Kilimanjaro Climbing Guide
The Northern Circuit Route
Kilimanjaro's Finest — and Longest — Journey
The most complete Kilimanjaro experience on the mountain. The Northern Circuit is the only route that circumnavigates the entire summit cone, delivering nine days of extraordinary wilderness, unmatched solitude, and the highest summit success rate of any itinerary on Kilimanjaro.
Highest Success Rate on Kilimanjaro · 90–95% Summit Rate · Full Mountain Circumnavigation · Least Crowded Major Route
What is the Northern Circuit Route?
The Northern Circuit Route is Kilimanjaro's longest, most remote, and most rewarding trekking itinerary. Departing from Londorossi Gate on the western side of the mountain, it shares its opening days with the Lemosho Route before branching north at the Shira Plateau and making a vast, sweeping traverse of the mountain's entire northern and eastern flanks — terrain that no other route visits — before rejoining the Southern Circuit for the final summit push via Barafu Camp.
The result is a nine-day journey that circles the entire summit cone of Kibo, passing through wilderness that is genuinely untouched by the crowds found on the southern routes. The Northern Circuit is the only route on Kilimanjaro that approaches Uhuru Peak from every point of the compass, and the only itinerary long enough to provide the kind of acclimatization that makes summit success as close to a certainty as high-altitude trekking allows.
At Refresh Africa Tours, the Northern Circuit is our premium recommendation for climbers who want the best possible summit odds, who value genuine wilderness solitude, and who are willing to invest the time and budget for an exceptional mountain experience. There is simply no better way to climb Kilimanjaro.
Route at a Glance
| Route Name | Northern Circuit Route |
| Duration | 9 days (only recommended option) |
| Total Distance | Approximately 98–108 km (61–67 miles) |
| Highest Point | 5,895 m / 19,341 ft — Uhuru Peak |
| Start Gate | Londorossi Gate (2,100 m), western approach |
| End Gate | Mweka Gate (1,640 m), southern descent |
| Difficulty | Challenging |
| Summit Success Rate | 90–95% — highest on the mountain |
| Best For | Climbers wanting the best summit odds, maximum solitude, full mountain traverse |
| Crowds | Very low — the least visited route on Kilimanjaro |
| Accommodation | Tented camps throughout |
| Unique Feature | Only route that circumnavigates the entire summit cone |
Why Choose the Northern Circuit Route?
The Northern Circuit is not simply a longer version of another route. It is a fundamentally different kind of Kilimanjaro climb — one that rewards commitment with an experience that no shorter itinerary can replicate.
The Highest Summit Success Rate on the Mountain
At 90–95%, the Northern Circuit has a higher summit success rate than any other Kilimanjaro route. The reason is straightforward: nine days of gradual altitude gain, multiple acclimatization cycles, and an approach to the summit from the north that gives the body maximum time at altitude before the final push. Climbers who complete the Northern Circuit in good physical condition reach Uhuru Peak at an exceptional rate.
Complete Solitude on the Northern Slopes
The vast majority of Kilimanjaro climbers use the Machame or Lemosho routes. The Northern Circuit's extended traverse of the mountain's northern and eastern flanks takes climbers through terrain that sees only a handful of parties per week — sometimes fewer. For three to four days in the middle of the itinerary, you may encounter no other climbing groups at all. This is as close as Kilimanjaro gets to genuine wilderness.
The Only Full Circumnavigation
No other route on Kilimanjaro circles the entire summit cone. The Northern Circuit begins in the west, traverses the north, crosses the east, and descends from the south — passing through every ecological zone and aspect of the mountain in a single, continuous journey. The accumulated scenery over nine days is simply unmatched anywhere else on Kilimanjaro.
Exceptional Acclimatization
The Northern Circuit's long traverse keeps climbers at moderate altitudes (3,500–4,500 m) for several days before the final summit camp. This sustained exposure at altitude — combined with multiple natural "climb high, sleep low" cycles built into the route profile — produces the best acclimatization of any Kilimanjaro itinerary. For climbers with a history of altitude sensitivity or no previous high-altitude experience, this is the most physiologically sound choice on the mountain. See our guide to Kilimanjaro altitude sickness for more on why this matters.
Ecological Zones
Because it circumnavigates the entire mountain, the Northern Circuit passes through more ecological variety than any other Kilimanjaro route — including landscapes on the northern and eastern flanks that no other itinerary visits.
- 1,640–2,100 mCultivation ZoneCoffee and banana farms, Chagga villages, and lush agricultural land ring the lower western and southern slopes. The drive to Londorossi Gate passes through this vibrant, productive landscape before the forest begins.
- 2,100–2,800 mMontane RainforestThe Northern Circuit opens in the Lemosho Forest — one of the most pristine and undisturbed rainforest sections on the entire mountain. Colobus monkeys, buffalo, and a rich variety of forest birds inhabit this zone. The trail is narrow, the canopy dense, and the atmosphere deeply immersive.
- 2,800–4,000 mHeather and MoorlandThe Shira Plateau — vast, ancient, and silent — dominates the moorland zone on the Northern Circuit. After crossing the plateau, the route enters the northern heather moorland, a sparser and more open landscape than the southern equivalent, with panoramic views across the Kenya plains and Kilimanjaro's dramatic northern face.
- 4,000–5,000 mAlpine DesertThe northern and eastern alpine desert of the Northern Circuit is among the most remote and visually striking terrain on Kilimanjaro. Rocky, windswept, and utterly exposed, this zone includes the Mawenzi Tarn, the Saddle plateau, and the long eastern traverse beneath the jagged towers of Mawenzi peak — landscapes seen by very few climbers on the mountain.
- 5,000–5,895 mArctic Summit ZoneGlaciers, the Furtwängler crater, and Uhuru Peak. After nine days of acclimatization and a complete circumnavigation of the summit cone, climbers arrive at Barafu Camp deeply adapted to altitude. Summit night on the Northern Circuit follows the same final approach as the Machame Route — but with a body far better prepared for what Uhuru Peak demands.
Day-by-Day Itinerary — 9 Days
The Northern Circuit cannot meaningfully be shortened. Nine days is the standard itinerary, and it is worth every one of them. The extraordinary summit success rate is a direct product of this extended programme.
Collected from Kilimanjaro International Airport or your hotel in Moshi for a pre-climb briefing and overnight rest. The following morning is a longer transfer west to Londorossi Gate — approximately two and a half hours — where permits are processed and the team assembles. The trail enters the Lemosho Forest almost immediately: pristine, undisturbed rainforest on the mountain's quietest western flank. The path is narrow and atmospheric, passing through dense canopy with colobus monkeys frequently visible overhead. Forest Camp sits within the treeline, cool and green, at the forest's upper reaches.
The trail climbs steeply out of the upper rainforest and onto the vast, open moorland of the Shira Plateau — one of Kilimanjaro's most extraordinary landscapes. The moment the trees thin and the plateau opens ahead is dramatic and unexpected: ancient, treeless, and stretching for kilometres in every direction. Shira 1 Camp sits at the plateau's western edge with sweeping views of Kibo rising to the east and the moorland spreading to every horizon. It is one of the finest camp settings on the mountain.
A moderate day crossing the full breadth of the Shira Plateau — one of the oldest and most geologically fascinating landscapes on Kilimanjaro, the collapsed caldera of an ancient volcano. The route crosses open moorland with panoramic views of the summit cone rising to the north-east. An optional afternoon ascent to the Shira Cathedral rocky outcrop (3,962 m) provides an excellent acclimatization boost and exceptional views of the plateau and the mountain above. Shira 2 Camp is the plateau's main camp and one of the most atmospheric on the entire route.
The first major acclimatization event and the point where the Northern Circuit diverges from the Lemosho Route. The trail ascends to Lava Tower at 4,630 m — a striking volcanic plug at the mountain's mid-section — for lunch and a critical altitude stimulus. Where Lemosho and Machame climbers then descend south to Barranco, the Northern Circuit turns north from Lava Tower into territory that no other route visits. Moir Hut Camp at 4,200 m sits on the northern moorland in complete solitude — a dramatic, open, and genuinely remote setting.
One of the most memorable days on any Kilimanjaro route — and one that almost no climbers on the mountain ever experience. The trail traverses the remote northern slopes of Kilimanjaro in complete solitude, crossing open alpine moorland and rocky terrain with the full scale of the mountain's northern face dominating the horizon. Buffalo Camp sits at the base of the northeast ridge, utterly quiet, with dramatic views of Mawenzi's jagged towers to the east and the summit cone above. On a clear evening the sunset over the northern plains is extraordinary.
The route swings south-east from Buffalo Camp, passing beneath Mawenzi's dramatic eastern face and climbing steadily across the open high-altitude desert toward School Hut Camp on the eastern slopes of the summit cone. The terrain here is stark, rocky, and lunar — the accumulated altitude and remoteness create a world of extraordinary austerity and beauty. School Hut at 4,750 m is one of the highest camps on the mountain and provides an excellent final acclimatization position before the summit push. A thorough guide briefing on summit night procedures takes place this evening.
Departing School Hut at midnight by headlamp, the Northern Circuit summit night follows the Rongai/Kibo approach up the steep scree and switchbacks of the summit cone's north-eastern face. Gillman's Point on the crater rim is reached at dawn — and the panorama that opens over the entire eastern face of Africa is unlike any other moment on the mountain. The final 45-minute walk along the crater rim delivers you to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m, where nine days of preparation and determination meet their extraordinary reward.
After the summit, the long descent begins via the southern Barafu trail, continuing all the way down through the alpine desert and moorland to Millennium Camp at 3,820 m — a long but deeply satisfying final descent through changing terrain. Summit day typically runs 14 to 16 hours from start to rest.
A final descent through the southern moorland and lush rainforest of the Mweka trail — the same descent used by Machame and Lemosho climbers — brings the Northern Circuit to its end at Mweka Gate. Summit certificates are presented here, and the mountain crew farewell takes place. Transfer back to Moshi for a hot shower, a long overdue proper meal, and a celebration dinner with the team that carried you around and up the highest mountain in Africa.
Cost and What Is Included
The Northern Circuit is our premium itinerary. All packages are fully inclusive — there are no hidden fees, gate charges, or surprise costs. Everything required for the mountain is covered from the moment you leave Moshi to the moment you return.
| Package | Duration | Group Size | Price per Person |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Circuit Standard | 9 Days | 2–12 people | From $2,800 |
| Northern Circuit Private | 9 Days | Solo climber | From $3,400 |
| Group Joining Climb | 9 Days | Join a group | From $2,400 |
Prices are per person. Group discounts available for parties of six or more. Contact us for a tailored quote.
Included
- All Kilimanjaro National Park fees
- KINAPA-licensed senior guides
- Porters and dedicated mountain cook
- All meals on the mountain
- Tents, sleeping mats, and dining tent
- Emergency oxygen and comprehensive first aid
- Daily pulse oximeter monitoring
- Airport and gate transfers (incl. Londorossi)
- One night hotel in Moshi (pre and post)
- Summit certificate
Not Included
- International flights
- Travel and medical insurance
- Personal climbing gear and equipment
- Tips for guides and porters
- Tanzania visa fees
- Personal expenses
- Additional hotel nights in Moshi
Best Time to Climb the Northern Circuit
The Northern Circuit can be climbed year-round, and its combination of western start and northern traverse gives it a broader weather tolerance than the exclusively southern routes. Its length also means that multi-day weather windows are easier to find across any given month.
January to March
Cold, largely dry, and beautifully clear. The combination of low traffic and crisp visibility makes January through March one of the finest periods for the Northern Circuit. The remote northern camps in particular feel extraordinarily private and atmospheric in the cooler months. February can bring very cold nights at altitude — full cold-weather layering is essential. Ideal for climbers who want maximum solitude and are well-prepared for cold.
June to October
The long dry season is the most popular and reliable window across all Kilimanjaro routes. Stable conditions, dry trails, and strong summit visibility. The Northern Circuit remains significantly less crowded than the Machame or Lemosho during this period even at peak season — on the northern traverse you will see very few other parties regardless of the overall mountain traffic. Book three to four months in advance for July and August departures.
April to May and November
Tanzania's rainy seasons bring challenging conditions on the southern slopes but the Northern Circuit's long traverse of the mountain's rain-shadow northern flank provides meaningful protection from the worst of the rainfall. The western Lemosho opening days can be wet, but the northern camps are often dry when the southern routes are difficult. For adventurous and experienced climbers with fixed dates in these months, the Northern Circuit is the best available option — and the mountain feels extraordinarily private.
Understanding how the mountain's altitude affects your body is as important as understanding its weather. Read our complete guide to Kilimanjaro altitude sickness for practical preparation advice.
Difficulty and Fitness Requirements
The Northern Circuit is rated challenging — primarily due to its length, the sustained physical effort required over nine consecutive days, and the multiple days spent above 4,000 m. In terms of individual day difficulty, the terrain is less steep than the Machame Route on most days, with no single demanding scramble comparable to the Barranco Wall. The challenge accumulates across the duration of the route rather than concentrating in specific technical sections.
Expect six to nine hours of walking per day across highly varied terrain: pristine rainforest, vast moorland plateau, remote northern alpine desert, barren eastern ridgelines, and steep summit scree. The remoteness of Days 4 through 6 on the northern traverse means that you are genuinely far from any rapid descent route — good physical preparation and solid mental resilience are important. There are no bailout options on the northern slopes.
The paradox of the Northern Circuit is that its exceptional acclimatization profile makes summit night — despite nine days of effort already banked — significantly more manageable than on shorter routes. Bodies that have spent multiple days between 3,500 m and 4,700 m perform markedly better above 5,000 m. The altitude sickness guide explains the physiology behind this in full.
We recommend beginning a structured training programme at least three to four months before your Northern Circuit climb. The extended duration demands greater baseline fitness than shorter routes — prioritise cardiovascular endurance, multi-day hiking with a loaded pack, and building weekly distance progressively. See our full Kilimanjaro Training Guide for a 16-week programme.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Northern Circuit is the finest Kilimanjaro experience available. Our team is ready to plan every detail of your climb.