Kilimanjaro Climb – 11 Days via Northern Circuit Route

Trekkers should arrange their own flights to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). Upon arrival, a private transfer will take you to your hotel, giving you the chance to relax and recover from your journey. That evening, or early the next morning, you will meet your local Kandoo representative for a thorough pre-climb briefing. This session covers all essential aspects of the trek, including equipment checks, packing tips, safety precautions, and health guidance, ensuring you are fully prepared and confident for the adventure ahead.

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After breakfast, a 4WD transfer will take you to Londorossi Gate for registration. With porters preparing supplies and luggage, the trek begins along a shaded forest trail that winds gently uphill, passing through lush vegetation and giving glimpses of the local wildlife. The first campsite, Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp, sits at 2,895 metres. Here, you will experience the unique atmosphere of mountain camping and enjoy your first evening on Kilimanjaro surrounded by the quiet of the forest.

Hiking time: 3–4 hours
Ascent: 535 metres
Maximum altitude: 2,895 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The trail continues eastward across the Shira Plateau, offering panoramic views of the Shira Cathedral rock formation. Trekking through moorland meadows, you reach Shira 1 Camp at 3,500 metres. The surrounding landscape is starkly beautiful, with the distant glaciers of the Western Breach coming into view. Nights at this altitude are significantly colder, often dropping below freezing, which provides an early taste of the high-altitude environment. This camp sets the stage for acclimatisation and deeper immersion into the mountain’s alpine ecosystem.

Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Ascent: 605 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,500 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today, trekkers ascend to the summit of Shira Cathedral, a massive rock formation surrounded by spires and pinnacles. The terrain is rugged and the scenery awe-inspiring, especially when the afternoon mists roll in, enhancing the sense of wilderness. By late afternoon, you will arrive at Shira 2 Camp at 3,810 metres, near Shira Hut, and have the chance to take in sweeping views of Mt Meru and the surrounding plateau. This section provides both a physical challenge and an unforgettable visual reward.

Hiking time: 3–4 hours
Ascent: 310 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,810 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving the moorlands behind, the trek gently climbs across the high-altitude Shira Caldera toward Lava Tower, where spectacular views of Arrow Glacier can be enjoyed. After a brief stop, the path descends slightly before reaching Moir Hut, situated just below 4,200 metres. The combination of steep ascents and moderate descents prepares your body for the more strenuous days ahead while providing stunning scenery along the plateau.

Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Ascent: 390 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,600 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

From Moir Hut, the trail climbs out of the Moir Valley, with a short detour to the summit of Lent Hills at 4,700 metres. Here, panoramic views of the northern slopes and glaciers offer a sense of scale and remoteness. The trek then continues along the Northern Circuit, undulating through high-altitude terrain until reaching Pofu Camp, where you will spend the night surrounded by the unique solitude of the mountain.

Hiking time: 7–8 hours
Ascent: 500 metres
Descent: 680 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,700 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The route continues across sparsely vegetated terrain, crossing numerous small valleys as you approach Third Cave Camp at 4,020 metres. The landscape grows increasingly barren, giving a true sense of being in the high-altitude environment of Kilimanjaro. This day allows trekkers to build endurance while enjoying the dramatic vistas of the northern slopes.

Hiking time: 6–7 hours
Descent: 60 metres
Maximum altitude: 4,020 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

The final and most demanding section begins around 1 am. Trekking on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree, you reach the crater rim at Gilman’s Point and pause to witness the spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi. From there, the route continues to Uhuru Peak, passing glaciers and ice cliffs that still dominate the summit. After taking in the views, you descend along the crater rim to Stella Point, then continue down to Barafu Camp for a packed lunch provided by the porters. The descent continues to Millennium Camp, where you spend the night resting after a grueling 14–16 hour day.

Hiking time: 14–16 hours
Ascent: 1,105 metres
Descent: 2,068 metres
Maximum altitude: 5,895 metres
Accommodation: Camping
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, trekkers descend the final 1,300 metres to Mweka Gate, collecting summit certificates at the park headquarters. A private transfer returns you to your hotel, where a hot shower and celebration mark the completion of the climb. This day is both a physical relief and a reflective moment to appreciate the journey undertaken and the spectacular mountain landscapes traversed.

Hiking time: 5–6 hours
Descent: 2,027 metres
Maximum altitude: 3,827 metres
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals included: Breakfast

After a restful night at the hotel, it is time to depart. For those continuing with a safari or a Zanzibar trip, or returning home, transfers will be arranged from the hotel to the airport or onward travel points. The journey concludes, leaving lasting memories of the Londorossi Route and Africa’s highest peak.
Meals included: Breakfast