Northern Circuit Route (9 Days) – The Longest and Most Scenic

The day begins with a drive from Moshi or Arusha to Londorossi Gate for registration and entry into Kilimanjaro National Park. After completing the formalities, you start your trek through the dense rainforest, which is home to various wildlife, including monkeys and exotic birds. The hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820m) takes around 3-4 hours, where you’ll camp for the night surrounded by the towering trees of the forest.  

On this day, you leave the rainforest behind and enter the moorland zone. The trail gradually ascends as you make your way towards Shira 1 Camp (3,610m). Along the way, you will cross the Shira Ridge, offering expansive views of the Shira Plateau. The day’s trek takes around 5-6 hours, and by evening, you’ll be camping on one of Kilimanjaro’s ancient lava flows.  

The third day continues across the Shira Plateau, where the landscape changes to an open, high-altitude desert. It’s a relatively short hike to Moir Hut (4,200m), which will take around 3-4 hours. Moir Hut is located at the base of the Lent Group, a series of volcanic cones that rise out of the plateau. You’ll have the option for a short acclimatization hike in the afternoon.  

Today’s trek takes you further around the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro to Buffalo Camp (4,020m). The trail is quiet, as this route is less frequented by climbers, providing a more remote and peaceful experience. The 5-7 hour trek offers excellent views of the Kenyan plains stretching out to the north, and you’ll spend the night at Buffalo Camp.  

The fifth day involves another relatively easy trek across the northern slopes to Third Cave Camp (3,870m). The hike takes about 4-5 hours, and by now, you are well acclimatized to the altitude. The views continue to be expansive, and you’ll camp at the base of the eastern face of Kibo, Kilimanjaro’s main peak.  

On this day, you will hike for about 4-5 hours through a stark alpine desert landscape to reach School Hut (4,800m). School Hut is the base camp for the final summit push, and you’ll spend the afternoon resting and preparing for the demanding summit attempt ahead.  

The summit attempt begins at midnight, with a strenuous 6-8 hour ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. After celebrating your achievement at the summit, you will descend to Millennium Camp (3,800m), passing Stella Point and the crater rim. This is a long and challenging day, with a total of 16-18 hours of hiking.  

After the exhausting summit day, you will descend through the moorland and into the rainforest on your way to Mweka Camp (3,100m). The descent is around 4-5 hours, and you’ll spend your final night on the mountain surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest.  

On the final day, you’ll complete your descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640m), which takes around 3-4 hours. At the gate, you’ll receive your Kilimanjaro climbing certificate, before driving back to Moshi or Arusha to rest and celebrate your success.