9 Days Mt Kilimanjaro Climbing via Northern Circuit Route

Your adventure starts as you finish the required paperwork at the Londorossi gate and then head to the Lemosho trailhead. Enjoy a tasty lunch before you begin your climb through lush, untouched forests, where you might even see Colobus monkeys. The trail goes up and down, sometimes getting steep, leading you to the first camp, Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa), after climbing for 2-3 hours.

Destination: Londorossi Gate To Lemosho Gate To Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Camp

Accommodation: Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Leave the forest behind and climb through an area with tall heather plants and volcanic rocks. This day involves a whole day of going uphill across the green rolling hills under the Shira Plateau. Shira is one of Kilimanjaro's volcanic hills. Once you reach the edge of the plateau, you'll get amazing views of Kibo, the top part. It takes 5-6 hours of climbing to get to Shira 1 Camp.

Destination: Big Tree (Mti Mkubwa) Camp To Shira 1 Camp

Accommodation: Shira 1 Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Cross the wide Shira Plateau and optionally go up Shira Cathedral (3,880m), one of the tallest flat areas on Earth. The day ends with a slow climb to Shira 2 Camp. The climb takes around 3 hours without the extra trip, plus an added hour for a climb to Shira Cathedral to help you acclimate.

Destination: Shira 1 Camp To Shira 2 Camp

Accommodation: Shira 2 Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Today's climb takes you up and over the long ridge lines of the high desert to Lava Tower. It takes about 4-5 hours to climb to the bottom of the tower, which is a 300-foot-tall volcanic rock. From there, go northwest and start walking around Kibo, the beautiful summit part. Moir Huts is a camp that's not often used, and it offers views over the Shira Plateau. You'll be climbing for a total of about 6-7 hours. Or, if you like, you can explore the Lent Group nearby in the afternoon.

Destination: Shira 1 Camp To Moir Hut Camp

Accommodation: Moir Hut Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Go further into the bare alpine desert today. Optionally, take a short side trip to the top of Little Lent Hill (4,375m) for amazing views before continuing to Buffalo Camp. The whole climb takes around 5-7 hours and covers a distance of 12km.

Destination: Moir Hut Camp To Buffalo Camp

Accommodation: Buffalo Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Keep moving ahead, crossing valleys and climbing ridges, through the alpine desert and moorland, as you keep going around to the east. This route is not used as much, so you can enjoy the huge mountain wilderness in peace. It takes about 5-7 hours of climbing today.

Destination: Buffalo Camp To Pofu Camp

Accommodation: Third Cave Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Climb steadily to get to the saddle, a space that looks like the moon, between the tops of Kibo and Mawenzi. Then, keep going up to reach School Hut Campsite early in the afternoon. Rest and prepare for your final climb to the summit, which you'll start in the early hours of the next morning. It takes about 4-5 hours of climbing because of the high altitude and steep paths.

Destination: Third Cave Camp To School Hut Camp

Accommodation: School Hut Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Start the last climb to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, around midnight. The next six hours will be spent climbing using your flashlight for light. The hardest part is going up to the edge of the crater, with steep turns and a rocky area called Jamaica Rocks. Celebrate when you reach the top, then come down to Mweka Camp via Barafu Camp. It takes about 6 hours to come down, and you'll be on new paths.

Destination: School Hut Camp To Uhuru peak To Mweka camp

Accommodation: Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Go down to the gate through the green forest, which takes 2-3 hours, and keep an eye out for monkeys as you walk. From Mweka Village, you'll be taken to your hotel in Moshi, where you can celebrate your amazing achievement of making it to the top of Kilimanjaro.