The Northern Circuit is a good nine day hike for those who have not trekked much at high altitudes, with an effective extra day’s acclimatisation, giving a better success rate.
Experienced trekkers may opt for the more difficult 8 day ascent along the Northern Circuit.
After reaching the summit, you will descend by the Mweka trail, rather than retracing your steps along the ascent route.
The trail then joins the Rongai and Marangu routes in the east for the final summit ascent via Gillmans Point.
Arrival: All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet our representative and have a full pre-climb briefing.
All trekkers need to organise their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From JRO we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel. That night or early the next morning you will meet our representative and have a full pre-climb briefing.
4WD transfer to Londorossi Park Gate for registration. Our porters prepare and pack our supplies and luggage before we start our ascent along the forest trail to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) campsite at 2895m. We will stay here overnight.
Transport:1.7 hours, 80 km
Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 535 m
Max. Altitude: 2895 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Our journey continues eastwards across the Shira Plateau with spectacular views of Shira Cathedral. We cross moorland meadow to reach Shira 1 Camp for dinner and overnight camping at 3500m. By now we will be able to see the stunning glaciers of the Western Breach. It will be colder tonight than the previous night with temperatures possibly falling below freezing.
Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 605 m
Max. Altitude: 3500 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today we walk to the summit of Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. There is a tangible sense of wilderness here, especially when the afternoon mists roll in. From our camp near Shira Hut, we take in the unforgettable views of Mt Meru.
Hiking time: 3 - 4 hours
Ascent: 310 m
Max. Altitude: 3810 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
We leave the moorland behind now and a gentle grade walk takes us across the high altitude Shira Caldera to Shira Cave with fabulous views of Arrow glacier. We will camp here for the night at 4200m.
Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 390 m
Max. Altitude: 4200 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
We climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4700m). After admiring the views we return to the trail and heads eastwards around the Northern Circuit trail. The final section of today’s walk undulates until reaching the location of Pofu Camp.
Hiking time: 7 - 8 hours
Ascent: 500 m
Descent: 680 m
Max. Altitude: 4700 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
From Pofu Camp we cross numerous small valleys as the trail continues through a landscape that has increasingly sparse vegetation to eventually reach Third Cave Camp.
Hiking time: 6 - 7 hours
Ascent: 60 m
Descent: 4020 m
Max. Altitude: 4700 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Today 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 in the early afternoon. The remainder of the afternoon is spent resting and preparing for the summit day.
Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
Ascent: 830 m
Max. Altitude: 4700 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
We start the final and most demanding part of the climb around 1 am on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to reach the crater rim at Gillman’s Point. We rest here for a short time to enjoy the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. We then head on to Uhuru Peak, 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 descend down through Barafu Camp, where our porters will meet us with a packed lunch. We will then continue to descend to reach Millennium Camp.
Hiking time: 14 - 16 hours
Ascent: 1105 m
Descent: 2068 m
Max. Altitude: 5895 m
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner
Your final day on the trek. Departing after breakfast, we descend a further 1300m to the Mweka Park Gate to pick up your summit certificates from the Park Headquarters. We will then transfer toy our hotel for a well-earned shower and celebration.
Transport: Private transfer (0.6 hour, 17 km)
Hiking time: 5 - 6 hours
Descent: 2027 m
Max. Altitude: 3827 m
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast / Lunch
After a much-needed night’s rest we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you from the hotel for your onward journey.
When it comes to trekking and safari, Tanzania really does have it all. It is the kind of place which experienced safari and trekking hands could easily visit for or five times, but it also makes for a fantastic first-time Safari.
Don’t wait any longer. Contact us!
