Take the spectacular Northern Circuit for a more remote route up Kilimanjaro
This guided tour of the Northern Circuit route will find you at the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and back to Moshi in 8 days. Taking a longer and less travelled route means you’ll get to experience the true wilderness of the mountain while you become acclimatized to the altitude.
Your guides, porters and cooks will help look after everything for you except the actual walking. You’ll have expert knowledge and delicious healthy meals to help fuel your trek. You’ll be camping in spectacular designated sites where you can meet other trekkers from around the world. This trail will lead you through varied landscapes, across dramatic ridges and through volcanic peaks. Your tour will also begin and end with convenient transportation to and from the mountain.
Highlights of the 8-day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route
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8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route Itinerary
Day 0 Arrive early to attend your pre-trek briefing
If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, you will be picked from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today you will spend time having a pre-trek briefing. The team will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed. Please note that the accommodation or airport transfers for this day are not included but can be booked as a supplement.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 1 Londorossi Gate and trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp
You have a fair bit of driving today before you can hit the trail. A vehicle will pick you up at your hotel in Moshi and drive you the three hours to Londorossi Park Gate. Here you’ll switch to a 4WD vehicle that can navigate the forest track to the Lemosho Glades, where you’re hike finally begins. You’ll be trekking through the rainforest trails all the way to Mti Mkubwa, or “big tree” campsite.
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (2,780m / 9,120’)
Distance: 2 to 3 hours, 6 km, 820m of elevation gain
Meals: Lunch, dinner
Day 2 Trek the dramatic Shira Ridge to Shira Camp
The trail today will get steeper and the trees will become sparser as you leave the forest behind. Today will be a gorgeous day as you’ll experience the dramatic views from the Shira Ridge. You’ll have to cross a few streams as well before you arrive at camp.
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (3,600m / 11,811’)
Distance: 4 to 5 hours, 8 km, 850m of elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 3 Hike across the plateau and into the alpine desert
Your journey this morning begins with a beautiful trek through the moorland heather and across the plateau. You’ll pass by Shira Camp 2 before heading east and joining the Northern Circuit trail. Before arriving at Moir Camp you’ll pass through the “Garden of the Senecios” and then transition to the high alpine desert.
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (4,200m / 13,790’)
Distance: 6 to 8 hours, 14 km, 700m of elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 Little Lent Hill and Kibo peak
Today you won’t be gaining altitude overall, but the track will have steeper uphill and downhill sections, especially as you climb out of the valley and circle the north slopes of Kibo. You’ll also have the choice today to hike to the top of Little Lent Hill before you resume your trek to Buffalo Camp
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (4,020m / 13,180’)
Distance: 5 to 6 hours, 12 km, 180m of elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 5 Buffalo Ridge and northern slopes
Your climb up Buffalo Ridge should help you build your appetite in time for lunch at Porfu Camp. From there, you’ll be continuing to circle the remote northern slopes until you reach the Rongai Third Cave Camp. Tonight will be your third night sleeping near 4000m, so you should be getting adjusted to the elevation.
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (3,875m / 12,713)
Distance: 5 to 7 hours, 8 km, 220m of elevation loss
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 6 Hike the saddle between Kibo and Mawenzi
The trail today will be getting increasingly steeper as you hike up between the two other volcanic cones known as the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. You’ll be arriving at the School Hut campsite in the afternoon, and we recommend you go to bed early as your wake-up call is midnight and tomorrow is a big day!
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (4,800m / 15,748’)
Distance: 4 to 5 hours, 15 km, 1000m of elevation gain
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 7 Summit Uhuru peak and begin descent
You’ll be leaving the warmth of your sleeping bag around midnight this morning to begin your attempt at the summit. You’ll have to be careful in the dark as you begin the steep track up Kibo. After your first break at Hans Meyer Cave, the path will become even more challenging up to Gilman’s Point. As the sky starts to lighten, you’ll be inspired for the climb ahead by the stunning sight of Mawenzi Peak. You’ll follow the crater rim up the last snowy stretch to the top around sunrise.
Enjoy your moments at the top of Uhuru Peak, as the air is so thin that you won’t be able to stay long before you begin your descent. The victory of reaching Africa’s highest point will hopefully refill your energy tanks, as you still have a long hike down to Millennium Camp.
Overnight Location: Camping on Mount Kilimanjaro (3,950m / 12,960’)
Distance: 10 to 15 hours, 17 km, 1095m of ascent, 1945m of descent
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8 Last day on the mountain and return to Moshi
You’ll appreciate the warming temperature as you descend from the rocky slopes back into the rainforest. After yesterday’s gruelling day you’ll have a much shorter hike down the mountain to Mweka Park Gate where you’ll receive your summit certificate. A driver will be waiting for you at the gate to take you back to Moshi.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: 3 to 4 hours, 10 km, 2270m of descent
Meals: Breakfast
9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route Price and Dates
Pricing for this guided hiking tour of Mount Kilimanjaro depends on whether you choose to join an existing group on a specific date or if you prefer a custom tour for your group only.
Prices below are per person:
- Guided group of 4: from $2,325 USD per person*
*-Please note that the price depends on the size of your group. Please contact us to get the exact quote.
Book NowAccommodation on the 8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route
All the included accommodations on this tour are based on camping at communal sites with double occupancy tents. The tents are good quality, all-weather tents with an included sleeping pad. Each site will have rustic covered vault toilets but no running water. Your porters will provide covered mess tents with tables and chairs for dining.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private tent (please enquire for more information).
Hotels on Standard Tour
Mti Mkubwa Camp
Nestled in the trees of the forest, “Big Tree” camp will be your first home on the mountain. After only a day on the trail, you're already at 2780m!
Shira Camp
After cresting the dramatic Shira Ridge, you'll see why people rave about the views from the plateau. This is where you'll find Shira Camp.
Moir Camp
Tonight will be quiet as Moir camp is a lesser-used site. It's a great spot to relax and get acclimated to the elevation.
Buffalo Camp
No other route currently uses Buffalo Camp, so tonight it could be just your group and the wilderness on this side of the mountain!
Rongai Third Cave Camp
Another less-visited remote camp, this provides a peaceful place to rest.
School Hut Camp
Set at the base of Kibo, you won't see much of this site as you'll want to go to sleep as early as possible in preparation for your midnight trek.
Millennium Camp ★
Your final campsite on the mountain. At a much more comfortable lower altitude, you'll see the trees are starting to appear again.
What’s Included in the 8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route?
Meals
7 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 7 dinners, and purified drinking water are included.
Accommodations
Double occupancy tent accommodations for 7 nights are included.
Transportation during the Tour
This tour includes the transfers between Moshi and the trailhead before and after the tour. Airport transfers can be booked as a supplement.
Also Included
- Experienced mountain guides
- Porter and cook salaries
- Park fees
- Quality four-season tents (based on twin share)
- Sleeping mattress
- Emergency oxygen cylinder
- Mess tents with table and chairs
- Conservation, camping and rescue fees
- VAT (18% charged by the government)
Not included
- Visa if required
- Flights to and from Tanzania
- Personal equipment such as sleeping bag, trekking poles, etc. (rental options are available)
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Alcoholic beverages
Not included
- Extra night in Moshi or Arusha before or after the tour
- Private toilet rental added to your gear
- Additional equipment rentals (available locally)
- Add-on bundles are available
- Airport transfers
Frequently Asked Questions about 8-day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route
Monkey Adventures is an East African (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) operator offering Safari Tours, Kilimanjaro climbs, and Gorilla tracking (Uganda). They have offices in Kenya, Tanzania & Uganda. The company offers Kilimanjaro climbs over different routes with a duration of 5 days to 9 days and all their departures are guaranteed. You can opt for a group joining trek (depending on if there is a group on that day) or a private trek just for your group.
Monkey Adventures is proud to share that the Tanzania National Parks Authority, Government of Tanzania recently presented them with the "Best Tour Operator" award for 2018/2019 and the company has also been recognized as the Travellers' Choice Winner - 2020 by Tripadvisor. In the past, Monkey Adventures have also won the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for 2018 and 2019.
Monkey Adventures guides hold certifications such as Kilimanjaro Guide Licence, Wilderness First Aid Responder, Tourism College Certificates, Kilimanjaro search and rescue, High altitude Medicine Skills Acquisition Program for Mountain Guide, and more.
Learn More8-day Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route Map
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