8 days Northern Circuite Route
8 Days Northern Circuit route has the highest summit success rate to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro to Uhuru Peak. This 8 days Northern circuit route passes Lemosho Route, through the quieter northern slopes to the East, and approaches the summit via Gilman’s Point, then exits through the Mweka gate like Machame and Lemosho.
Day By Day Itinerary For 8 Days Northern Circuit route
Day 1: – Lemosho Glades
After breakfast at the lodge, proceed to Londorosi gate (for registration), located on the Western side Of Mount Kilimanjaro. Then after, you will drive further to Lemosho trailhead where the trak begins. (Sometimes, during the rainy season, visitors are urged to walk to the trailhead, because of the muddy conditions of the road, which do not allow vehicles to ride through). Trekking then continues through the rich Lemosho forest for 4hours to the Forest Camp. Trekkers have the opportunity of meeting black & white colobus monkeys, and the rarely seen elephants that seldom walk through the route, alongside the beautiful voices of birds in the sky.
Dinner & Overnight at the Forest camp.
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Overnight Altitude ~9,498’
Day 2 – Shira Plateau
Duration: 6-9 hours
Leave the lodge early, and make your way through the Montane Forest, to the Hagenia Zone, where you will catch the first glimpse of the Kibo peak. Trekking through this zone, offers the best acclimatization, you go up and down through various ridges up to an elevation of 11500’, then slope down to Shira 1 camp.
Overnight Altitude 11,500’
Day 3 – Moir Camp
You will trek through the Heath Zone of the Shira Plateau, then climb down the western slope of the Kibo massif. Enroute, you will break for picnic lunch at scott Fisher memorial camp(also known as Everest guide), after which you will proceed to the upper heath zone, to Moir camp where you will have dinner and an overnight. Acclimatization hikes can be arranged later in the afternoon, when the weather conditions are favorable.
Hiking: 5-6 hours
Overnight Altitude: ~13,580′
Day 4 – Pofu/Buffalo Camp
At your own convenient pace, you will depart Moir camp, for 4-7 hours trek through along ridge, yet it is also the best day for acclimatization.
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Overnight Altitude: ~13,200′
Day 5 – Third Cave Camp
Have breakfast, then head for the trek around the Northern side of Mount Kilimanjaro, where you will enjoy impressive of the surrounding, until you reach the 3rd cave camp , so as you go to bed early for the summit day.
Hiking: 5-7 hours
Overnight Altitude: ~12,700′
Day 6 – School Huts Camp
On this day, you proceed to Schol huts camp, so as to arrive early , in preparation for the summit day. You will trek to Gilma’s pint, through Stella point, and ten to the camp
Hiking: 4-5 hours
Overnight Altitude: ~15,600’
Day 7 – Summit and Mweka Camp (or Millenium Camp by request)
Wake Up to a cup of coffee, then begin your hike up the summit(19,340ft – 5,896m), before midnight, so as to reach the peak at sunrise.
With headlamps, you will climb steeply for 6-7 hours to Gilman’s point, stroll through the crater rim, to Stella Point, then add more 2 hours to Uhuru Peak. However, time to access the summit varies, due to differences in hiking speed, energy, altitude acclimatization for each climber. Celebrations will take place, upon reaching the peak, as well as taking beautiful photographs, after which, you will descend, Barafu camp for lunch and then to Mweka camp to sleep overnight. You can also opt to sleep at Millenium camp instead at ~12,000’ (upon advance request).
Hiking: Very variable on both the up and the down; 13-17 hours typical
Summit 19,341’
Overnight Altitude:10,065
Day 8 – Mweka Park Gate
Make more descent to the final descent to the trailhead for about 3-5 hours trekking. Have lunch, then after, have lunch and say goodbye to the mountain crew before leaving Mount Kilimanjaro and for town. Arrive at your lodge usually between 3-5 PM.
Hiking: 3-5 hours