9 Days Kilimanjaro Trek via Northern Route (Option 2)

Pick up from Kilimanjaro airport and transfer to hotel in Moshi/ Arusha. A pre-climb briefing can be organized where we will provide you all the information to prepare for your climb. This will include a day to day guide of your climb, the gear required as well as discussing acute mountain sickness and all health and safety on Kilimanjaro.

After breakfast you will be driven around Mount Kilimanjaro to its north-western side and after 3 to 4 hours, you will arrive at the Nalemoru Gate. After the registration process your adventure begins. The path runs alongside mountain farmers’ fields and pine forests before it enters the sparse mountain forest zone, where black and white colobus monkeys can often be seen. After an approximate 3 to 4 hour hike, you will reach the Simba Camp where you will spend the night.

Distance: About 8 km | Hiking time: 3-4 hours | Habitat: Montane forest 

From Simba camp you’ll trek through the heather and moorland zones and the views of Mawenzi and the vast Kenyan steppes are nothing short of grand. You will have lunch at the Second Cave (3,450 m) and after a short break, you will cross the undulating terrain to Kikelewa Camp. This camp boasts with incredible views and after a strenuous day’s climb, you can relax and take in its peaceful ambience.

Distance: About 10 km | Hiking time: 5-6 hours | Habitat: Moorland

The typical senescent vegetation will soon disappear and the scenery will become more barren with the occasional rock formations. In good weather you can enjoy the breath-taking views of the Kibo and Mawenzi summits as well as Kenya’s savannah grasslands. After passing a few more rock formations, you will arrive at the Mawenzi Hut. For many mountain climbers, it is the most atmospheric camp on the mountain.

Distance: About 6 km | Hiking time: 4-5 hours | Habitat: Moorland

You will leave Mawenzi peak and start your traverse across to Kibo peak, before starting your trek around the north side of Kibo. You traverse numerous dry valleys during the day, approaching Kibo as you trek. On a clear day you have wonderful views of Kibo ahead of you, and Mawenzi behind you. This day is not too steep overall, although there are a few steep climbs out of valleys.

The north circuit camp is lower than Mawenzi Tarn camp, so this is a good day in terms of acclimatization.  The hike is roughly 7km and will take roughly 5 hours.

Distance: About 7 km | Hiking time: 5-6 hours | Habitat: Alpine desert

This day is characterized by valleys, and you will walk in and out of several valleys during the day.  Each valley has it’s own unique topography and vegetation and make for great viewing as you work your way around the northern side of Kibo peak. Moir Hut, at 4200m, is roughly 130m higher than the North Circuit camp (often called Pofu camp), however during the day you will climb almost 250m higher than Moir, before descending down to Moir Camp on the latter part of your hike.

Distance: About 7 km | Hiking time: 4-5 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert

The climb from Moir Camp, at 4,200 m, via Lava Tower Camp to Barranco Camp at 3950m takes about 5 hours.  The day is in the Alpine desert and you will have great views of the western glaciers on Kibo.

You will ascend to Lava Tower at 4,600m, before descending down to Barranco camp for the night.  Barranco camp offers wonderful views of the imposing Barranco Wall, and a fantastic sunrise with Mt Meru descending from Kibo's shadow.

Distance: About 7 km | Hiking time: 5-6 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert

 The path climbs out of the Barranco Valley via the Barranco wall.  This is a steep 1 to 2 hour climb, ascending about 300 metres. The path then follows the gently undulating Kibo South Circuit. Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo’s southern glaciers if the weather is clear. After about 3 hours the Karanga valley is reached. Lunch at Karanga Vallery Camp and then the path climbs for about 3 hours to Barafu camp for dinner and overnight.

Distance: About 8 km | Hiking time: 5-7 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert

Climbers are woken at about 11pm.  After dressing in all their warm clothing, they have a hot drink and then set off at midnight. The first part of the ascent is on a rocky ridge. This then turns into scree. The surface is loose and can be hard going. On its steepest sections, the path zig zags up the scree. It takes an average of 6 hours to reach Stella Point on the crater rim. On a fine morning, the views of the sun rising from behind Mawenzi are spectacular. Stella Point is at 5,750 metres. From here, the path goes around the crater rim for a further hour to the summit at Uhuru Peak, 5895 metres.

The descent back to Kibo Hut, via Gillman’s Point can take a further 3 or 4 hours. After a rest and a meal, the descent continues to Horombo Hut via the lower route, a further trek of around 3 hours.

Distance: About 13.4 km | Hiking time: 8–12 hours | Habitat: Alpine Desert

Make the final descent through the rain forest to Marangu Gate. Here we will collect our summit certificates, have lunch and say goodbye to our mountain crew before drive back to Moshi/Arusha to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Distance: About 20 km | Descend time: 5-7 hours | Habitat: Moorland, Montane forest

After breakfast, depart for your next destination, which is optional or can be arranged:

• Safari to the National Parks
• Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Arusha Airport
• Transport to Other Towns in Tanzania i.e. Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar
• Nairobi via border town Namanga