (recommended)

Head Wear

• 1 - Brimmed Hat, for sun protection

• 1 - Knit Hat, for warmth

• 1 - Balaclava or Buff, for face coverage (optional)

Hand Wear

• 1 - Gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)

• 1 - Gloves, thin

Footwear

• 1 - Hiking Boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in

• 1 - Gym Shoes, to wear at camp (optional)

• 3 - Socks, wool or synthetic

• 1 - Gaiters, waterproof (optional)

Other Important things:

• Toiletries

• Prescriptions

• Sunscreen

• Lip Balm

• Insect Repellent, containing DEET

• First Aid Kit

• Hand Sanitizer

• Toilet Paper

• Wet Wipes (recommended)

• Snacks, light-weight, high calorie, high energy (optional)

• Electrolytes, powder or tablets (optional)

• Camera, with extra batteries (optional)

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Kilimanjaro Trekking Information