Private safari
8-Day Kilimanjaro Climb · Northern Circuit
The mountain's most secluded trail, with the highest summit success rate.
8 days Mount Kilimanjaro Best · Jan – Mar · Jun – Oct Private departureFrom $3,588 per person
What this journey holds.
The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro's newest and quietest route, curving around the rarely visited northern slopes for a completely different perspective of the mountain. Shorter daily hikes and a longer itinerary give it one of the best acclimatisation profiles and one of the highest summit success rates, while the trails stay peaceful and pristine throughout.
- Group size
- Private departure, 2–6 guests
- Vehicle
- Custom 4×4 Land Cruiser, pop-up roof
- Guide
- Licensed English-speaking driver-guide
- Pace
- Moderate, with early starts and unhurried sightings
- Fitness
- Easy; no walking required
- Start / end
- Kilimanjaro (JRO) or Arusha (ARK)
Three that we build the days around.
Camping beneath the cliffs of Lava Tower
The remote northern traverse with views toward Kenya
School Huts high camp, quieter than Barafu
A rhythm, not a rigid schedule.
Every day bends around the animals, the light, and how you like to travel. This is our starting shape.
- 01Arrival at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO)
Transfer to your lodge, evening briefing, gear check and acclimatisation discussion. Overnight Lastanza Safari Lodge.
- 02Lemosho Trailhead → Big Tree Camp
2,000 m → 2,780 m, 3–4 hours through quiet western rainforest with colobus monkeys.
- 03Big Tree → Shira 1 Camp
2,780 m → 3,510 m, 5–6 hours into heather and moorland with wide plateau views.
- 04Shira 1 → Lava Tower Camp
3,510 m → 4,630 m, 5–6 hours. Your first time above 4,600 m, camping beneath the tower.
- 05Lava Tower → Buffalo Camp
4,630 m → 3,995 m, 6–7 hours. Traverse the remote northern slopes rarely seen by other climbers.
- 06Buffalo → Third Cave Camp
3,995 m → 3,930 m, 4–5 hours. A gentle, scenic day across the northern flank, ideal for acclimatisation.
- 07Third Cave → School Huts Camp
3,930 m → 4,710 m, 4–6 hours to your high camp on the northern side. Early dinner and summit briefing.
- 08Summit day → Uhuru Peak → Millennium Camp
Midnight start for Gilman's Point and Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m, then down to Millennium Camp; final morning to Mweka Gate for certificates and transfer.
Nothing on the day of the shoot but the shoot itself.
- Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- Private English-speaking mountain guide
- Porter support for carrying mountain luggage
- Private mountain cook and fresh, energy-rich meals
- Dining tent, tables and chairs for every meal
- Airport pickup and transfer
- Rescue fee coverage as per park regulations
Not included
- International flights and visa fees
- Travel and medical insurance
- Alcoholic and premium beverages
- Optional activities (balloon safari, walking safari, cultural visits)
- Tips for your guide and lodge staff
- Personal items, laundry and telephone charges
Tanzania, month by month.
This journey runs jan – mar · jun – oct. Here is how the year reads across the northern circuit.
Jan
Calving season in Ndutu
Feb
Peak calving, predator action
Mar
Green season, fewer vehicles
Apr
Long rains, lush and quiet
May
Rains ease, low season value
Jun
Dry season opens, herds move north
Jul
River crossings begin
Aug
Peak crossings, prime game viewing
Sep
Dry, concentrated wildlife
Oct
Excellent predator sightings
Nov
Short rains, dramatic skies
Dec
Herds return south to Ndutu
Verified views of Kilimanjaro.
Signature Luxury
The most storied camps, the deepest access, and a private guide throughout.
Explore this styleSignature Luxury pairs the photographic craft of PRO GUIDES with the finest accommodations on the continent - Singita, Wilderness, Time + Tide and their peers. A private guide is with you from the moment you land to the moment you leave.
- Named guide throughout the journey
- Private concession & off-road access
- Helicopter transfers where useful
- Premium camps: Singita, Wilderness, Time + Tide
- In-suite dining, sommelier wine selection
Guest voices
“Our guide gave us the two most extraordinary weeks of our lives. Every morning was thought through - the light, the position, the story. We came home with photographs we'll frame for the rest of our lives.”
Anna & Peter Halvorsen · Oslo · Great Migration, 2025
From first note to first game drive.
Four steps, no pressure, and a human on the other end of every message.
01
Tell us your dates
Share travel dates, group size and what you most want to see. We reply within 24 hours.
02
We shape the route
A tailored itinerary with camp options at three price points, and honest advice on season and pacing.
03
Confirm and prepare
A 30% deposit secures camps and park permits. We send packing, camera and health notes.
04
Arrive and travel
Met at the airport, driven by your own guide, supported on the ground for the whole journey.
Before you ask.
- How many people share a vehicle?
- Every departure is private. Your party has the whole 4×4 to itself with a guaranteed window seat and pop-up roof for each guest.
- Can this itinerary be customised?
- Yes. Every route here is a starting shape. We regularly extend nights, swap camps, add Zanzibar or restructure days around photography light.
- What does the price depend on?
- Season, group size and camp category. The quoted rate is a per-person guide for two travellers sharing in mid-season; we confirm exact pricing with your dates.
- What is the payment schedule?
- A 30% deposit confirms the booking, with the balance due 45 days before arrival. Bank transfer and card payments are both accepted.
- Is it suitable for children or older travellers?
- Yes. We adjust drive lengths, road transfers and lodge choices to suit families and to keep travel comfortable at any age.
- What should I pack for photography?
- A long lens (400mm+), a wide zoom, spare cards and batteries. We supply bean bags in every vehicle and can arrange charging in the field.
