The Northern Route is the newest and longest route on Mount Kilimanjaro. It starts in the West at the gates of Londorossi and for the first two days it follows the same path as the Lemosho route. After crossing the Shira plateau, our path, from the Lava Tower, turns north and follows a longer path - the northern part of the crater circus, and not to the more popular Southern Circle through the Barranco Valley. The route runs around the quieter northern slopes to the eastern side of the mountain. The northern route is longer than other routes on Kilimanjaro. It takes at least eight or nine days to complete it. The eight-day hike skips the extra day of acclimatization, which is usually held at Shira Camp 2 and continues right up to Moir Camp.
Day 1
You will be met at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to a hotel in Moshi. Here you will meet your guide who will inform you about the upcoming trip, check your clothes, equipment, etc., to make sure that you have everything you need to climb. On the same day, everything necessary for climbing can be taken at our rental point. Overnight at the hotel, breakfast included.
Day 2
Londorossi Gate (2100 m) - Mti Mkubva camp (2820 m). The northern route of the route begins at the gates of Londorossi (2100 meters) in the west, at the same starting point as the Lemosho route. A trip to the London Gate takes about two hours from the city of Moshi and much longer from the city of Arusha. At the gates, you are registered with the authorities of the Kilimanjaro National Park, and then you will be sent further up the mountain to the starting point of the trail. Most tour operators serve lunch here before starting the short first day trip to the Mti Mkubwa camp (2,820 m). You may be lucky and here you will see large wild animals, such as an elephant or a buffalo, which sometimes go out of the rainforest onto the trail when you move to your first camp. Dinner will be served when you get to Mti Mkubwa Camp. Distance: ~ 5.5 km / Trekking: 3-4 hours / Zone: Rainforest
Day 3
Camp Mti Mkubwa (2820 m) - Camp Shira 1 (3610 m). On the second day, you will spend the first hour of trekking through the last section of the rainforest to the entrance to the low alpine marshy zone, which follows the Shira plateau. The hike is relatively short and gradual, ending in Camp Shira 1 (3610 m). Distance: ~ 8 km / Trekking: 5-6 hours / Zone: Rainforest, Low Alpine Zone
Day 4
Camp Shira 1 (3610 m) - Camp Moir (4200 m). The third day is a long hike, heading east, which passes through the Garden of Senecius, and then enters the high alpine desert zone. In the morning you will have trekking to the Lava Tower and the iconic formations of the Jagged Shark at an altitude of 4600 m, where you will have lunch. After lunch, you will go around the northern circle, heading for the Moir camp at an altitude of 4200 meters. This is an important day on your trip, as you can experience great heights and then sleep below, which is good for the acclimatization process. Distance: ~ 15 km / Trekking time: 5-7 hours / Zone: Low, High Alpine zone
Day 5
Moir Camp (4200 m) - Buffalo Camp (4020 m). The fourth day includes a moderately steep climb from the Moir Valley. Participants can make a small detour here to climb to the top of Little Lent Hill at an altitude of 4375 meters before returning to the northern trail. From here, the route runs from slope to slope, crossing the northern slopes of Kibo to Camp Buffalo (4020 m). The track offers great perspectives on the plains (good views and panoramas) that lie north of Kilimanjaro and extend to the Kenyan-Tanzanian border. You will arrive at the Buffalo camp immediately after noon, where you will have lunch and rest after a long walking trek. Distance: ~ 12 km / Trekking time: 5-7 hours / Zone: High alpine zone
Day 6
Buffalo Camp (4020 m) - Third Rongai Cave (3800 m). The fifth day begins with climbing the Buffalo Ridge, and then down to the Porfu camp, where lunch is usually served. Then the route continues east around the northern slopes to the Third Rongai Cave at an altitude of 3800 meters. The track is shorter than the day before, and now you should feel well adapted to the pitch. You will arrive at the Third Cave around noon. Distance: ~ 8 km / Trekking time: 5-7 hours / Zone: High alpine zone and low alpine zone
Day 7
3rd cave (3800 m) - School hut (4800 m). Day six begins with a constant climb up over the saddle, which is located between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. Next, we continue southwest to the School Hut (4800 m). After you arrive at the Schoolhouse, you will be offered an early dinner, and then you should rest, as you wake up before midnight to begin your attempt to climb to the top. Do not forget to prepare all your equipment before going to bed, including warm clothes, thermoses with water, snacks, a flashlight and a camera. Distance: ~ 15 km / Trekking time: 4-5 hours / Zone: High alpine zone and ice zone
Day 8
School hut (4800 m) - Uhuru peak (5895 m) - Crater camp (5790 m). We wake up before dawn to begin our ascent to the top. You will reach Uhuru peak at the beginning of the day, when there will already be several groups around. A short descent takes you to Crater Camp, located on soft sands near the famous Furtwangler Glacier. A camp in a crater is not part of any route, but one of the options that can be added to any route. It includes spending the night in the crater itself. This is an amazing experience that only some of the most adventurous climbers use. Distance: ~ 6 km / Climbing / Trekking: 6-8 hours Climbing / Zone: Glacial zone
Day 9
Crater Camp (5790 m) - Millennium Camp (3790 m). In the morning after an early breakfast, we begin the descent, returning to the Stella point, and then descend the slope, passing the Barafu camp. Here is a short break, and then we go to the Millennium Camp for a long earned vacation. Distance: 13.4 km / Approx. time: 12 - 15 hours / Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 10
Millennium Camp (3790 m) - the gate of Mveka (1630 m). Today you walk through the rainforest to the gate of Mveka, where we complete the park formalities and receive certificates that you can hang with pride! Then we will be taken by our cars to your hotel in Moshi. Distance: 12.1 / Approx. time: 6 hours / Meals: breakfast and lunch included
Day 11, etc .:
This day is the day of your next trip. Hotel morning, fees, breakfast included.
If you want and you have a desire to plunge into the next adventure, this and next days, for an additional fee, you are offered: Climbing Kilimanjaro (5895 m) via any other route, ascent to the top of Mount Meru (4566 m), various safari tours lasting from 2 to 10 days, rest in Zanzibar, excursions and other programs.