Day 1: Arrive in 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 2: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Campsite

The Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, the same start 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 occurs at the gate and then 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 MtiMkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) begins. You may get lucky and spot large wildlife like elephant and buffalo that sometimes emerge from the rainforest onto the path as you trek towards your first camp. Dinner will be served when you reach MtiMkubwa Camp.

• Elevation 2100meters to 2800meters
• Distance: 6 km
• Hiking Time:3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Days 3: Mti Mkubwa Campsite to Shira Campsite 1

Today you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone which follows up onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual, ending at Shira Camp 1 (3,610 meters).

• Elevation 2800meters to 3500meters
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 4: Shira Campsite 1 to Shira Campsite 2

Our route continues toward Shira 2 campsite after breakfast. We will use this day to explore the Shira plateau, a great exercise to help your acclimatization, as we take easy walk facing Kibo from the east across the plateau, toward Shira 2 campsite. Hot lunch will be served once we reach the camp. You will have another acclimatization walk later in the afternoon to prepare you for the summit attempt.

• Elevation 3500meters to 3900meters
• Distance: 7 km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Moorland

Day 5: Shira Campsite 2 to Moir Campsite

Today is a long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters 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 get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatisation process.

• Elevation 3900meters to 4200meters
• Distance: 14 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 6: Moir Campsite to Buffalo Campsite

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 gives great vistas out across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day hiking.

• Elevation 4200meters to 4020meters
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 7: Buffalo Campsite to Rongai Third Cave

The day starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Porfu 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 acclimatised to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.

• Elevation 4020meters to 3800meters
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 8: 3rd Cave to School Hut Campsite

The hike today involves a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking south-west 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 shut-eye as you will be awoken before midnight to start your summit attempt. Remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, headlamp and camera before going to bed.

• Elevation 3800 meters to 4800meters
• Distance: 15 km
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine desert

Day 9: School Hut to Uhuru Peak and then onto Millennium Campsite

You will be awoken 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 check-point 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 incredible view out and across to Mawenzi Peak, but remember you still have 2 hours 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 get 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 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.

• Elevation 4800meters to 5895 meters to 3950 meters
• Distance: 6km ascent and 10.5 km descent
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours ascent and 4-5 hours descent
• Habitat: Arctic to Alpine desert

Day 10: Millennium Campsite to Mweka Gate

• Trekking time: 3-4 hours
• Zone: Rainforest zone
• Meals: Breakfast & Lunch 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 you with 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 give your guide and porter tips before being driven back to your hotel in Moshi.

• Elevation 3850meters to 1800meters
• Distance: 10km
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain forest