Locally owned safari company · Pangani Street, Arusha

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Kilimanjaro climb · Private crew

Kilimanjaro: Northern Circuit, 9 Days

The full Northern Circuit with an extra day on the Shira Plateau and a climb to Lava Tower: the longest, quietest and best-acclimatised way to the top, with a private crew.

  • 9 days
  • Uhuru Peak, 5,895 m
  • Private guide and crew

PriceOn requestfor your group and dates

Request a free quote Ask on WhatsApp

Climb overview

Your climb at a glance

  • Length9 days on the mountain
  • SummitUhuru Peak, 5,895 m
  • DifficultyModerate
  • DistanceAbout 92 km
  • Starts and endsLondorossi Gate → Mweka Gate
  • SleepingTents pitched by your crew
  • Best monthsJan – Mar, Jun – Oct
  1. The quietest route on the mountain: few other climbers on the northern slopes.
  2. The longest itinerary, with the most time to acclimatise.
  3. Views north over Kenya and of every side of Kibo.
  4. Private guide and porter crew throughout.

Where you walk

Route map

Your route, camp by camp

  1. 1Start Londorossi GateDay 1 · start · 2,100 m
  2. 2Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) CampDay 1 · Night 1 · 2,825 m
  3. 3Shira 1 CampDay 2 · Night 2 · 3,500 m
  4. 4Shira 2 CampDay 3 · Night 3 · 3,850 m
  5. 5Lava TowerDay 4 · acclimatisation stop · 4,630 m
  6. 6Moir HutDay 4 · Night 4 · 4,200 m
  7. 7Buffalo CampDay 5 · Night 5 · 4,020 m
  8. 8Third Cave CampDay 6 · Night 6 · 3,870 m
  9. 9School HutDay 7 · Night 7 · 4,750 m
  10. 10Gilman's PointDay 8 · crater rim · 5,685 m
  11. 11Uhuru PeakDay 8 · summit · 5,895 m
  12. 12Mweka CampDay 8 · Night 8 · 3,100 m
  13. 13End Mweka GateDay 9 · finish · 1,640 m

Approximate route between camps.

Itinerary

Day by day

  1. Day1Rainforest Day 1 · 2,100m → 2,825mLondorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp Register at Londorossi Gate, drive to the trailhead and walk through thick rainforest to Mti Mkubwa. Around 3–4 hours of walking.2,100m → 2,825m Read the full dayShow less

    Register at Londorossi Gate, drive to the trailhead and walk through thick rainforest to Mti Mkubwa. Around 3–4 hours of walking.

    TonightMti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp (2,825m)Full board
  2. Day2Moorland Day 2 · 2,825m → 3,500mMti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp Climb out of the forest into heath and moorland and reach the western edge of the Shira Plateau. Around 5–6 hours of walking.2,825m → 3,500m Read the full dayShow less

    Climb out of the forest into heath and moorland and reach the western edge of the Shira Plateau. Around 5–6 hours of walking.

    TonightShira 1 Camp (3,500m)Full board
  3. Day3Shira Plateau Day 3 · 3,500m → 3,850mShira 1 to Shira 2 Camp An easy day across the open plateau, good for acclimatisation, with big views of Kibo ahead. Around 3–4 hours of walking.3,500m → 3,850m Read the full dayShow less

    An easy day across the open plateau, good for acclimatisation, with big views of Kibo ahead. Around 3–4 hours of walking.

    TonightShira 2 Camp (3,850m)Full board
  4. Day4Acclimatisation Day 4 · 3,850m → 4,630m → 4,200mShira 2 to Moir Hut via Lava Tower Climb to Lava Tower (4,630 m), then turn north and descend to sleep at Moir Hut: climb high, sleep low. Around 5–6 hours of walking.3,850m → 4,630m → 4,200m Read the full dayShow less

    Climb to Lava Tower (4,630 m), then turn north and descend to sleep at Moir Hut: climb high, sleep low. Around 5–6 hours of walking.

    TonightMoir Hut (4,200m)Full board
  5. Day5Northern slopes Day 5 · 4,200m → 4,020mMoir Hut to Buffalo Camp Climb out of the Moir Valley and start round the northern slopes, with views far into Kenya, to Buffalo Camp. Around 5–7 hours of walking.4,200m → 4,020m Read the full dayShow less

    Climb out of the Moir Valley and start round the northern slopes, with views far into Kenya, to Buffalo Camp. Around 5–7 hours of walking.

    TonightBuffalo Camp (4,020m)Full board
  6. Day6Northern slopes Day 6 · 4,020m → 3,870mBuffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp Continue east around the mountain across ridges and valleys to Third Cave Camp. Around 5–6 hours of walking.4,020m → 3,870m Read the full dayShow less

    Continue east around the mountain across ridges and valleys to Third Cave Camp. Around 5–6 hours of walking.

    TonightThird Cave Camp (3,870m)Full board
  7. Day7Base camp Day 7 · 3,870m → 4,750mThird Cave to School Hut Climb up to School Hut, the base camp for the summit. Rest, eat early and sleep a few hours before the summit night. Around 4–5 hours of walking.3,870m → 4,750m Read the full dayShow less

    Climb up to School Hut, the base camp for the summit. Rest, eat early and sleep a few hours before the summit night. Around 4–5 hours of walking.

    TonightSchool Hut (4,750m)Full board
  8. Day8Summit night Day 8 · 4,750m → 5,685m → 5,895m → 3,100mSummit night: School Hut to Uhuru Peak, down to Mweka Camp Leave around midnight and climb to Gilman's Point (5,685 m) on the crater rim, then along the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Descend on the…4,750m → 5,685m → 5,895m → 3,100m Read the full dayShow less

    Leave around midnight and climb to Gilman's Point (5,685 m) on the crater rim, then along the rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Descend on the southern side to Mweka Camp. Around 12–14 hours of walking.

    TonightMweka Camp (3,100m)Full board
  9. Day9Descent Day 9 · 3,100m → 1,640mMweka Camp to Mweka Gate Walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, collect your summit certificate and transfer back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. Around 3–4 hours…3,100m → 1,640m Read the full dayShow less

    Walk down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, collect your summit certificate and transfer back to your hotel in Arusha or Moshi. Around 3–4 hours of walking.

Want an extra acclimatisation day or a safari after the climb? Ask us to adjust it

Where you sleep

Camps on this climb

On every climb: a head guide, a cook, a waiter, a toilet porter and four porters per climber.

What it costs

Climb pricing

We price the Northern Circuit, 9 Days for your group and dates. The price per climber falls as more of you climb together, because the crew is shared.

Send us your dates and the number of climbers and we will reply with the full price, usually within a day. Ask for a price

The fine print

What the price covers

Included

  • Your own guide and porter crew for the full climb
  • Park entry & camping fees
  • Tents, sleeping mats and camp meals throughout the trek
  • Transfers between your hotel and the gates
  • Summit certificate on completion

Not included

  • International & domestic flights
  • Tanzania visa fees
  • Sleeping bag & personal trekking gear
  • Tips for your guide and porter crew
  • Travel & medical/evacuation insurance

Tipping your crew Tipping guide

  • Head guideUS$20–25 per day
  • Assistant guideUS$15–20 per day
  • CookUS$15–20 per day
  • Assistant cookUS$10–15 per day
  • PorterUS$10–15 per day

In pictures

Photo gallery

Good to know

Questions about this climb

Do I need climbing experience?

No. It is a long walk at altitude, with no scrambling. Good fitness and a steady pace matter more.

Which route should I choose?

Lemosho for the best acclimatisation and a quieter start. Machame for great scenery in fewer days. Marangu if you prefer huts to tents.

When is the best time to climb?

January to March and June to October are the driest months on the mountain.

What if I feel ill at altitude?

Your guide checks your oxygen and pulse every evening. If symptoms get worse, you descend with a member of the crew; going down is the treatment.

Is a sleeping bag included?

No. Bring a four-season bag, or ask us to rent one in Moshi.

How much should we tip the crew?

Roughly US$20–25 a day for the head guide and US$10–15 a day per porter. The full table is on our tipping page.

Another question?

Our planners in Arusha are happy to help on WhatsApp.

Ask us

Before you go

What to pack

Mountain packing list

Sleeping and warmth

  • Four-season sleeping bag (rated −10 °C or lower)
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Insulated down jacket for summit night
  • Warm hat, gloves and buff

On your feet

  • Broken-in waterproof hiking boots
  • Trekking poles

Gear

  • Head torch with spare batteries
  • 2–3 litres of water capacity
  • Daypack of about 30 litres

Sun and health

  • Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
  • Personal medication
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest reviews

Travellers on travelling with Makini

5.0Excellent · 105+ reviews

TripAdvisor Google SafariBookings

  • The communication with the company was very good, and we were in good hands from the minute we arrived… we got a lot of value for the money.

    Saudat N. TripAdvisor

  • The communication with Lucas via WhatsApp was always very friendly, direct and immediate… our tour guide Aboh was very familiar with all animals and plants.

    Godfrey M. TripAdvisor

  • Great value local Tanzanian operator that provided an unforgettable safari experience.

    Damas F. TripAdvisor

Keep exploring

Other climbs

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Make this climb your own

Tell us your dates and how many are climbing. We’ll send the plan back with your price, and add a safari or Zanzibar if you’d like.

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