9 Days Northern Circuit Route With Crater Overnight
Price
Tour Overview
The 9 Days Northern Circuit Route emerges as the newest and lengthiest route on Mount Kilimanjaro, commencing from the western side at Londorossi Gate. Initially, it follows the same path as the Lemosho Route for the first two days of the trek. Upon crossing the Shira plateau, the route veers northward near Lava Tower, opting for the longer Northern Circuit instead of the more popular Southern Circuit via Barranco Valley. It then traverses the quieter northern slopes, leading to the eastern side of the mountain. Unlike other trails, the Northern Circuit requires a minimum of eight or nine days to complete. An eight-day trek omits the additional acclimatization day typically spent at Shira Camp 2 and proceeds directly to Moir Camp.
As for Crater Camp on Kilimanjaro, it's not a standalone route but rather a challenging extension that can be added to any existing route. This involves spending the night in the bowl of the crater, offering a unique and thrilling experience reserved for the most adventurous climbers. The duration for this experience varies depending on the chosen route. However, it's worth noting that camping at the crater incurs additional costs charged by the park authority, and extra wages are paid to the crew. Despite the expense, the opportunity to camp at the crater is a rare and unforgettable experience for those seeking the ultimate adventure on Kilimanjaro.
- Destination: Tanzania
- Airport: Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 2: Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) – Start Point 2,360 meters to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters)
The Northern Circuit Route begins at Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters) in the West, the same start point as the Lemosho Route. The drive to Londorossi Gate takes approximately two hours from Moshi and considerably longer from Arusha. Registration with the Kilimanjaro National Park authorities occurs at the gate and then you will be driven further up the mountain to the trailhead starting point. Most tour operators serve lunch here before the short first day trek to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) begins. You may get lucky and spot large wildlife like elephant and buffalo that sometimes emerge from the rainforest onto the path as you trek towards your first camp. Dinner will be served when you reach Mti Mkubwa Camp.
- Distance: ~5.5km / 3 miles
- Trekking time: 3-4 hours
- Zone: Rainforest
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 3: Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters) to Shira Camp Two (3,850 meters)
On day two you will spend the first hour trekking through the last section of rainforest path before entering the low alpine moorland zone which follows up onto the Shira Plateau. The trek is relatively short and gradual, passing at shira camp one and ending at Shira Camp two.
- Distance:~14km / 9miles
- Trekking time: 6-7 hours
- Zone: Rainforest / Low Alpine Zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 4: Shira Camp 2 (3,850 meters) 7o Moir Camp (4,200 meters)
Day four is a long trek heading east which passes through the ‘Garden of the Senecios’ and then enters the high alpine desert zone. The morning is spent trekking up to Lava Tower and the iconic Shark’s Tooth rock formation at 4,600 meters, where you will have lunch. After lunch you will join the northern circuit heading down to Moir Camp at 4,200 meters (see map above). This is an important day in your trek as you will get to experience high altitude and then sleep low, which is good for the acclimatisation process.
- Distance: ~14km / 8 miles
- Trekking time: 5-7 hours
- Zone: Low alpine zone / High alpine zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 5: Moir Camp (4,200 meters) to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters)
Day five involves a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take a small detour here to climb the summit of Little Lent Hill at 4,375 meters before returning to the Northern Circuit trail. From here the route follows a series of inclines and declines, skirting around the northern slopes of Kibo to Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters).The trek gives great vistas out across the plains that lie north of Kilimanjaro and stretch out to the Kenyan / Tanzanian border. You will arrive at Buffalo Camp just after midday, where you will have lunch and have time to rest after a long day hiking.
- Distance: ~12km / 7 miles
- Trekking time: 5-7 hours
- Zone: High alpine zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 6: Buffalo Camp (4,020 meters) to Rongai Third Cave (3,800 meters)
Day six starts with a climb up the Buffalo ridge and down into Porfu Camp where lunch is usually served. The route then continues east around the northern slopes to the Rongai Third Cave at 3,800 meters. The trek is shorter than the day before and by now you should be feeling well acclimatized to the altitude. You will arrive at the Third Cave just around mid-afternoon.
- Distance: ~8km / 5 miles
- Trekking time: 5-7 hours
- Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 7: 3rd Cave (3,800 Meters) to School Hut (4,800 meters)
Day seven involves a steady incline up and over the Saddle which sits between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi Peak. Trekkers then continue walking south-west up to School Hut (4,800 meters). After arriving at School Hut you will be served an early dinner and then you should get some shut-eye as you will be awoken before midnight to start your summit attempt. Remember to prepare all your gear, including warm clothes, insulated water bottles, snacks, headlamp and camera before going to bed.
- Distance: ~15km / 8 miles
- Trekking time: 4-5 hours
- Zone: High alpine zone and glacial zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 8: School Hut (4,800 meters) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 Meters) To Crater Camp (5790 Meters)
You will awake before dawn to start your summit attempt, meandering up the switch backs to Gilman’s Point before hiking around the edge of the caldera to Uhuru Peak – The Roof of Africa! After pictures are taken and the views enjoyed, you will head to Crater Camp inside the volcano.
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 9: Crater Camp (5,790m) to Millennium Camp (3790m)
In the morning after early breakfast, we begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope passing Barafu camp for a short break before heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
- Distance covered: 13.4km / 8.3mi
- Approx. time taken: 11 – 13 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 10: Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters)
The final day is a short hike through the dense montane rainforest from Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) to Mweka Gate (1,640 meters). At the gate you will need to sign-out with the authorities, who will also provide you with your official certificate – a green certificate for those who made it to Gilman’s Point and a gold certificate for those who reached Uhuru Peak. It is customary to give your guide and porter tips before being driven back to your hotel in Moshi.
- Distance: ~10km / 6.5 miles
- Trekking time: 3-4 hours
- Zone: Rainforest zone
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 11: Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
- Meals: Breakfast Included
- Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
- 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
- Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
- Park entry fees
- Camping fees
- Crater fee (if any)
- Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- 4 Season mountain tents
- Double layered Sleeping Mats 4 inches (10cm) thick
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Government taxes
- Portable oxygen tanks
- Ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
- Stethoscope
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet and tent
- Mountain climbing certificates
- Drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
- Travel insurance
- Laundry (Available at the hotel)
- Personal items and toiletries
- Tips for guides, porters and cook
During a day on Kilimanjaro the temperatures can easily range from the high 20’s (centigrade) right down at night to -15c. To cope with this huge range in temperature your clothing and kit strategy needs to be based around combining lots of thin layers that you build up and take off as the weather demands. Kilimanjaro National Park operates an absolutely strict limit of 15kg per porter for your main equipment bag, which includes your sleeping bag. This is more than sufficient for your needs on the mountain. Your bag will be weighed before you leave the hotel to start the climb and if it is overweight you will have to take items out and leave them at the hotel.
Head and Hands:
- Cap or hat to wear while walking in bright sun
- Wool or fleece cap or hat to keep your head warm
- Neck warmer to protect your throat from catching cold
- Uv protection sunglasses
- Warm wind and waterproof gloves
Upper body:
- Dri fit trekking shirts
- Thermals
- Warm trekking shirts
- Hiking hoodie
- Wind and waterproof jacket
- Down jacket
Lower body:
- Trekking pants
- Trekking shorts
- Thermals and inners
- Waterproof pants
- Trekking socks
- Waterproof trekking boots with ankle support
- Slippers or sandals
- Gaiters
- Microspikes
Other items:
- Strong rucksack or large holdall to be carried by porters.
- Day rucksack to be carried personally.
- Plastic bags or stuff sacks to store/separate trekking gear inside your main bag.
- One or two-liter water bottle.
- Personal first aid kit to include essential items.
- Sleeping bag, 4 seasons.
- Torch, ideally head torch.
- Digital Camera and a spare battery and battery charger
- Toilet paper, quick dry towel,
- Toothbrush
- Large handkerchief/bandana for neck
Paper Work
- Trip Receipt
- Passport
- Visa (available at JRO)
- Immunization Papers
- Insurance Documents
Inquire This Package
Similar Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Packages
The Best View Comes After the Hardest Climb
Testimonies From Our Happy Clients
- Journey05454956249
Since I read a lot about Tanzania i decided to put in my backet list for this year which I save and fulfill to complete my goal of visiting Tanzania.... read more 
August 25, 2023marcuslesney Happy and Joyful trip in Tanzania - My family and friends highly recommend Tanzania for tourism. This was because of the experience and good time we had after been organized with local tour company Boker Adventures.
August 29, 2022JadeHachem92 Unforgettable 12-day honeymoon tour! - My wife and I had an unforgettable 12-day tour for our honeymoon with Boker Adventures! I truly have no words to describe how amazing our experience was with Peter and... read more
August 13, 2022
Mt. Kilimanjaro Travel Guide
Best Time To Climb Kilimanjaro
Although it's technically possible to trek Tanzania's Mount Kilimanjaro year-round,
Food on Mt. Kilimanjaro
When people think about backpacking and camping, the Kilimanjaro Food that comes to mind usually
Mt. Kilimanjaro Gear List
Guide companies will generally include group cooking equipment, tents, sleeping pads, and water filters.
Mt. Kilimanjaro FAQ
Learn what Most People whants to know about Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing, Visa Details etc.
Weather on Mt. Kilimanjaro
At the base of Mount Kilimanjaro where the the climb starts, the average temperature is around 70 to 80 degrees.
Mt. Accommodation
You Are Ready To Climb Kilimanjaro. In Our Accommodation Page, it will help you choose the right Accommodation Style
Our Guides & Porters
We have more than 100+ Professional Porters and Certified Mt. Kilimanjaro Guides, that will help your reach to the summit
Kilimanjaro Tipping Guide
The Kilimanjaro tipping ceremony is an important and fun custom that happens at the end of every Kilimanjaro climb. Support the Local
Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Cost
Boker Adventures is considered to be the best Kilimanjaro Operator offering the best prices for solo and group climbers
Mountain Health & Safety
We have equipment's that will make sure you reach to the Uhuru Peak safely, our Guides and Porters will be there for you
Kilimanjaro Rescue Service
In the rare case when a climber gets ill or seriously injured on Mount Kilimanjaro, a helicopter evacuation may be required.
Mountains Private Toilet Tents
Boker Adventure Also Offer Private Toilets,For this there is a cost to cover the toilet attendant, who carries, pitches, cleans, and
