9 Days Nothern Circuit Route
9 Days Nothern Circuit Route
- 9 Days
Overview
The Northern Circuit route is the longest routes on Kilimanjaro, offering nearly both sides of beautiful scenery also is the quieter , rarely visited northern sides. As the longest route on Kilimanjaro, the Northern Circuit also has the most acclimatization time and the highest summit success rate. The Northern Circuit route is highly recommended for older people, kids and people with no mountain experience.
Northern Circuit route gives better chance of acclimatization because its longer and the body getting used to altitude.
The route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Arusha to Lemosho Gate. From there, the first two days are spent trekking through the rainforest to Shira Ridge, before crossing the Shira Plateau. The route heads north and circles clockwise to Kibo peak,before summiting from the east. Descend through Mweka route.
DAY 1- Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) Tanzania.
You should aim to arrive as early as possible the day before the trek. Once you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), you will be met outside customs area by a driver guide and your head mountain guide holding a sign board written clearly your booking name. You will be picked up from the airport and taken on a 50-minute transfer to the hotel in Arusha, you will have a briefing in the evening with our mount guide to prepare you for the journey ahead.
DAY 2 – Lemosho gate to Mti Mkubwa (Big tree Camp).
Elevation: 7,920 ft/2,400 m to 9,498 ft/2,878 m
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 7 km | 4 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
After early breakfast at your hotel transfer to Kilimanjaro entrance gate you will have hot lunch After completing the necessary registration formalities at Lemosho National Park gate we start climbing through the forest up to the Big tree camp, The big tree Camp got its name because it is located under a big trees and it is always lively at this camp with bird singing and sound of monkey from morning till evening, this area receive plenty of rainfall, humidity and winds don’t blow here as the big tree act as windbreakers.
Dinner and overnight at FOREST CAMP (BLD).
DAY 3–Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp.
Elevation: 9,498 ft/2,878 m to 11,500 ft/3,485 m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 8 km | 5 miles
Habitat: Heather or moorland
After breakfast in the chattering forest, we start a slow walk to aid acclimatisation through the forest and into the Hagenia zone, where the vegetation begins to thin out as we approach the Shira Plateau. The Shira one Campsite lies on the heather region of Mount Kilimanjaro, with plenty of rainfall and high winds. We will take a lunch stop at the crest of a ridge, just below the Shira Crater at approximately 3,000m/9,850ft. After lunch, we follow the ridgeline steadily upwards towards the Shira Caldera, a high altitude desert plateau, which is rarely visited. Shira is the third of Kilimanjaro’s volcanic cones, and is filled with lava flow from Kibo Peak. A gentle walk of a few hours to stretch our legs in anticipation of the long climb ahead.
Dinner and overnight at SHIRA 1 CAMP (BLD).
DAY 4 – Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp.
Elevation: 11,500 ft/3,485 m to 12,500 ft/3,789 m
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 10 km | 6 miles
Habitat: Heather
After a spectacular sunrise that reveals the magnitude of the distant snow-capped crater, we slowly climb into the alpine heather zone, approaching the Kibo massif from the west, to our camp. Shira 2 Campsites name that it got because of its nearness to the Shira plateau resemble the name of the previous Camping area before reaching this one, the Shira one campsite. This zone is characterized by high wind, low temperatures, short bushes, a few rocks and moderate rainfall. We will stop for hot lunch and rest before to reach Moir Hut. Today is a shorter walk allowing for further exploration of the lobelias, senecios and other endemic plants on an acclimatising walk.
Dinner and overnight at SHIRA 2 CAMP.
DAY 5 – Shira 2 Camp to Moir Hut.
Elevation: 12,500 ft/3,789 m to 13,580 ft/4,200m
Hiking Time: 7 hours
Distance: 7 km | 4 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast at Shira two We continue trek out of Moir Valley with a moderately steep climb, we path crosses a rock field and gently undulates before reaching Buffalo Camp. This section of the trail offers great views across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border.Then we divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a little used site on the base of Lent Hills. The vegetation in surrounding Moir’s hut is basically an alpine desert region bearing scarcity of the plants or animals Since the area receives very little rainfall Moir’s hut ground is most volcanic ash soil which is extensively rocky. A variety of walks are available on Lent Hills making this an excellent acclimatization opportunity. Shira Plateau is one of the highest plateaus on earth. Lunch will be served at camp then take a starching to lent heal acclimatization.
Dinner and overnight at MOIR HUT.
DAY 6 –Moir Camp to Buffalo Camp.
Elevation: 13,580 ft/4,200 m to 13,200 ft/4,010 m
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 12 km | 7 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast smoothly start descend down to the buffalo camp otherwise known as Pofu camp is located on the lower base of the Kibo volcanic cone, we trek out of Moir Valley with a moderately steep climb, then hike to the summit of Lent Hills before returning to the main trail. The path crosses a rock field and gently undulates before reaching Buffalo Camp. This section of the trail offers great views across the plain down that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan/Tanzanian border and climbers using the rarely chosen Northern circuit Route use buffalo camp, this campsites has very few hikers accessing it for accommodation in comparison with the other famous routes up mount Kilimanjaro, will have lunch in this afternoon in between Moir and Buffalo camp the picnic called Pofu.
Dinner and overnight at BUFALO CAMP.
DAY 7 – Buffalo Camp to Third Cave.
Elevation: 13,200 ft/4,010 m to 12,700 ft/3,848 m
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Distance: 8 km | 5 miles
Habitat: Heather
As we head up Buffalo Ridge, the terrain becomes increasingly sparse. This route is rarely travelled and we will enjoy its mountain wilderness feel. The third cave campsite, which was named due its closeness to an old mountain Kilimanjaro cave that was used for accommodation in the past, is something that has since been banned by the park authority due to safety concern. Located along the boundary of the moorland and alpine desert vegetation zones of Mount Kilimanjaro, third cave lies to the north East of Mount Kilimanjaro, the ground at this zone is filled with rocks and scree while the vegetation is filled with shrub and bushes scattered everywhere. We trek through remote valleys on to the northern slopes of Kilimanjaro until we arrive at Third Cave. Lunch will be served in the afternoon between the camp.
Dinner and Overnight at THIRD CAVE.
DAY 8– Third Cave to School Hut.
Elevation: 12,700 ft/3,848 m to 15,600 ft/4,800 m
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Distance: 5 km | 3 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, morning you begin your hike to school hut camping where you will arrive in for lunch. We climb steadily up and over the “Saddle,” which sits between Kibo and Mawenzi. We continue on to our camp, School Hut camping is actually the last accommodation point and campsites along the northern circuit route or grand traverse route. The school hut campsite falls under Mount Kilimanjaro alpine desert vegetation that bears zero vegetation due to extremely low temperature, high winds and rocky ground that cannot support plant to grow well. Once here we rest, enjoy an early.
Dinner and overnight at SCHOOL HUT.
DAY 9 –School Hut to Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 15,600 ft/4,800 m to 10,000 ft/3,040 m
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Distance: 10 km | 6 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast you will start descending through saddle area crossing in between two highest peak Mawenzi second highest peak and Kibo the youngest and highest peak Kilimanjaro, slowly you will reach to moorland and crossing Horombo valley towards Millenium camp for lunch then after lunch you will proceed to Mweka camp for overnight.
Mweka campsite is located on the base of mount Kilimanjaro’s southern slope amongst the rainforest vegetation zone. Due to the fact that this campsite is very close to the exist gate of Mweka. Just like Mti Mkubwa camp, Mweka camp itself is an area that is evident of ground cleared by tree felling in the middle of a dense forest. The park exist Mweka gate is only a few hours away, approximately 3 hours.
Dinner and overnight at MWEKA CAMP
DAY 10-Mweka Camp to Mweka gate.
Elevation: 10,000 ft/3,040 m to 5,940 ft/1,800 m
Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 8 km
Habitant: Rain forest.
After breakfast then continue to go down to Mweka gate where you sign your name and details in a register. Meet by a driver guide then you will have lunch at Mweka village, after lunch drive back to your hotel in Arusha. It is a welcome treat to sleep in a bed, take a hot shower and celebrate.
DAY 11- Depart.
Departure transfer to Kilimanjaro airport. End of Kilimanjaro climb services:
Kilimanjaro Package includes:
- Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) to Arusha on a private vehicle
- Transfers to/from the mountain trail heads
- Kilimanjaro Park entrance fees, camping fees, rescue fees
- Services of trained professional English-speaking Mountain guides, cooks and porters.
- All food for the duration of the climb, top quality food specially considered for maximum nutrition needs.
- Complimentary fruits and juice while hiking
- Portage of 1 bag (maximum 15 kgs) per person
- Safety equipment e.g. Oxygen cylinder or Gamow Bag
- Oximeter for checking blood levels of clients daily
- Camping equipment including mountain Hardware tents, mess tent, chairs etc.
- Services of hot water bottle while sleeping for comfort
- Portable flashing toilet
- Solar light in every accommodation tent
- CPR Machine when needed on complimentary basis (let us know in advance because we have only one).
- Public Liability Insurance Cover Note
Kilimanjaro Package does not include:
- Tips to the guides, cook and porters
- Bottled Mineral water
- Visas
- Laundry
- Telephone calls
- Day rooms on the last day after the climb
- Other items of personal nature
- All other expenses resulting from early descend before the completion of the climb such as extra nights in Arusha etc.
GALLERY / PHOTOS
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