Private 8 day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro Climb
Private 8 day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro Climb
Duma’s recommended option, the Northern Circuit climb circles the mountain, and is the least traveled route on Kili. You’ll start in the west, circle around to the north, and ascend via Marangu on the east. You’ll then descend via the south, so you’ll see the entire mountain during your trek.
This route provides the most comprehensive views of the mountain and crosses other climb routes, including Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, and Mweka routes. The longer 8 day climb allows for greater acclimatization and as such, high summit success rates.
Book This ExperienceA glimpse of the journey
Your Itinerary
A curated journey through the experience
Kilimanjaro National Park
From the Lemosho starting point (2389m) to Big Tree Camp (2785m) the distance is just about 5km, and just under 400m of elevation gain. The whole of the first day’s trek is spent in some of the most pristine and beautiful to be found anywhere on the mountain. Our first day ends at Mti Mkubwa, the Big Tree Camp (2785m), where, as with every night on the trek, you will arrive to find your tent already erected and a snack awaiting. A full dinner follows before you settle down to sleep to the sounds of the forest, with monkeys calling and the noisy turaco bird in this most blissful of locations, underneath the spreading branches of a beautiful old podocarpus tree.
4 hoursMti Mkubwa Camp
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa Camp to Shira 1 Camp
12 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
There’s an optional afternoon acclimatisation ascent of Shira Ridge 3959m for which you get arguably the best views of Kibo. From there you descend to sleep lower at Shira One (3504m) for overnight. The excursion distance is 7.6km.
7 hoursShira Camp One
Day 3: Shira 1 Camp to Moir Hut
12 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
Just over an hour’s schlep afterwards the path curves in the shadow of some low cliffs past an impressive cave just before the Moir Huts (4161m). Today you’ve managed to gain 657m in total over the distance of 9.7km. You can walk more, too, before dinner, with a sunset acclimatisation climb to 4300m to the ridgeline, a total excursion distance of 1.9km and a 139m gain in height.
6 hoursMoir Hut
Day 4: Moir Hut to Second Pofu Camp
12 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
If the skies are clear enough you should get a full frontal view of Kibo, while Mawenzi peers coyly over your shoulder and the lights of Kenya twinkle in the far distance below. The total walking distance is 9.2km - though you’ve actually lost 122m in altitude over the course of the day.
6 hoursOld Pofu Camp
Day 5: Second Pofu Camp to Third Cave Camp
12 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
Day 6: Third Cave Camp to School Hut
4 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
Day 7: School Hut to Summit to Mweka Camp
4 hoursKilimanjaro National Park
Ascend from School Hut (4717m) via Hans Meyer Cave (5259m) and Gillman’s Point (5719m), to Uhuru Peak (5895m). On the summit your guide will advise how much time you can spend there in consideration of your condition, your timings, and the weather. After a rest at the top, you continue 4.86km back down to Barafu Camp – a walk that is considerably quicker than it was on the way up! At Barafu you take breakfast and relax for an hour, before continuing your march a further 6.6km down the mountain, this time on the Mweka Trail. The walk takes you back down through the alpine desert, heath and moorland zones until you once more enter the forest zone. There, amongst the trees, you find the Mweka Huts (3106m), your final stop on the trek. You have been walking for around 16 hours, less breaks!
15 hoursUhuru Peak
Reach the summit of Kilimanjaro and the roof of Africa, Uhuru Peak! The peak stands at 5,895 meters above sea level and reaching the peak marks the culmination of your efforts on the mountain!
30 minutesGilman's Point
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
30 minutesKilimanjaro National Park
After breakfast, hike from the campsite to Mweka Gate (1633m), where those who made it to the summit or Gillman's Point will collect their certificates. A car will be waiting to take you back to your hotel, and a land of warm showers and cold beers. Your trek is at an end. Back to Arusha.
4 hoursMweka Trail
Accommodation included: Arusha
4 hoursIncluded
- 7x Breakfast
- 7x Dinner
- 8x Lunch
- Accommodation included: 8 nights
- Entry/Admission - Shira Camp One
- Entry/Admission - Mti Mkubwa Camp
- Entry/Admission - Moir Hut
- Entry/Admission - Old Pofu Camp
Not Included
- Gratuities
Good to Know
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a strong physical fitness level
- Face masks required for guides in public areas
- Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
- Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
- Gear/equipment sanitized between use
- Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
- Guides required to regularly wash hands
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Tickets & Cancellation
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.