8 Days Kilimanjaro Remote Northern Circuit Route

Overview

Climbing the highest mountain in Africa on the Northern Circuit route is a draw card for any avid trekker, but especially with a full moon summit! Mt Kilimanjaro (5895m), fondly known as Kili, being a free-standing mountain commands panoramic views of the surrounding plains. Having nine days to acclimatise and encountering limited numbers of fellow trekkers, this route is truly remote and one for the trekking enthusiast. Commencing from the western side, catch a glimpse of Mt Meru floating on the clouds from the Shira Plateau before traversing the less visited northern flanks to enjoy fabulous vistas across vast Kenyan lowlands. Then, approaching the summit from the east in the light of the full moon, experience the tremendous feeling of space generated before standing on the top of Africa. Finally, a descent to the south completes an almost-circumnavigation of the mountain. This less-visited northern route provides opportunity for a truly remarkable adventure to the top of Kilimanjaro.

Duration 9 Days 8 Night
Tour Type Hiking
Group Size No size Limit
Guides Languages English
Package Includes Private Transportation to and from your selected Route
Airport pick up
Quality, Waterproof, four-season private mountain sleeping tent for camp route
Certified, experienced, English speaking mountain guides
All Kilimanjaro National Park Fees
Government Climbing Taxes
Climbing permits
All hot Meals prepared by our cook while on Mountain
Guides, Porters and Cook Salaries
Fair and ethical treatment of Porters
Enough porters to carry your luggage
Personal Summit Certificate signed by the National Park and your Guide
Excluded Personal items and toiletries
Accommodation before & After trek
Hotel (available as an optional addon)
Transfers (available as an optional addon)
Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
Tips for guides, porters and cook
International airfares and departure taxes
All items of person nature such as telephone call, fax, email etc
Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
Visa and International flight tickets fees.


Itinerary

  • Elevation: 2,100/6,890ft at Lemosho gate to 2,650m/8,694ft at Mti Mkubwa camp
  • Walking distance: 7km/4.35 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: montane forest
After completing the necessary registration formalities, we drive through varied farmland with open views over the plains to reach the Lemosho Gate roadhead. The last section of the road is of poor quality and difficult to drive after rain, sometimes we start walking a kilometre or two below the roadhead. We often have our lunch at the roadhead before starting to walk. It is an easy day of walking up a small path through beautiful and lush forest. We camp at Lemosho Big Tree Camp (2,650 m); [2-3 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 2,650m/8,694ft at Mti Mkubwa camp to 3,610m/11,844ft at Shira 1 camp
  • Walking distance: 7km/4.35 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: montane forest and moorland
We soon leave the forest behind and enter the moorland zone of giant heather. The trail climbs steadily with wide views to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. There is a tangible sense of wilderness, especially if afternoon mists come in! We camp in the centre of the plateau at “Shira One” (3,550 m). [6-7 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 3,850m/12,631ft at Shira 2 camp to 4,600m/15,092ft at Lava Tower to 4,200m/13,780ft at Moir camp
  • Walking distance: 14km/8.7 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 5-7 hours
  • Habitat: Moorland to high alpine
We walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut (3,840 m). This campsite has stunning views, close to the glaciated dome of Kibo and the jagged rim of Shira Plateau. The views from here of Mt. Meru floating on the clouds are simply unforgettable. [5-7 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 4,200m/13,780ft at Moir huts camp to 4,020m/13,189ft at Buffalo camp
  • Walking distance: 12km/7.5 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 5-7 hours
  • Habitat: High alpine
In the morning we follow the main trail up to Lava Tower, and for those feeling strong there is a possibility to climb up to the ruined hut at Arrow Glacier around 4,800m. We then continue from Lava Tower to reach our campsite at Moir Hut (4,200m). [5-7 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 4,020m/13,189ft at Buffalo camp to 3,800m/12,467ft at Third Cave camp
  • Walking distance: 8km/5 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 5-7 hours
  • Habitat: High alpine to moorland
We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Little Lent hill at 4,375 metres. After admiring the views we return to the trail and head eastwards around the northern circuit trail. Here the trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as they are walked on. The final section of today's walk undulates until reaching the location of Buffalo Camp (4,150m). At the camp there is a huge feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north. [4-7 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 3,800m/12,467ft at Third Cave camp to 4,800m/15,748ft at School Hut
  • Walking distance: 10km/6.2 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 5-6 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine desert
From Buffalo Camp we climb up to the top of 'Buffalo Ridge' and drop down the other side to reach Pofu, nearby the is a small spring and some vegetation. The trail continues eastwards through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp (3,900m). [5-7 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 3,800m/12,467ft at Third Cave camp to 4,800m/15,748ft at School Hut
  • Walking distance: 10km/6.2 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 5-6 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine desert
There is a steady ascent to reach The Saddle, a lunar landscape between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. From here we continue upwards and reach School Hut Campsite (4,700m) in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the summit day. [4-5 hours walking]

  • Elevation: 4,800m/15,748ft at School Hut to 5,895m/19,340ft at Uhuru, down to 3,100m/10,170ft at Mweka camp
  • Walking distance: 6km/3.7 miles up to summit; 12km/7.5 miles down to Mweka cam
  • Estimate walking time: 6-8 hours up to summit; 4-6 hours down to Mweka camp
  • Habitat: High alpine to arctic
We will start our ascent by torchlight at about midnight so that we can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. On selected Non-Exclusive departure dates each month, the climb will be particularly beautiful as we ascend in the light of the Full Moon. The steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Gilmans Point (5,685 m) in about five or six hours. We will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. The trail leads west along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. We retrace our steps along the crater rim to Stella Point and then descends down through Barafu Camp to reach Millenium Camp (3,800 m). [11-15 hours walking]

  • Walking distance: 10km/6.2 miles
  • Estimate walking time: 3-4 hours
A sustained descent on a well constructed path through lovely tropical forest alive with birdsong and boasting lush undergrowth with considerable botanical interest. Our route winds down to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m). Here we sign out from the national park before walking on for a further 15 minutes through coffee and banana farms to Mweka village where our vehicle awaits. The shower, the beer, and the swimming pool are tantalizingly close!

9 Days Remote Northern Circuit Route Price

Solo = $2,498 USD
Group of 2 = $2,430 USD
Group of 3 = $2,370 USD
Group of 4+ = $2,330 USD
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