10 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE
10 DAYS NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE
The Northern Circuit Route is the longest route on Kilimanjaro, a nine day trip initially ascending Lemosho route on the western side of the mountain up onto the Shira Plateau before reaching the Lava Tower, then heading north and circumnavigating the main summit massif in a clockwise direction and joining up with the Rongai route. The summit is then climbed from the eastern side of the mountain and the descent is straight down via the southern Mweka route.
Understandably this is also known as the Grand Traverse or the 360 Route and offers the complete Kilimanjaro experience in terms of all the habitats and the views of the mountain from all sides. The longer journey has excellent acclimatisation and stunning scenery with views across the southern flanks, western forests, the northern plains to the Kenyan border and the arid eastern slopes. The paths are comparatively quiet and less used.
Also the altitude gain each day is less than on other routes, with a gentle gradient until reaching Kikelewa or Third Caves camp, therefore over nine or ten days the likelihood of altitude sickness is significantly less. Yet the overall length of the route is 96 kilometres, not much more than the other routes. An alternate route which summits directly up the northern slopes from School Hut is about 79 kilometres.
Being more expensive, the Northern Circuit is the least visited but in many respects it’s the best option for climbing Kilimanjaro without the crowds.
Prices depend on your group size, exact route chosen, dates of travel and much more. Please contact our sales team for a tailor made quote!
INCLUDED
All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel Professional, experienced, mountain guides Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis) Sleeping Mattress Emergency Oxygen Cylinder All meals while on the Mountain Quality Mess tents with table and chairs Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food Clean, purified drinking water Conservation fees (part of park fees) Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees) Rescue fees (part of park fees) VAT (18% charged by the Government) Kilimanjaro summit certificate
EXCLUDE
Tanzania Visa International and domestic flights 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 and gratuities Travel insurance Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.) Meals not listed in the itinerary Liquors, beers and bottled beverages Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment).
How it is Schedule?
We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours, where you will complete entry formalities. Then drive to the Lemosho trailhead. Upon arrival at trailhead, we begin hiking through undisturbed forest which winds to the first camp site
We continue on the trail leading out of the rain forest and Into a savannah of tall grasses, heather and volcanic rock draped Africa Natural Tours lichen beards. As we ascend through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we reach the Shira Ridge before droping gently down to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first glimpse of Kibo across the plateau
Day three is a long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters the high alpine desert zone. The morning is spent trekking up to Lava Tower and the Iconic Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will have lunch. After lunch you will join the northern circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters. This is an important day in your trek as you will get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatization process
Apline.
We will pass unrough the alpine moorland zone where plants are extremely hardy and consist of lichens, grasses, and heather, to reach Kilimanjaro’s alpine desert zone. You will have a spectacular view of the Western Breach
Semi desert Day five involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters). The trek gives great vistas out across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day hiking
Semi desert
Day Six starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Pofu Camp where lunch is usually served. The route then Africa Natural Tours tinues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. The trek is shorter than the day before and by now you should be feeling well acclimatized to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid- afternoon.
High alpine zone and glacial zone Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
On day seven after breakfast, you begin your way to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s ja tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents Cand sleeping bags, so you can relax. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping before night summiting
Glacial zone Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included.
We start the final and most demanding part of the climb around 7 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 before we continue on to Uhuru Peak, passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. After celebrating with a few summit photos, we begin our descent into Kibo Crater to camp for the night.
Rainforest zone
We wake up early to hike to the Crater Rim in time to see the sunrise. From the rim, we descend down to the Millennium camp site. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose gravel going down to Millennium Camp. Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.
Rainforest
The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,630 meters). At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak, then driven to your hotel in Arusha.
$2,710.00
$2,850.00