Kibo - Northern Circuit Route - Itinerary

Day 1 - Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft)
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport. You will be met at the airport and transferred to the Springlands Hotel in Moshi for your overnight.

Day 2 - Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Londorossi Gate (2,250 m/7,380 ft) to Lemosho Glades (2,000 m/6,560 ft) to Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) 18 km, 4-6 hours Montane Forest
Drive from Moshi or Arusha to the Londorossi Park Gate. From here follow a forest track in a 4WD vehicle for 11 km/7 mi (45 minutes) to Lemosho Glades and a possible 
campsite. From the Glades, walk for 4 hours along beautiful forest trails to the Mti Mkubwa (big tree) campsite.

Day 3 - Mkubwa Camp (2,750 m/9,020 ft) to Shira Camp 1 (3,500 m/11,485 ft) 12 km, 7 hours Semi-Desert, 6 to 7 hours
The trail gradually steepens, enters the giant heather moorland zone, then crosses the Shira Ridge at 3,600 m/11,810 ft and drops gently to Shira Camp 1, located by a stream on the Shira Plateau. This is a long but rewarding day. 

Day 4 - Shira Camp 1 (3,500 m/11,485 ft) to Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) 6 km, 3 to 4 hours Alpine Desert
A scenic walk across the plateau leads to Shira Camp 2 on moorland meadows by a stream. A variety of walks are available on the plateau making this an excellent acclimatization day. Wonderful views from Shira 2.

Day 5 - Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) to Moir Hut, 13,800 feet. 4 to 5 hours.
Heading towards the Lava Tower we take turn to the left towards the Kenyan border and start the Northern ciruit of the mountain.  

Day 6 - Moir Hut (13,800 feet) to Pofu Camp (13,600 feet) - 4 to 6 hours
We continue north as the day starts with us going up and up as we reach Lent Hills at an elevation of 15,400 feet to see some truly spectacular views, we then turn to the main trail eastward and walk along more gentle slopes on small rocks to our destination for the evening: Pofu camp at 13,600. Our stragey - climb high and sleep low.

Day 7 - Pofu Camp (13,600 feeet) to Third Camp (13,000 feet) - 5 to 7 hours
We climb up to Buffalo Ridge and we continue eastward across ridges and back down to the Third Cave Campsite.

Day 9 – Summit Day! Schoo Hut (15,500 feet) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) 7 km up, 23 km down 7 to 9 hours up, 5-7 hours down Scree.

You will rise around 11:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. Your 6 to 7-hour climb east up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) you stop for a short rest and a chance to see a supremely sanguine sunrise. At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gear, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, chocolates, and beer!

Day 10 - Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 15 km, 3 hours Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in our Springlands Hotel or similar hotel.