9-DAY NORTHERN CIRCUIT ROUTE

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Day 1: Airport Pick-Up – Hotel Drop-Oﬀ

A member of the Chakapori Tanzania Tours hospitality team will greet you upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro InternaConal Airport. They will drive you to Panama Garden Resort, where you'll find everything you need for a comfortable stay aBer your long flight. AmeniCes include pleasant rooms with hot showers, a restaurant oﬀering delicious meals, a friendly service team, and internet access. At the scheduled Cme, you’ll receive a briefing where your guides will provide all the details of the upcoming trek. They will answer any quesCons and ensure you are properly equipped, oﬀering rental gear if necessary.

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Day 2: Moshi – Londorosi Gate & Star7ng Point – Mti Mkubwa

After an early breakfast at 7:00 AM, you will leave the hotel at 8:00 AM to arrive at Londorosi Gate by around 11:00 AM to complete formaliCes and enjoy your picnic lunch. From Londorosi, there’s a short drive to today’s starCng point. You will walk approximately 7 km (4 miles), expecCng to spend 3.5 to 4 hours on the trail. StarCng at an alCtude of about 2,100 meters, you will reach 2,650 meters by the end of the day. Approaching the mountain via the Northern Circuit Route from the west oﬀers some of the best views of Kilimanjaro. Along the way, you might spot colobus or blue monkeys, though encounters with buﬀalo, elephants, or leopards are rare. The steady ascent through fantasCc forests and colorful flowers makes for a wonderful experience. You will arrive at MC Mkubwa Camp (‘Big Tree Camp’) by around 6:00 PM, with dinner served at 7:30 PM.

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Day 3: From Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp

After breakfast at 7:00 AM, you will depart the camp at 8:00 AM. Today’s walk is slightly longer than yesterday’s, as you ascend from 2,650 meters to 3,610 meters, expecCng to spend between 4.5 and 5 hours trekking. You’ll climb up a ridge heading eastward, moving from the forest into the moorland. This transiCon oﬀers your first views of the Shira Plateau and the majesCc Kibo. Remember to pace yourself by walking slowly (pole pole) to minimize the risk of alCtude sickness. You will have a picnic lunch around 1:00 PM. The trail becomes steep aBer lunch but then levels out as you descend slightly to Shira 1 Camp, arriving around 4:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 6:30 PM.

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Day 4: From Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp

Today may involve less climbing, allowing for a later breakfast at 8:00 AM and departure around 9:00 AM. Depending on how you feel, your guide may oﬀer the opCon to trek via Shira Cathedral for enhanced panoramic views. The standard distance for today is about 7 km (4 miles), with a steady uphill climb taking approximately 3.5 to 4 hours. You will walk southeast across the moor and heathland of the Shira Plateau, where you might see buﬀalo, dik-dik, and klipspringer. You aim to reach Shira 2 Camp (3,850 meters) by 1:00 PM for a cooked lunch. Dinner will be at 6:00 PM.

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Day 5: From Shira 2 Camp to Moir Hut Camp via Lava Tower

After an early breakfast at 7:00 AM, you’ll depart at 8:30 AM to cover approximately 14 km (9 miles). Although you’ll finish the day 350 meters higher than you started, you’ll climb to the base of the famous Lava Tower (4,600 meters) before descending to Moir Hut Camp (4,200 meters) for the night. Expect to walk for about 6.5 to 7 hours as the route includes ups and downs that may bring some discomfort. You will spend one or two hours at higher alCtude to properly acclimaCze, so the lunch break will take place at Lava Tower itself. The aBernoon part of the route climbs slightly before descending to Moir Hut Camp. If any members of the party do not acclimaCze properly, your guide may choose to bypass Lava Tower, taking the porter trail instead, with the highest alCtude reached being 4,400 meters instead of 4,600 meters.

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Day 6: From Moir Hut Camp to Buﬀalo Camp

You will climb out of the Moir Valley and take a short detour to reach the summit of Lent Hills (4,375 m). ABer admiring the views, you will return to the trail and head eastwards around the Northern Circuit Route. The trail passes through a field of rock slabs that clink as you walk on them. The final secCon of today’s walk undulates unCl reaching Buﬀalo Camp (4,020 m). At the camp, you will experience a vast feeling of space as the Kenyan plains stretch out far below to the north.

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Day 7: From Buﬀalo Camp to Third Cave Camp

From Buﬀalo Camp, you will climb to the top of Buﬀalo Ridge and cross numerous ridges and gullies. The trail conCnues eastwards through a landscape with increasingly sparse vegetaCon, eventually reaching Third Cave Camp (3,800 meters).

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Day 8: From Third Cave Camp to School Hut

On a relaCvely easy path, today’s leg takes you over the so-called “saddle.” This piece of rock is actually a lava flow formed when Kilimanjaro was sCll young. It has now solidified and connects two of Mount Kilimanjaro’s three peaks, Mawenzi and Kibo. You will arrive at School Hut in about 4.5 to 5 hours and go to bed straight aBer dinner, as the summit calls for an early start at approximately 11:00 PM.

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Day 9: Ascent to Uhuru Peak and Descent to Mweka Camp

Today is the most challenging day, culminaCng in the summit of Kilimanjaro! Your “Summit Day” schedule is unique: wake up at 11:00 PM, enjoy tea and biscuits at 11:30 PM, and depart at midnight. The climb starts from School Hut (4,800 meters) to Gilman’s Point (5,685 meters), involving some scree walking that makes the trek more diﬃcult. From Gilman’s Point, there’s an addiConal 210 meters of ascent and a 1-hour walk to the summit. Aim to reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters) by around 7:00 AM to celebrate, take photos, and savor the achievement. ABer summiCng, you’ll descend to Barafu Camp (4,673 meters) for a few hours of rest and brunch before deparCng at 1:30 PM to conCnue descending to Mweka Camp (3,100 meters), arriving around 5:00 PM for dinner. Today’s trek covers about 17 km (10 miles) with 11-14 hours of walking—tough going, but with your objecCve hopefully achieved!

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Day 10: Descent from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate – Moshi

Still exhilarated from your achievement, enjoy breakfast at 7:00 AM and, at 8:00 AM, take part in the “Tipping CelebraCon” to honor your trekking team. You will walk approximately 10 km (6 miles) with a leisurely departure at 9:00 AM, descending to Mweka Gate at an alCtude of 1,640 meters. There, you’ll have a cooked lunch at midday and receive your well- earned cerCficate. TransportaCon will then take you back to your hotel in Moshi, where you can relax or celebrate your success.

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Day 11: Departure – Kilimanjaro International Airport

After a restul night at your hotel, enjoy breakfast and check out by 10:00 AM. If you wish to stay longer, please noCfy us when booking to arrange a “day room” unCl 6:00 PM for an addiConal fee. Included in this package is transportaCon to the airport. You will be picked up from your hotel and dropped oﬀ at Kilimanjaro InternaConal Airport. For travelers who have booked a safari, a Chakapori Tanzania Tours guide will meet you in the aBernoon to provide a pre- safari briefing.