Northern Circuit 9 days

You’ll be picked up from your Moshi or Arusha accommodations and make the drive towards the Londorossi Gate.

Stopping along the way in a local village for lunch and to buy last minute supplies, you’ll then liaise with your guides and begin your ascent through the verdant rainforest that clothes the lower reaches of Kilimanjaro.

You’ll have a short three-hour hike through the forest today, but keep your eyes peeled for local wildlife such as Colobus monkeys as you make your way to Mti Mkubwa Camp to set down for the evening.

You’ll bid farewell to the Kilimanjaro rainforest after breakfast, as your climb takes you gradually into scrubby moorland criss-crossed with quietly bubbling mountain streams.

You’ll cross over a vast plateau on your way to Shira 1 Camp, where you’ll have spectacular views of the surrounding landscape.

Setting up camp here for the evening, you’ll find your path has now crossed with those on the Machame Route.

On the fourth day of the Northern Circuit Route Kilimanjaro will take you east into the High Alpine desert zone. Here the Lemosho Route connects with the popular Machame Route before you leave for a more secluded trail. You’ll get to marvel at curious desert plant species and view the iconic Shark’s Tooth volcanic rock formation on the way to Lava Tower. This part of your journey involves gradual exposure to much higher altitudes, consolidating your acclimatization process. The end of the day sees you heading towards the Moir Camp (4,200 m), situated behind the magnificent Lent Hills. There you’ll put up your feet up and enjoy a steaming hot meal.

 This is the final leg of the trip before your last ascent up to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro. The highlight of the day will be the trek up and over The Saddle, a lunar landscape that lies between the Kibo and Mawenzi Peaks. You’ll then head southwest to School Hut (4,800 m) to rest in preparation for the end of your amazing journey. Your guides will thoroughly check all your gear and supplies in preparation for an early morning start.

Your last morning on the Mount Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit will get off to an early start. You and your guides will travel through the darkness towards Kilimanjaro’s main crater rim at Gilman’s Point. There you’ll rest before the final push, passing spectacular ice cliffs and glaciers. You’ll arrive at the Mount Kilimanjaro summit just in time to catch the sunrise, the most spectacular of nature’s backdrops. Share the sense of exhilaration and accomplishment with your guides and support team. Soak in the beauty of the view before retracing your steps down the crater rim. Then you’ll descend on the Mweka Route towards the last stop on your journey – Mweka Camp.

The last hike is a short one and will lead us to Mweka Gate. Your Viva Africa Tours team will proudly issue you with a Gold Summit Certificate and celebrate. Our drivers will be in the nearby village to transport you to the hotel for a hot shower, soft mattress and set of clean clothes.