8 Days Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit Route and 2 Days Safari

DAY 1: ARRIVE AT KILIMANJARO AIRPORT

Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), where one of our guides will be waiting to greet you and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. If your flight arrives early, we’ll carry out the climb briefing and gear inspection today. If not, it will be done the following morning before your trek begins. Moshi is the ideal starting point for a Kilimanjaro climb — calm, scenic, and a perfect place to adjust before the 8 Days Northern Circuit Route.

Meal Plan: Breakfast only
Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 2: LEMOSHO GATE TO MTI MKUBWA

After breakfast, enjoy a scenic 4–5 hour drive from Moshi to Lemosho Gate, passing through the beautiful West Kilimanjaro Forest. Once at the gate (2,100m), you’ll stop for lunch while your mountain crew organizes gear, weighs luggage, and finalizes registration.

Your trek begins through lush rainforest, a 7 km hike to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650m). The Northern Circuit Route starts gently and quietly here, offering peaceful surroundings and a great chance to spot blue monkeys, colobus monkeys, and exotic birds — setting the tone for a remote, scenic experience.

Elevation: 2,100m to 2,650m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Mti Mkubwa
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 3: MTI MKUBWA TO SHIRA TWO CAMP

Today begins with a gradual ascent from Mti Mkubwa through heather and moorland to Shira One Camp (3,610m), a distance of 7 km that takes 5–6 hours. After a hot lunch and short rest, the trek continues 10 km across the Shira Plateau to Shira Two Camp (3,850m), taking another 4–5 hours.

This is one of the most scenic days of the Northern Circuit Route. You’ll pass through wide open moorlands, catch your first clear view of Kibo Peak, and experience the benefits of gradual altitude gain for strong acclimatization.

Elevation: 2,650m to 3,850m
Distance: 17 km
Hiking Time: 9–11 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Shira Two
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 4: SHIRA TWO CAMP TO MOIR HUT VIA LAVA TOWER

From Shira Two, you’ll head east toward the iconic Lava Tower (4,600m) — a massive volcanic rock formation where you’ll pause for a hot lunch. After this essential acclimatization stop, you descend to Moir Hut (4,200m), a quiet campsite at the base of the Lent Hills.

This route follows the important ‘climb high, sleep low’ rule. It’s a challenging but crucial day that improves your body’s ability to adapt to altitude and prepares you for the summit push later in the trek.

Elevation: 3,850m → 4,600m → 4,200m
Distance: 11 km
Hiking Time: 7–8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Moir Hut
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 5: MOIR HUT TO BUFFALO CAMP (POFU)

Leaving Moir Hut, you climb briefly toward Lent Hills before returning to the main Northern Circuit trail. The route today is quiet and remote, crossing scenic alpine landscapes before reaching Buffalo Camp (also called Pofu) at 4,020m.

The views on this section stretch across the Kenyan plains, making it one of the most visually stunning and peaceful parts of the entire Kilimanjaro experience. You’ll likely encounter no other groups today, adding to the sense of wilderness.

Elevation: 4,200m to 4,020m
Distance: 12 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Buffalo Camp
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 6: BUFFALO CAMP TO THIRD CAVE CAMP

Today you continue your journey across the northern slopes to Third Cave Camp (3,800m). The terrain shifts from alpine desert to heath, with the air growing cooler and thinner. This part of the Northern Circuit Route is rarely used, offering total solitude.

Because of the shorter distance and lower elevation change, it’s a relatively easy day that allows your body to rest and fully adapt ahead of summit night.

Elevation: 4,020m to 3,800m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4–5 hours
Habitat: Heath
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Third Cave
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 7: THIRD CAVE CAMP TO KIBO HUT

Climb steadily toward the alpine desert of the Saddle, the wide expanse that sits between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. You’ll reach Kibo Hut (4,720m) in the early afternoon, giving you time to rest, eat early, and prepare for the summit push at midnight.

This section of the Northern Circuit is high, dry, and quiet — a dramatic change in scenery and an exciting sign that you’re approaching Kilimanjaro’s final challenge.

Elevation: 3,800m to 4,720m
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at Kibo Hut
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 8: KIBO HUT TO UHURU PEAK TO HIGH CAMP (MILLENNIUM CAMP)

At midnight, begin your final ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) — the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest point in Africa. You’ll trek slowly and steadily, reaching the top around sunrise. After celebrations and photos, begin the long descent to High Camp (Millennium Camp) at 3,950m.

This is the most physically and mentally demanding part of the trek, but also the most rewarding. Thanks to the gradual elevation gain on the Northern Circuit, your summit chances are higher here than on any other route.

Elevation: 4,720m → 5,895m → 3,950m
Distance: 15 km total
Hiking Time: 13–15 hours
Habitat: Arctic to Moorland
Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Accommodation: Camping at High Camp
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 9: HIGH CAMP TO MWEKA GATE

After breakfast, begin the final descent from High Camp to Mweka Gate (1,640m), covering 13.5 km through rainforest. Once at the gate, you’ll check out of the park and transfer back to Moshi. In the afternoon, join your mountain team for a farewell lunch, tipping ceremony in our office, and receive your official summit certificate.

This day is filled with emotion, pride, and joy — the perfect end to your Kilimanjaro experience.

Elevation: 3,950m to 1,640m
Distance: 13.5 km
Hiking Time: 6–7 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch
Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort
Room Plan: Double Occupancy

 DAY 10 : TARANGIRE NATIONAL PARK

 After breakfast, we will drive via Arusha and heading to Tarangire National Park then we will register at the gate and continue with game drives for the rest of the day as we explore the African wilderness for the last day of our safari. This park is famous for its large populations of elephants and its gigantic age-old baobabs, but it has much more to offer in terms of many animals and birds that are resident to this park. We expect to see lions, cheetahs, warthogs, gazelles, dik-diks, the rare long-necked gerenuks, and many more. Later in the evening, we will drive to Karatu overnight.

Meal Plan: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Accommodation:  Eileen’s Tree Inn or a similar lodge in Karatu.

Room plan: Double Occupancy 

DAY 11: NGORONGORO CRATER THEN DRIVE BACK TO MOSHI

Very early morning we drive down the Ngorongoro Crater walls to the Crater floor where we will spend the better part of the day doing game drives in this 8th wonder of the world also referred to as the Eden of Africa. Here we will get the chance to spot the animals that we might have missed at Tarangire with a little luck you can spot the Big 5 that is; Elephants, Lions, Leopards, Buffaloes, and Rhinos, in a single day’s game drive and in the late afternoon we will head to Moshi for overnight.

 Meal Plan: Breakfast and Lunch. 

Accommodation: Panama Garden Resort

Room plan: Double Occupancy

DAY 12: DEPARTURE DAY

We will transfer you from the hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) where you will fly back home.if you will have more time you can extend to Zanzibar, but additional cost will be required.

Meal Plan: Breakfast

WHAT INCLUDE ON TREKKING

• 2 ways transfer to and from Kilimanjaro airport.
• Tanzania 18% VAT on tourism activities and park fees.
• The Adequate and appropriate number of guides, porters, and cooks for your Trek.
• Government taxes.
• All park fees, camping fees, rescue fees, and team fees.
• Transfers to and from the route gate(s) (2 transfers).
• Sleeping mattress pad(s), dining tent(s), sleeping tent(s), and crew‟s equipment–Dining tent and sleeping tent for Kilimanjaro trek.
• 2 nights in a hotel in Moshi on a Bed & Breakfast basis and Double Occupancy (1 night before trekking & 1 night after trekking).
• 3 full fresh meals daily. We provide fresh food on the mountain in plentiful and well prepared by skilled professional cooker (we also
  consider your choice of food that you would prefer -Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian). Menu especially designed for climbers.
• Hot drinks on the mountain and Hot water for washing will be provided every day on the mountain.
• 3-4 liters of mineral (per Climber) provided daily during the climb.
• Portable toilets for the trek with the tent for Kilimanjaro trek.
• Emergency evacuation covers with Kilimanjaro SAR helicopter but the climber must have insurance which cover up to 6000 meters above the sea level.
• Carbon Offset.
• Hotel accommodation includes storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes.
• Kilimanjaro National Park rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Rescue Team).
• Chief guide carries a Pulse Ox meter, used to take blood-oxygen level readings of clients twice a day.
• Forest fee.
• Fair Treatment of  our Mountain Crew.
• Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summit aid).
• Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only).
• Salaries for the mountain support crew, as per required by MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND NATURAL RESOURCES and KPAP.
• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain.
• Porter to carry your duffel bag, with a maximum weight of 15kg / 32 lbs, from one camp to the next camp.
• Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt.

WHAT NOT INCLUDED ON TREKKING

• Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for American or Irish Passport holders – to be paid upon arrival).
• Tips.
• Drinks and beverages in Hotel.
• Personal hiking/trekking gear – you could rent some of the gear in Tanzania.
• Sleeping bag.
• Snacks, personal medicine, and water purifying tablets.
• Meals and drinks not specified.
  

   

   

WHAT INCLUDE ON SAFARI

• 2 days/1 night  safari.
• Transport and wildlife drives in modified 4 x 4 Land Cruiser with photographic roof hatch.
• All meal per itinerary .
• 1 night accommodation in a Safari lodge during the safari
• 1 night at hotel in Moshi after Safari on bed and breakfast.
• Services of a professional English speaking safari guide.
• All wildlife reserve entry fees All game drives as mentioned in the itinerary.
• 03 x 1.5 mineral water per person/day during game drives.
• Value Added Tax by Tanzania Revenue Authority.
• Carbon offsetting.

WHAT NOT INCLUDED ON SAFARI

• International Flights Any domestic connection flights on arrival or departure.
• All items of a personal nature Gratuities for safari guide and lodge staff (please tip separately).
• Travel insurance if needed. Visa fee (50 US$ /100 US$ for American or Irish Passport holders – to be paid upon arrival).
• Drinks and beverages in lodges Tip for the Driver, whereby the recommended tip for Safari Driver/Guide is $50 per day per car.
• Hot Air Balloon Safari at Tarangire National Park, including concession fees which cost $599

 COST OF ADDITIONAL SERVICES

• Sleeping bag rental, Mountain Hardware Lamina, synthetic -30F, per trip $50.
• Extra porter(Personal porter), for excess gear, costs $30 per day.
• Trekking poles rental, telescopic, cost $20 per trip.
• Single Supplement(Single Mountain Tent and Single Room) for the trekking only  cost $250 per person.
• Single Supplement(Single Safari Lodge  and Single Room) for the safari only  cost $350 per person.
• Extra night at the hotel in Moshi costs $90 for Double Occupancy, $70 for single occupancy  on the bed and breakfast basis.

TIPPING RECOMMENDATION

• Guide – $15 to $20 per day.
• Assistant Guide – $10 to $15 per day.
• Cook – $10 to $15 per day.
• Porters – $5 to $8 per day per porter.
•  Safari Driver/Guide is $30–$50 per day per car

PRICE

• Price is the US  $4430 per person  sharing when 2 people and above travel together

ETHICAL KILIMANJARO CLIMBS
We are doing ethical climbs and responsible Trekking; we believe the tourism the industry has an obligation and a great opportunity to protect the world‟s natural
habitats, cultural heritage sites, and communities. We actively promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
We are not doing cheap Climb, cheap climb means we are doing tourism while exploiting our Porters who are the ones who make Kilimanjaro trek possible for the vast majority of climbers, and who do all the heavy lifting. Fair and ethical treatment of our porters (crew) is one of the important priorities of Eco-Africa Climbing when we do climb. We are proud to be a Partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP). Please contact ([email protected]) to confirm this.
KPAP raises public awareness regarding the proper treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro and assists climbing companies with implementing procedures that
ensure fair and ethical treatment of their porters. Every of our climb is audited by KPAP to ensure crewmembers are provided proper salaries, tips procedure, food, equipment and sleeping conditions.