Trip Overview
The Northern Circuit takes you up the northern slope of the mountain, where few trekkers go. The views are just amazing! It’s a nine-day trek (the longest one on offer) and as such has the highest summit success rate. It’s also a very pretty and varied route. We love it, and highly recommend this route to anyone keen to climb to the roof of Africa.
Highlights
- Departure and Return Place: Moshi Town to Lemosho Gate and then back to Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Departure Time: Please be ready by 8:15 AM for a prompt departure at 9:30 AM.
- Return Time: Approximately 10:30 AM on the last day.
- Dress Code: Casual. Comfortable athletic clothing, hiking shoes, hat, cold weather jacket, gloves, pants, and spare clothing.
- Accommodation: Two nights of accommodations based on Bed and Breakfast at 3 stars hotel (upgrades on request).
- Customizations: Can be customized upon request, to meet traveler's needs
- Extensions: Trip Extensions are available on request.
- Trip Availability: All year round.
Itinerary
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our representative will be waiting to welcome you. You will then be transferred to Maridadi Hotel, where you can relax and recover from your flight.
If you are already in Tanzania, we can also arrange pickup around Moshi/Arusha and transfer you to Maridadi Hotel, where the tour will begin.
In the evening, you will meet your mountain guide for a detailed briefing. He will go over the itinerary, provide important tips, and advise you on what to wear and pack to ensure a safe and comfortable climb.
You will be picked up at your hotel at around 08:00 am and transferred to the Lemosho gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After the registration process, you will still start your climb steadily through the forests of the Lemosho glades to reach Big Tree camp where you will be spending the night.
Distance covered: 7km / 4.3mi
Approx. time taken: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Today you will trek across a plateau of grassy moorland and heather scattered with volcanic rock formations. Our destination for today is the Shira 1 Camp from where there are often views of Kibo Peak floating on the clouds. We gain a reasonable amount of altitude today and parts of the route are fairly steep.
Distance covered: 8.5km / 5.3mi
Approx. time taken: 7 hrs
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Approx. time taken: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
After breakfast, you will leave Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m /12,628 f) and start trekking to Lava Tower (4,600 m /15,088 f). The route is more challenging than the hikes on previous days and has more inclines and descents throughout. You may find it more physically demanding than the day before, however, it offers an ideal way to acclimatize to the high altitude. Lunch is served atop Lava Tower, allowing you 1-2 hours to rest and relax after a challenging morning.
After lunch, you will trek a little higher and then gradually descend to Moir Hut. This camp is located on the way to the northern part of Kilimanjaro.
Trekking time:
5-7 hours
Distance Distance:
14 km (8.7 miles)
On this day, you will have a long but relatively easy trek. Initially, you will have a steep (although short) climb to depart Moir Valley, and then approach the northern slope of Kilimanjaro. While there will be more ups and downs on this trek, there are no steep altitude gains. This route passes close to the border with Kenya, so you will be treated to amazing views of the Tsavo and Amboseli Valleys.
Trekking time Trekking time:
5-6 hours
Distance Distance:
12 km (7.4 miles)
You will finish trekking up the northern slope of Kilimanjaro and stop for the night in 3rd Cave Camp, where the route will meet up with the traditional Rongai route. On this day the trekking will be shorter, and by this time your body should already have become completely acclimated to an altitude of 3,800 m / 12,464 f, which will contribute to your increased comfort and overall well-being.
Trekking time Trekking time:
4-6 hours
Distance Distance:
8 km (4.9 miles)
On this day you will be trekking to the School Hut Summit Camp (4,800 m /15,744 f). The actual trekking is not very hard, so remember to just choose an appropriate pace in order to keep your strength up for the next day. When you reach the camp, we recommend you sleep well, avoid strenuous activity, and drink as much water as you can, because tomorrow your group will trek into the crater.
Trekking time Trekking time:
4-5 hours
Distance Distance:
5 km (3.1 miles)
Around midnight, you will depart from the camp and walk along the edge of the crater rim to reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak, which stands at 5,895 meters. Once you arrive at the top, you will spend about 30-40 minutes taking photos and watching an amazing sunrise with views across Africa. You can explore the nearby glaciers (just a 30-minute walk from the top) or start descending to the crater camp whenever you're ready.
Reaching the crater floor requires much dedication, but it is well worth it! When you arrive, you will be astonished by the ancient glaciers and snow. If you want, you may choose to trek further to the Ash Pit (it takes approximately 90 minutes), or save this endeavor for the next day.
Trekking time Trekking time:
4-6 hours
Distance Distance:
5 km (3.1 miles)
On this day you can make another summit attempt in the morning, your general condition permitting. If you don’t want to get back to Uhuru, you can proceed with hiking out of the crater to Barafu summit camp and further down the slope to Millenium camp, your next overnight site.
Or, if you feel like it, you can go to the Ash Pit, a still warm ice-free part of the crater with a diameter of 340 m, consisting of lava gravel (in case you didn't explore it yesterday). Its whitish-yellow sulfur slopes drop about 200 m into the depth of the volcano. Together with the Reusch crater that is encircling Ash Pit, Kilimanjaro has one of the most perfect crater shapes on earth. The amount of snow in the crater will determine the possibility of getting to the Ash Pit.
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a hot welcome shower.
Distance covered: 12.1km / 7.5mi
Approx. time taken: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast & lunch included
Today marks the end of your unforgettable adventure. Enjoy your final moments in Tanzania before our driver transfers you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your journey home.
If you wish to extend your holiday, we can arrange an exciting safari in Tanzania’s national parks or a relaxing beach getaway in Zanzibar to complement your Kilimanjaro experience.
Pricing
| Number of Travelers in Group Discount | Cost Per Traveler in US($) |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $3800 |
| 2-4 People | $3700 |
| 5-7 People | $3600 |
| 8+ People | $3500 |
Cost
The Cost Includes
- Pre & Post Trek accommodation
- Professional mountain guides, cooks and porters
- Transportation to & from the mountain gate
- Park fees, camping fees & rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Double layered Sleeping Mats
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Filtered water throughout the trek
- Portable toilets and toilet tents
- Hot Water For Washing Purposes
- Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro International Airport.
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
The Cost Excludes
- International flights
- Tip to the driver guide and hoteliers
- Insurance fees
- Cost of Visas.
- Bank transfer charges & card payment processing fee.
- Expenses belong to a personal nature e.g. Drinks not included on the meal plans, personal purchases, Laundry etc.
FAQs
Tanzania is very near to the equator. So the sun is always at its acme for most of the day. The sun can be fierce and cause sunburns and sunstroke. Wear a hat, shades, and use SPF sunblock lotion
We aim to keep the size of the public groups to a minimum, as we feel that a group that is much larger than ten trekkers is cumbersome and trekkers lose the sense that they are in a wilderness if there are too many people. That said, if you are a single, private group, then there is no problem accommodating you whatever the size of the group, as, of course, you will be aware before arriving in Tanzania of the number of people you will be trekking with.
Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest freestanding mountain in the world and the highest mountain in Africa. Its highest point is Uhuru Peak on the Kibo crater at 5895m above sea level.
The mountain is in Tanzania, East Africa, about 350km from the equator. The nearest towns are Moshi and Arusha.
Your Kilimanjaro dream climb is entirely your own to design. We will work with you to customize exactly the triumphant Tanzanian mountainous quest experience you want. You go with the people you choose. You leave on whatever day you wish. You decide on your preferred route option, pace, and the number of days you will take
Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, celiac, lactose-free, or if you have any allergies, just give us a heads up and you will be catered to
You will need a passport that is valid at least six months beyond your dates of travel with an entry or re-entry visa, duly endorsed.
Yes, we do arrange this. Please send your request to Safari.
We are. We are not agents for anybody, but run the treks ourselves through our own registered Tanzanian local company.
Your mountain camps are set up and broken down each day by expert camp porters. You’ll stay in double occupancy all-weather tents with full-ground pads to keep you and your gear dry. Private toilet tents, solar-lit dining tents with tables and chairs, and basins of hot water for washing are provided in every camp. Grand Traverse treks include upgraded solar-lit walk-in-height sleeping tents with mountaineering beds and mattresses for additional comfort.
Highly-trained chefs prepare three hot nutritious meals daily, as well as trail snacks and afternoon tea each day. You’ll eat all your meals in a solar-lit dining tent with your fellow trekkers and head guide. Delicious vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other specialty meals can be provided (with advance request). We’re happy to send you a sample menu—just ask!
Prior to the climb, you’ll enjoy an acclimatization day with wildlife viewing and nature walks. Trekking through the rain forest, you’re likely to spot black-and-white Colobus monkeys, tropical birds and more.
On most routes, you’ll trek 4-7 hours most days. On certain routes you’ll trek as many as 10-15 hours on the longest days.
An overnight stop at Crater Camp is an optional extra on any customized Kilimanjaro climb , usually lasting eight actual mountain days or more on the Shira, Lemosho, Umbwe and Machame routes. Possibly the most bizarre place you will ever see, it is visited by less than 5% of the 40,000 to 50,000 people who annually ascent Kilimanjaro on a distinct highlands voyage in northern Tanzania
Your Kilimanjaro dream climb is entirely your own to design. We will work with you to customize exactly the triumphant Tanzanian mountainous quest experience you want. You go with the people you choose. You leave on whatever day you wish. You decide on your preferred route option, pace, and the number of days you will take.
Mount Kilimanjaro can be climbed anytime throughout the year. Most travelers prefer climbing during the dry seasons: December to March, June to October. Many consider the best months to climb Kilimanjaro to be January, February, and September.
