Northern Circuit 8-Day Kilimanjaro Trek Itinerary
Experience Kilimanjaro’s least-traveled Northern Circuit, offering panoramic views, diverse habitats, and excellent acclimatization for a high summit success rate. This itinerary is ideal for trekkers seeking scenic routes and adventure with fewer crowds.
Day 0: Arrival – Moshi Hotel
• Elevation: ~900 m
• Habitat: Lowland tropical / farmland
• Meals: B (Breakfast)
Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our team will greet and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. At the hotel, meet your guides for a briefing and gear check, ensuring all equipment and supplies are ready for the trek.
If you arrive early, enjoy a short walk around Moshi town with your guide to explore markets, local life, and the vibrant culture.
Overnight stay: Hotel in Moshi (Bed & Breakfast)
Day 1: Hotel → Londorosi Gate → Lemosho Glade (First Camp)
• Elevation: 1,200 m → 2,795 m
• Distance: 9 km
• Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast, you will be picked up with a packed lunch and transferred to Londorosi Gate for registration. Following registration, board a vehicle to the trailhead at Lemosho Glade, and begin trekking through undisturbed montane forest, rich with wildlife including colobus monkeys.
Arrive at Big Tree Camp (Mti Mkubwa) where tents are set up by our team. Enjoy hot water for washing, tea, coffee, or hot chocolate with snacks, followed by dinner and overnight stay.
Day 2: Lemosho Glade → Shira One Camp
• Elevation: 2,795 m → 3,500 m
• Distance: 12 km
• Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest → Moorland
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast and medical check, trek through dense rainforest, then gradually ascend into the heath and moorland zone. Along the way, enjoy views of Mount Meru, Shira Plateau, and Kibo Peak.
Reach Shira One Camp, where tents are ready, followed by tea, snacks, dinner, and overnight.
Day 3: Shira One Camp → Moir Hut
• Elevation: 3,500 m → 3,850 m
• Distance: 7 km
• Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
• Habitat: Moorland → Rocky Plateau
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast and check-up, trek east across Shira Plateau, passing through moorland, rocky outcrops, and alpine vegetation. Stop to enjoy stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks.
Arrive at Moir Hut for tents, hot drinks, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 4: Moir Hut → Buffalo Camp
• Elevation: 3,850 m → 3,900 m
• Distance: 8–10 km
• Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
• Habitat: Moorland → Alpine Desert
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast and medical check, trek northward along high ridges and plateaus. The trail offers rocky ridges, scattered high-altitude vegetation, and panoramic views of Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks.
Arrive at Buffalo Camp for tents, hot drinks, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 5: Buffalo Camp → Third Cave
• Elevation: 3,900 m → 4,500 m
• Distance: 9 km
• Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast and check-up, ascend gradually toward Third Cave, passing through rocky ridges and alpine desert terrain. This trek provides important acclimatization for higher altitudes.
Arrive at Third Cave, with tents set up, hot drinks, dinner, and overnight stay.
Day 6: Third Cave → School Hut
• Elevation: 4,500 m → 4,800 m
• Distance: 8 km
• Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert → Rocky Summit Slopes
• Meals: BLD
After breakfast, continue the ascent toward School Hut, just below the summit zone. Enjoy panoramic views of valleys and northern slopes, and prepare for the midnight summit push.
At School Hut, rest in tents with hot drinks, enjoy the clear skies and alpine scenery, and overnight stay.
Day 7: Summit Day – School Hut → Uhuru Peak → Mweka Hut
• Elevation: 4,800 m → 5,895 m → 3,100 m
• Distance: 7 km to summit, 14 km to Mweka Hut
• Ascent: 1,095 m
• Descent: 2,795 m
• Habitat: Alpine Desert → Icefields → Montane Forest
• Meals: BLD
Wake at midnight for tea and snacks, then start the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Move slowly and steadily (pole pole) over scree slopes and rocky terrain.
Reach Gillman’s Point around dawn for views of the crater and icecaps, then continue to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Celebrate your summit achievement and take photos.
Descend to School Hut for lunch, then continue down through moorland and forest to Mweka Hut for tents, dinner, and overnight.
Day 8: Mweka Hut → Mweka Gate → Hotel (Celebration Day)
• Elevation: 3,100 m → 1,700 m → 900 m
• Distance: 7 km descent
• Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
• Habitat: Montane Forest → Lowland Farmland
• Meals: B (Breakfast)
After breakfast at Mweka Hut, descend through lush montane forest to Mweka Gate, where you will sign out.
You will then be transferred by vehicle back to your hotel in Moshi. Celebrate your achievement with showers, drinks, photos, and Kilimanjaro summit certificate presentation.
Overnight stay: Hotel in Moshi
Optional Day 9: Departure or Safari
After breakfast at the hotel, you may:
- Fly back home, or
- Continue with a Tanzania wildlife safari, or
- Plan other excursions with our team.