Three ladies taking a selfie at summit with glacier in background

Northern Circuit

Trips/Climb Kilimanjaro

11 days

The Northern Circuit takes you up the northern slope of the mountain, where few trekkers go. The views are just amazing! It's a nine-day trek (the longest one on offer) and as such the highest summit success rate. It's also a very pretty and varied route. We love it, and highly recommend this route to anyone keen to climb to the roof of Africa!

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Detailed Itinerary

Northern Circuit Map - Mt Kilimanjaro

Day 1: Arrival day

We fetch you from Kilimanjaro International Airport and drive you to your lodge. Here you meet your mountain crew and fellow trekkers. Relax and bond over dinner, followed by a briefing from your lead guide.

Group Picture Kilimanjaro Team Holding Flag

Day 2: Hike in pristine forest

Today you drive to Londorossi Park Gate, where you’re recorded in the Kilimanjaro National Park records. You then start the trek from Lemosho Gate, hiking through mountain rainforest for three to four hours to reach Mkubwa Camp (2,895 m), where you stay the night.

forest hiking Mount Kilimanjaro

Day 3: Enter the heath zone

Today you trek through the last of the rainforest, before entering moorland terrain. The trail leads towards Shira Plateau and Shira 1 Camp (3,505 m), where you stay the night. All in all today’s hike takes about five to six hours.

Moorland Kilimanjaro

Day 4: Walk the Shira Plateau

Today you make your way across the Shira Plateau to Shira 2 Camp (3,810 m) on a trek that lasts four to six hours. Temperatures start to change rather dramatically at this point of the trek, with the nights sometimes plummeting below freezing.

Shira 2 Camp showing tents and sunrise

Day 5: Break from the crowds

On this day you can expect a trek of two to three hours through the high alpine desert. You climb to Shark’s Tooth rock formation. You then head back down Moir Camp (4,206 m). This is an important acclimatisation day.

Northern Circuit Route Kilimanjaro

Day 6: Traverse the northern slope

Today you hike for four to five hours. The trek begins with a steep incline as you journey around Kibo’s north face. You then walk through the alpine desert to reach Pofu Camp (4,033 m), where you spend the night.

Kilimanjaro tent

Day 7: Descend to Third Cave

Much like the past couple of days, the journey today is lengthy but can be very rewarding. Buffaloes are sometimes spotted here. You cross valleys on this trek of four to six hours and end at Third Cave (3,870 m), where you stay the night.

Kilimanjaro tent Pofu Camp

Day 8: Walk through alpine desert

Today you undertake a steady climb over the Saddle, a stretch of barren land connecting the two peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The terrain is pretty inhospitable, being high-altitude desert. You climb for four to five hours to arrive at Kibo Hut (4,750 m), where you get some rest before the big day!

Moorland and the Saddle on Kilimanjaro

Day 9: Summit day!

It’s all been leading to this. So it's time to dig deep. Your guide wakes you at midnight to get ready. The route ascends northwest into the dark night. In about six to seven hours you reach Stella Point, and then, after another hour of walking, you're at Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa! You did it!! You then hike down for six to eight hours to Mweka Camp (3,068 m). All in all, you hike for 12 to 16 hours today!

Snow and trekkers on Kilimanjaro summit

Day 10: Last day on the mountain

Today you do the last bit of hiking (three hours) down to the foot of the mountain through a beautiful section of rainforest. At Mweka Gate (1,640 m) you meet your driver, who takes you back to the lodge. Time for high-fives and a celebratory drink! Followed – trust us – by an epically long sleep.

Two climbers navigating down a hill on Mt Kilimanjaro on their way to Mweka Camp

Day 11: Departure day

We salute mighty Mt Kilimanjaro and take you to the airport, where we part ways. Unless, that is, you're heading on safari with us, in which case the adventure continues!

FA Tanzania group photo with Dez Nov 2021

Inclusions

Dedicated trip manager

In-depth preparation documents

Assistance and advice concerning Covid testing requirements

Pre-climb Zoom consult

2 overnight stays at Lindrin Lodge in Moshi (incl. breakfasts and dinners)

In-depth pre-climb safety briefing at Lindrin Lodge

Transport to and from trailheads

Kilimanjaro National Park entrance fee

Qualified, experienced, English-speaking guides

Porters

Experienced cook

All meals on the mountain

Snacks and hot drinks

Purified drinking water

Daily bowl of water for ‘washy washy’

High-quality, four-season sleeping bag

High-quality, four-season sleeping tent

Sleeping mat

Private Follow Alice toilet (1 per 8 climbers)

Organisation of any rental equipment, if required

Medical equipment (incl. pulse oximeter and emergency oxygen)

Climb certificate

Tanzanian visa

Airfares

Airport transfers ($25 per person per transfer)

Traveller's insurance

Tip for mountain crew

Single supplement ($200) if required

Where you'll stay

Lindrin Lodge Rooms

Lindrin Lodge

Lindrin Lodge in the town of Moshi offers chalet accommodation in a pretty and well-maintained garden setting.

What others have to say

Forciers Kilimanjaro summit group photo snow
Forciers Family Dec 2021
Follow Alice is an amazing company to work with. In the planning phase Tash was great,. She built a completely custom itinerary for us including the c...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit
Anonymous
Jeff O.Jan 2023
Wonderful Experience with Follow Alice I had a fantastic trip with Follow Alice climbing Kilimanjaro over the new year via the Northern Circuit route...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit
Anonymous
Jason OrakerJan 2023
Overall, it was great. Thank you to Justin, Tash and Tine for all the pre-trip help-being so responsive to so many questions, helping the research pro...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit
trekkers walking the Inner Crater with Northern Ice Field behind
Eliza PalaciosJun 2022
In June 2021, my friends and I visited Tanzania and Follow Alice organized our trip which consisted of a 4-day stay in Zanzibar, 9-day climb of Mt. Ki...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit
Anonymous
NeliJan 2023
I chose to do the Norther Circuit with Follow Alice and fell in love, not only with the mountain but with the people. The 9 day Norther Circuit in De...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit
Anonymous
Marcus NightingaleJan 2023
I found Follow Alice online and chose them because it felt they had a personal touch other companies did not. I was impressed with their communication...
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Climb Kilimanjaro - Northern Circuit

Gallery

Lucy Lofton photo of group pics at Lemosho Gate
Arwa looking over clouds at Shira 2 Camp on Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro forest and trekkers
Happy climber at Uhuru sign
View of Uhuru Peak with moorland vegetation in the foreground

FAQs

Do I climb the Barranco Wall on the Northern Circuit route?

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Contact

+44 20 3289 2088

+1 (785) 859-4930

travel@followalice.com

Chat to us

 

Follow Alice Ltd

207 Regent Street

London, W1B 3HH

United Kingdom

 

Follow Alice Tours (T) LTD

PO Box 1923, Moshi

Tanzania

 

Follow Alice Tours (T) LTD is registered in Tanzania and holds all the necessary licences to run Kilimanjaro climbs and safaris.

 

Our Credentials

Follow Alice is rated 5/5 stars across all major platforms

We are an approved partner company with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project

 

 

International Mountain Explorers Connection – IMEC – Partner for Responsible Travel Program.

 

 

Copyright Follow Alice LTD. 2021, registration number 10374382 (England & Wales)