Northern Circuit Route /Grand Traverse to the Roof of Africa
The Northern Circuit Route is the newest route to open on Kilimanjaro. It is sometimes referred to as the Grand Traverse, or the Route 360. It starts out from the Shira park entry and then heads towards Shira II but instead of heading around towards Lava Tower, it detours around to the Kenyan side of the mountain. It is a very quiet and non-touristic route until it eventually joins in with the Rongai Route for part of the way. The ascent is up via Gilman's point from Kibo Huts. From the summit, instead of backtracking down the same way, however, it heads down via Barafu Huts and Mweka Camp.
Day-1: Arrive
Day-2: Morum Barrier Gate (3,768 m.) Shira Camp I (3,720m)
Day-3: Shira Camp I (3,720m) - Moir Camp (4,205m)
Day-4: Moir Camp (4,205m) - Buffalo Camp (4,150m)
Day-5: Buffalo Camp (4,150m) - Kikelewa Caves (3600m)
Day-6: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m)
Day-7: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Outward Bound Camp (4,750m)
Day-8: Outward Bound Camp (4,750m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895m) - Mweka Camp (3,100m)
Day-9: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)
Day-10: Depart
Day-1: Arrive Kilimanjaro
International Airport and transfer to hotel. Overnight hotel.Day-2: Morum Barrier Gate(3,768 m.) Shira Camp I (3,720m)
Hiking: 2 hoursDay-3: Shira Camp I (3,720m) - Moir Camp (4,205m)
Elevation: 2835 metres - 3850 metresDay-4: Moir Camp (4,205m) - Buffalo Camp (4,150m)
Hiking: 5-7 hoursDay-5: -Buffalo Camp (4,150m) (also known as Pofu) - Kikelewa Caves (3600m)
Day-6: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m)
Elevation: 3,600m to 4,330mDay-7 : Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Outward Bound Camp (4,750m)
Elevation: 4,330m to 4,750m
Day-8: Outward Bound Camp (4,750m) - Uhuru Peak (5,895m) - Mweka Camp (3,100m)
Elevation: 4,750m to 5,895m to 3,100mYou will stop at Hans Meyer cave on the way, the famous place where Kilimanjaro's first western climber described in his journals. Once you arrive at Gilman's Point at the edge of the crater, the trail to the summit is less demanding, and is reached after a further 1½-2 hours along the snowy crater rim. After a short time at the summit, re-trace your steps back along the crater rim to Stella Point and then descend down through Barafu Camp where you will have a chance to rest before heading down towards Mweka hut (3100m).The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
Day-9: Mweka camp (3100m) - Mweka Gate (1980m):
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 3-hour scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Mweka gate you will have to sign your name and details in a register in order to receive you summit certificates.Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will meet up with your team and bus, and head back to the hotel a long over due hot shower.
Day-10: Depart
After breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight home.End of services
Alternate 10 days | Alternate 10 days |
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Day-1: Arrive Day-2: Morum Barrier Gate (3,768 m.) Shira Camp I (3,720m) Day-3: Shira Camp I (3,720m) - Moir Camp (4,205m) Day-4: Moir Camp (4,205m) - Buffalo Camp (4,150m) Day-5: Buffalo Camp - Kikelewa Caves (3600m) Day-6: Kikelewa Cave (3600m) - Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) Day-7: Mawenzi Tarn camp (4330m) - Kibo Huts (4,700m) Day-8: Kibo - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp (3,100m) Day-9: Mweka - Mweka Gate (1980m) Day-10: Depart |
Day-1: Arrive Day-2: Morum Barrier Gate (3,768 m.) Shira Camp I (3,720m) Day-3: Shira Camp I (3,720m) - Moir Camp (4,205m) Day-4: Moir Camp (4,205m) - Buffalo Camp (4,150m) Day-5: Buffalo Camp (4,150m) - Kikelewa Caves (3600m) Day-6: Kikelewa(3600m) - Outward Bound Camp (4,750m) - Kikelewa Day-7: Kikelewa - Kibo Huts (4,700m) Day-8: Kibo (4,700m) (4,700m) - Uhuru Peak - Mweka Camp (3,100m) Day-9: Mweka - Mweka Gate (1980m) Day-10: Depart |
Month | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|
January | - | 10 | 28 |
February | - | 9 | 27 |
March | - | 9 | 28 |
April | - | 8 | 27 |
May | - | 7 | 26 |
June | - | 5 | 24 |
July | 17 | 5 | 24 |
August | 15 | 3 | 22 |
September | 14 | 2 | 21 |
October | 14 | 1, 31 | 20 |
November | 12 | 30 | 19 |
December | 12 | 30 | 19 |
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