Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route

Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route cost: £2595.00

INCLUDES

• Full ground price for the Northern Circuit Route
• Accommodation in Moshi for 3 nights in the Keys Annexe Hotel (twin, B&B)
• Jeep or coach transport to the mountain gate from and to Moshi
• Park fees, camping fees and park rescue fees plus all forest transit fees
• Park certified guides (ratio of 1:2 or 1:3 depending on number of climbers) and company reps
• Porters and cooks, plus equipment and tents for them
• All camping equipment including sleeping tents with mattresses
• Expedition administrator, translator and Manager
• Meals on the mountain - fresh food, 3 meals per day

EXCLUDES

• International airfare to Kilimanjaro Airport
• Airport transfers (£40 / $50 per vehicle one way) must be requested in advance through the office - pay in advance or cash in-country
• Tanzanian Visa - $50 for most passports & $100 for USA citizens, purchased on arrival
• Vaccinations and malaria tablets
• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance est £40
• Tips ~ $150 for a 7 day climb, $180 for an 8 day climb, or $200 for a 9 day climb per visiting climber, paid in local currency for distribution at exit gate / hotel post climb
• Lunch and dinners in Moshi

Notes on the pricing of this trip

• We do not operate kitties so the trip cost includes all main costs except personal expenses.
• We use a very good hotel in town with which we have built up a strong relationship for the past twenty years.
• Your money is protected by our financial bonding and we are a secure and well established company.
• We run scheduled dates and groups which normally number between two and ten. Private dates are at no extra cost but there is a supplement for single travellers.
• We advise you to take out your insurance as soon as possible to cover potential events that might cause you to cancel your trip. You need to ensure that you have a policy which covers trekking to 5895m, helicopter rescue and cancellation, but it does not need to cover technical climbing.
• The local Provider for this trip is Adventure Alternative Tanzania which is licensed under the Adventure Alternative trademark and provides excellent rates of pay, high quality equipment and training for the staff.

You can read more on these links about our company values and attitudes towards sustainable tourism, and read about our Kilimanjaro staff who have been working for Adventure Alternative for many years now. Gavin Bate has been guiding and running trips to the mountain since 1991 and is one of the most established companies based in Moshi now. Our destination management company Adventure Alternative Tanzania has been run by Castro Kapela for nearly twenty years now.

Northern Circuit Route itinerary

Day 1: Arrive into Kilimanjaro airport. Transfer to Moshi hotel. Afternoon / evening free

Day 2: Rest and relax by the pool, visit Moshi town / market. Meet guides, chef and mountain briefing / kit check

Day 3: Moshi (900m) to Londorossi Gate (2385m) to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree Camp 2780m).
Trek: 6 km, 3-4 hours
We leave the Hotel and drive to the Londorossi Gate (2385m), which can take 3.5 hrs but if there’s been a lot of rain the last section is on foot due to poor roads. We then meet the team of porters, guides and head upwards through the pristine forest to Mti Mkubwa Camp at 2780m

Day 4: Mti Mkubwa (2780m) to Shira 1 Camp (3500m)
Trek: 8 km, 5-6 hours
We make our way further through the forest then out on to open heathland which is a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock. The land in undulates gently and after crossing several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge and descend gently to Shira 1 Camp at 3500m.

Day 5: Shira 1 Camp (3500m) to Shira 2 Camp (3840m)
Trek: 7 km, 3-4 hours
This is a relatively short day from Shira 1 to Shira 2 but an important day in terms of rest and acclimatisation. We’ll explore the vast Shira Plateau as we enjoy the gentle walk across the heathland meadows of wildflowers and Senecio trees whilst looking up at the mass of Kibo seemingly only a stone’s throw away and the clouds which will be below u

Day 6: Shira 2 Camp (3840m) to Lava Tower (4600m) to Moir Hut (4200m)
Trek: 14 km, 6 - 7 hrs
This is an important day in terms of acclimatisation as we continue across the Shira plateau to the Lava Tower, which is a 100m volcanic rock skyscraper of a formation and our high point at 4600m not just for the day but also up until our summit attempt. We then divert from the main trail and drop in altitude to Moir Hut at 4200 which is a seldom used camp at the base of the Lent Hills.

Day 7: Moir Hut (4200m) to Buffalo Camp (4000m)
Trek: 12 km, 5-6 hou
We trek out of camp and the Moir Valley starting with a bit of a steep climb and then we have a detour option to the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4700m, which is great for acclimatisation before returning to the main circuit trail. The path crosses a rock field and undulates up and down before reaching Buffalo Camp at 4000m. The views this day are simply stunning across the plains to the north of Kilimanjaro to the border and Kenya’s famous Amboseli national park.

Day 8: Buffalo Camp (4000m) to Rongai Third Cave (3800m)
Trek: 8 km, 6-7 hours
We leave camp and head up the Buffalo Ridge in the morning and usually have some lunch at Porfu Camp before we start our trek around the northern slopes heading towards the eastern side of the mountain. The terrain becomes increasingly sparse and dry with little shrubs. This route is rarely travelled and feels remote, wild and free as we then reach our camp at what’s known as Rongai’s Third Cave at 3800m.

Day 9: Third Cave (3800m) to School Hut (4800m)
Trek: 6 km, 4-5 hours
We climb steadily up and over the Saddle, which sits between Kilimanjaro’s two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi through an environment akin to the moon or a high-altitude desert. We then continue to our high camp at School Hut. We then have plenty of time to rest in the afternoon and to prepare for early start and summit day.

Day 10: School Hut (4800m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) to Millennium Camp (3850m)
Trek up: 6 km, 6-8 hours
Trek down: 10 km, 4-6 hours
Around midnight, we begin our push to the summit. This is a night-time ascent on rock, scree and occasionally snow to the crater rim and beyond to the summit. We wake about 11.30pm and have tea, biscuits and some snacks before starting our trek up to the summit. It’s not a steep climb from beginning to end but undulates and changes throughout. We stop for rests along the way and the pace is slow. The final slope to the crater rim is steep and has loose scree and you can expect cold temperatures and wind chill throughout, however as you approach the crater rim you will start to see the sun rising over the African plains thousands of feet below. The rising sun brings warmth and delivers scenery that will remain with you forever more. The heat and light also brings motivation and encourages you to make the final 45-minute climb up from the crater rim to the summit of Kilimanjaro. 

After some time on the summit we then descend to Barafu for a rest and early lunch and then walk down along a gentle path to Millennium Camp, dropping out of altitude, normally arriving mid-afternoon.

Day 11: Millenium Camp (3850m) to Mweka Gate (1640m) to Moshi Hotel (900m)
Trek: 10 km, 4 hours
Descending through the lush forest to Mweka Gate where we sign out of the national park and pick up our summit certificate. This is a walk surrounded by monkeys, lush ancient forests and can be slippy underfoot especially with tired legs! After a rest at the gate we’ll say thank you and farewell to our team of porters before transport back to the Moshi hotel, arriving back mid-afternoon for a hot shower, cold drink and an overnight in the hotel.

Day 12: Today you can either fly home / onward travel, or we can organise for you to experience the wild side of East Africa on a four day, three-night safari to Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater and Lake Manyara.