Learn about the 9-day Kilimanjaro climbing tour via the Northern Circuit Route. Explore the itinerary, including detailed information about each day's trek, accommodations, and breathtaking views.
9 days Kilimanjaro climbing tour Northern circuit route is not popular with many climbers which makes it not to be a crowded route and makes its environment more untouched.
Kilimanjaro climbing via the northern circuit offers many numbers of acclimatization days hence the high chance of success rate.
9 days Kilimanjaro hiking via northern circuit route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west
Explore the experience of summiting Kilimanjaro via the Northern Circuit Route. Learn about the challenges of the trek, the preparation required, and the stunning views awaiting at the top. This 9-day itinerary is perfect for those seeking an adventure of a lifetime.
This is your first climbing day where you will have a long drive and a short hike, the day will start with your pick-up from the hotel and take a drive from Moshi town to Londorossi gate, You will be with your mountain guide and the porters, but upon reaching the gate the porters will take their leave before you and then you after the formalities at the gate you will start your hike with your guide.
It will be a hike of 6 kilometers with a time range of 2 to 3 hours on reaching Mti Mkubwa where you will be having your camping and dinner. On this climbing day expect to see some wild animals as you will be walking via a dense misty rainforest hence expect to see animals like the black and white colobus Monkeys
Time and distance: 2 to 3hrs hiking a distance of 6km
Elevation: 2895 m/9500 feet
The day will start with leaving your camp at Mti Mkubwa and Taking a hike of 8 kilometers walking for 5 to 6hrs, it looks like a short walk and from here you will start to see the great view of the valleys and the snow-cape of the Kibo cone. Your hike will be through the moorland and the valleys.
On this day you will have your lunch at Shira camp where you will find the tents are ready-made by your porters. Though the walking seems to be short but kind of long due to the steepness of the trail with some ridges
Time and distance: 4 to 5hrs hiking a distance of 8km
Elevation: 3480 m/11420ft
A day will be for a hike of 8 kilometers for approximately 6 to 8 hours, where you will be having a moderate walk across the Shira plateau through the Shira cathedral to Shira camp 2.
The hike will give you an awe-view of the valleys the scenery of the mountain and the Shira Cathedral. You will find your tents and meals ready for your stay and fun from your porters and rest before your next day's adventure.
Time and distance: 6 to 8hrs hiking a distance of 8km
Elevation: 3850 m/12630ft
The day will be a hike of 5 to 7hrs a distance of 14 kilometers walking through the ridges and the Shira plateau which is the highest plateau in the World. It will be a steep walk to the volcanic plug of the lava tower formed during the volcanic eruption of the Kilimanjaro.
At the Shira hut is a Junction between the Machame route and the Shira route where you will take a divert trail from the main trail to Moir Hut where you will be having your camping, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. Here you will have different walks making proper acclimatization.
Time and distance:5 to 7hrs hiking a distance of 14km
Elevation:3850m/11,500ft to 4200m/13,780ft
The day will begin with a moderately steep trek out of the Moir Valley you will hike up to the Lent hills and then descend and continue the climb via the main trail. The hike will be through the hills and you will be in the alpine zone cross rock field and gently undulate before reaching Buffalo Camp.
The walk offers you an awe of the Kenya and Tanzania scenery. The hike on this day will be 5 to 7hrs a distance of 12 kilometers reaching the buffalo camp for your stay and rest for the next.
Time and distance:5 to 7hrs hiking a distance of 12km
Elevation:4200m/13,780ft to 4020m/13,188ft
The sixth climbing day will be a hike for 5 to 7 hours over a distance of 8 Kilometer, the distance is kind of short but a long time because the day is a bit difficult and you will climbing up the buffalo ridges and the terrain becomes increasingly sparse and being the untouched route and less crowded, you will feel and enjoy the Mountain wilderness.
From here you will hike through the remote valleys on the northern slope of Kilimanjaro Mountain, and the hike will take you up to the third cave where you will have a camping stay and overnight. Here also continue to see the scenery of Tanzania and Kenya and an awe-view of the plain.
Time and distance: 5 to 7hrs hiking a distance of 8km
Elevation: 4020m/13,188ft to 3800m/15,350ft
The seventh day is the energy collection day as its next day is the summit day where your adventure dream will be fulfilled. You will be hiking for a distance of 5 Kilometers, but due to the nature of the route it will take you 5 to 7hrs reaching the school hut.
On this day you will have a steady hike over the “Saddle,” lying between the two mountain peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi where being here you will enjoy an amazing view of the Kibo peak and that of Mawenzi.
Then the hike will head up to the school hut where you will be camping before your summit day, where you will have an early dinner having a short rest and the summit climb starts in the middle of the night.
Time and distance:5 to 7hrs hiking a distance of 5km
Elevation:3800m/15,350ft to 4800m/15,748ft
This is the lifetime memory day of reaching the highest point of Africa, “the roof of Africa” of Kilimanjaro Mountain. The day will begin at midnight when you will be leaving your tents and the porters as you will be accompanied by the guides and summit porter heading to the summit point.
Heading up there, is a physically and mentally challenging hike with extreme cold and elevation. As you will start the hike at nearly midnight, you will have a dark hike as you will need your head-lump than ever, you will hike up to Gilman’s Point where you will be amazed at a stunning sunrise from the Mawenzi cone
Then you will have a short walk and finally, you will be there “CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST PEAK IN AFRICA, THE UHURU PEAK OK Kilimanjaro MOUNTAIN” Due to the weather you will not last long here you will take some photos at the signpost of the Uhuru point and starts your descend through the Mweka route, where you will have a stop at the Barafu camp for your Lunch and trek down up to the Mweka camp for your overnight stay and dinner.
On descending it is a very rocky trail and can be quite hard on the knees, trekking poles are helpful.
Time and distance: hiking of 6 to 8hrs ascending and 5 to 6hrs descending a distance of 5km up and 13km down respectively.
Elevation: 15,600ft to 19,341ft up and 19,341ft to 10,065 down
Finally you will be on the last day of your lifetime memory adventure, you will have your breakfast at your camp and start your trek down up to Mweka gate, and you will be walking through a wet and muddy forestry trail that requires your walking poles.
At the gate you will meet our driver waiting for you where you will be picked up and drive back to Moshi town for your next schedule.
Time and distance: hiking of 3 to 4hrs a distance of 10km
Elevation: 10,150ft to 5500ft