Conquer Africa’s Highest Peak

Northern Circuit Route – “The Grand Traverse”

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights
Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Camping
Best For: Acclimatization, scenery, and avoiding crowds
Scenery: Diverse, with panoramic 360° views of Kilimanjaro
Start Point: Londorossi Gate (western side)

🗓️ Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Londorossi Gate (2,250m) → Mti Mkubwa (2,650m)

• Time: 3–4 hours | Distance: ~7 km

• Habitat: Montane Forest

• Accommodation: Mti Mkubwa Camp (camping)

• Meals: Lunch, Dinner

• Activities:

  • Registration at Londorossi Gate

  • Trek through lush rainforest

  • Look out for blue monkeys and colobus monkeys

• Fun Fact: “Mti Mkubwa” means “Big Tree” in Swahili, referencing a giant fig tree near camp.

Day 2: Mti Mkubwa → Shira 1 Camp (3,610m)

• Time: 5–6 hours | Distance: ~8 km

• Habitat: Moorland

• Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Enter Shira Plateau — an ancient lava field

  • Trek becomes less steep, offering stunning views

• Fun Fact: The Shira Plateau is one of the highest in Africa.

Day 3: Shira 1 → Shira 2 Camp (3,850m)

• Time: 3–4 hours | Distance: ~7 km

• Habitat: Moorland

• Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Easy trekking day across open moorland

  • Views of Mt. Meru and Kibo Cone

• Fun Fact: A great day for acclimatization before heading higher.

Day 4: Shira 2 → Moir Hut (4,200m)

• Time: 4–6 hours | Distance: ~10 km

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Accommodation: Moir Hut (camping)

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Less traveled path; quiet and scenic

  • Optional hike to Lent Hills for acclimatization

• Fun Fact: Moir Hut sits in a remote valley, often free of other groups.

Day 5: Moir Hut → Buffalo Camp (4,020m)

• Time: 5–7 hours | Distance: ~12 km

• Habitat: Alpine Desert / Heath

• Accommodation: Buffalo Camp

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Traverse the northern slope of Kilimanjaro

  • Spectacular views of Kenya’s plains

• Fun Fact: You’ll see few trekkers—this is the quietest section of any route.

Day 6: Buffalo Camp → Third Cave Camp (3,870m)

• Time: 4–5 hours | Distance: ~8 km

• Habitat: Moorland

• Accommodation: Third Cave Camp

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Cross rolling ridges and rock fields

  • Spot unique alpine flowers and wildlife

• Fun Fact: This route follows the same high trail used by the Rongai Route for summit access.

Day 7: Third Cave → School Hut (4,800m)

• Time: 4–5 hours | Distance: ~5 km

• Habitat: Alpine Desert

• Accommodation: School Hut (camping)

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Short but steep climb

  • Early dinner and rest before summit night

• Fun Fact: School Hut is a quiet, eerie outpost at the edge of the final summit ridge.

Day 8: School Hut → Uhuru Peak (5,895m) → Mweka Camp (3,100m)

• Time: 12–14 hours | Distance: ~15 km

• Habitat: Arctic → Rainforest

• Accommodation: Mweka Camp

• Meals: B, L, D

• Activities:

  • Summit attempt at midnight

  • Pass Gilman’s Point, Stella Point, and reach Uhuru

  • Descend to Mweka Camp for overnight

• Fun Fact: You’ll cross glaciers and volcanic ash fields on summit day.

Day 9: Mweka Camp → Mweka Gate (1,640m) → Moshi

• Time: 3–4 hours | Distance: ~10 km

• Habitat: Rainforest

• Meals: Breakfast

• Activities:

  • Final descent

  • Receive summit certificates

  • Transfer to hotel

• Fun Fact: The descent includes a trail used by porters carrying supplies up daily.

📌 Highlights of the Northern Circuit

• Longest route: Best for acclimatization

• Circumnavigates the entire mountain

• Ideal for photographers and those avoiding crowds

• Summit success rate: ~90%