The Northern Circuit
"The Complete Journey" — Longest route, highest success. 9 days around the mountain. 97% summit rate.
"The Complete Journey" — Longest route, highest success. 9 days around the mountain. 97% summit rate.
Duration
Distance
Success Rate
Summit
The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro's crown jewel—the longest route, the most scenic, and the one with the highest success rate. At 98 kilometers over 9 days, it circumnavigates the entire mountain, taking you through every ecosystem and offering perspectives no other route can match. You'll climb through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert, and volcanic moonscapes. You'll traverse the quiet northern slopes where almost nobody goes. And you'll arrive at Uhuru Peak with a 97% chance of success—the best odds on the mountain.
What makes Northern Circuit special isn't just the statistics—it's the journey itself. While Machame and Lemosho stick to the southern and western sides of Kilimanjaro, Northern Circuit diverges north after the Shira Plateau, wrapping around the back of the mountain through landscapes few climbers ever see. For three days, you'll walk trails that see a handful of groups per week instead of hundreds per day. The northern slopes are wild, remote, and stunningly beautiful: rolling moorlands, ancient lava formations, views across the Kenyan plains, and Mawenzi's jagged spires rising like cathedral towers.
The extra days aren't just about sightseeing—they're about giving your body the time it needs to acclimatize properly. The golden rule of altitude is "climb high, sleep low," and Northern Circuit follows this principle religiously. You'll gain and lose elevation gradually, sleeping at optimal altitudes to let your red blood cell count rise and your lungs adapt. By the time you reach summit night, your body will be as ready as it can be. That's why 97 out of 100 climbers on Northern Circuit reach Uhuru Peak.
The Only Route Around the Mountain: Northern Circuit is the only route that circumnavigates Kilimanjaro. You'll see the mountain from every angle—west, north, east, south. Each side offers different landscapes, light, and moods. By summit day, you'll feel like you've truly explored Kilimanjaro, not just climbed a single trail.
Unmatched Acclimatization: Nine days gives your body time. Serious time. Most altitude issues stem from ascending too fast—your body can't produce red blood cells quickly enough to carry oxygen efficiently at thin air. Northern Circuit solves this by spreading the ascent over nine days with multiple "climb high, sleep low" days. You'll hike to 4,200+ meters, then descend to sleep at 3,800 meters. Then hike higher, sleep lower. This yo-yo pattern is physiologically optimal for acclimatization. The result? A 97% success rate—nearly everyone who starts this route summits.
The Northern Slopes—Kilimanjaro's Hidden Side: After crossing the Shira Plateau, Northern Circuit diverges north, leaving the crowds behind. For Days 4-6, you'll traverse the remote northern flanks of the mountain. These slopes see so few climbers that wildlife is more common: eland antelopes, klipspringers, even the occasional leopard track. The landscape is stark and beautiful—volcanic cones, lava fields, ancient craters. The northern slopes feel like another planet: silent, vast, untouched.
Incredible Photography: With 9 days and 360 degrees of mountain, Northern Circuit is a photographer's dream. You'll shoot sunrise from the Shira Plateau, golden hour at Moir Hut beneath volcanic craters, Mawenzi Peak from the northern traverse, and every angle of Kibo's summit dome. The changing light and landscapes mean you'll never take the same photo twice.
Time to Savor the Experience: Shorter routes feel rushed. You're constantly pushing to make the next camp, battling fatigue and altitude. Northern Circuit gives you breathing room—literally and figuratively. Days are shorter (4-6 hours of hiking), leaving afternoons for rest, exploration, photography, and actually enjoying where you are. You'll have time to sit, watch the sunset, and absorb the absurdity and beauty of being on top of Africa.
Physical: Moderate. Northern Circuit is long but not steep. Daily hiking ranges from 4-7 hours on gradual terrain. The extra days mean your body is better rested and better acclimatized, which makes the physical effort feel easier. If you can comfortably hike 5-6 hours with a daypack on moderate trails, you can handle Northern Circuit. Summit night is still brutal—12+ hours of climbing—but you'll arrive in better shape than on shorter routes.
Mental: Moderate. Nine days is a long time to be on a mountain, away from comfort, living in a tent, and eating camp food. Some people thrive in this environment; others get restless. The mental challenge isn't pushing through pain (like on Umbwe or Machame)—it's staying patient and present. The solitude on the northern slopes can be meditative or lonely, depending on your mindset. Summit night is mentally tough regardless of route, but you'll have more mental reserves after nine days of gradual climbing.
Northern Circuit is excellent year-round, with each season offering something unique:
Your journey begins at Lemosho Gate on Kilimanjaro's remote western flank. After park registration and final gear checks, you drive to the trailhead and enter the montane rainforest. The trail is wide, gentle, and immediately beautiful: towering trees draped in moss, ferns the size of small cars, shafts of sunlight piercing the canopy. The air is thick, humid, alive with birdsong and insect hum.
Wildlife is common on Day 1: blue monkeys leap through branches, colobus monkeys with flowing white tails watch from treetops, and if you're lucky, you might spot bushbuck or even elephants (they occasionally cross this trail). The hiking is easy—a gentle warm-up for the days ahead. Mti Mkubwa Camp ("Big Tree Camp") sits in a forest clearing at 2,895 meters. You'll arrive by mid-afternoon with plenty of time to rest, settle in, and enjoy the first of many spectacular sunsets.
Altitude Tip: 2,895m is low altitude—most people feel fine. Drink 3+ liters of water today and every day forward. Hydration starts now.
Today you leave the rainforest behind. The trail climbs through the heath and moorland zone—a transitional ecosystem where trees give way to shrubs, grasses, and the first appearance of Kilimanjaro's iconic giant plants. Giant heather grows to 10 feet tall, twisted by wind and altitude. The trail steepens as you ascend, but the pace remains "pole pole"—slowly, steadily.
As you climb higher, the views open up behind you: the rainforest canopy spreading below, distant peaks, the vast plains of western Tanzania. Ahead, the Shira Plateau appears—a massive volcanic caldera, flat and otherworldly. You'll cross the plateau's edge and arrive at Shira 1 Camp (3,505m), a windswept site on the edge of the plateau. The landscape here is stark: volcanic rock, tussock grass, and the enormous dome of Kibo rising to the east.
Altitude Tip: 3,505m is where you start feeling altitude. Mild headaches and sluggishness are normal. Drink water, eat dinner even if you're not hungry, and sleep as much as possible.
A gentle day crossing the Shira Plateau—one of the largest high-altitude plateaus on Earth. The Shira Plateau is actually the collapsed caldera of Kilimanjaro's oldest volcanic cone, now a flat expanse of volcanic rock and alpine moorland. The hiking is easy and surreal: you're walking across the remnants of a volcano that erupted hundreds of thousands of years ago. The landscape feels lunar—black rocks, sparse vegetation, endless sky.
To the east, Kibo rises like a dome. To the south, Mawenzi's jagged spires cut the horizon. The scale is disorienting—you can see for miles in every direction, yet the mountain still towers above. Shira 2 Camp (3,850m) sits near the plateau's eastern edge. This is one of the most scenic camps on Kilimanjaro: 360-degree views, incredible sunsets, and a night sky so clear you can see the Milky Way with the naked eye.
Altitude Tip: 3,850m is moderate altitude. Headaches, reduced appetite, and slower thinking are normal. This is your body adapting—trust the process. Drink 4+ liters of water today.
This is the day Northern Circuit diverges from Lemosho. While Lemosho climbers head southeast toward Barranco, you turn north—leaving the crowds behind. The trail climbs out of the Shira Plateau and traverses beneath the western flanks of Kibo. You'll cross lava ridges, ancient boulder fields, and volcanic formations that look like the surface of Mars. The trail rolls up and down, gaining elevation gradually.
Moir Hut (4,200m) sits at the base of the Lent Group—a cluster of volcanic cones on Kilimanjaro's northwestern slopes. The camp is set in a shallow valley surrounded by strange, alien landscapes. This is one of the most remote camps on the mountain—you'll likely be one of only a handful of groups here. The solitude is profound. The sunsets are spectacular: the western sky lighting up in shades of orange and purple while Kibo glows in the fading light.
Altitude Tip: 4,200m is high. Expect headaches, breathlessness, and disrupted sleep. This is normal and expected. Your body is adapting—red blood cell production is ramping up to carry more oxygen. Rest, hydrate, and trust the process.
Today you traverse the northern slopes—the quietest, most remote section of the entire climb. The trail wraps around the back of Kilimanjaro through landscapes almost no other climbers see. You'll cross deep valleys carved by ancient glaciers, scramble over lava ridges, and traverse vast boulder fields. The views are endless: the northern plains of Tanzania stretching toward Kenya, Mawenzi's sheer east face, and the great dome of Kibo always ahead.
Wildlife is more common here—eland antelopes graze the moorlands, rock hyraxes sun themselves on boulders, and the occasional klipspringer (a tiny mountain antelope) bounds across rocks. The solitude is palpable. You might hike for hours without seeing another human. This is what it feels like to have Kilimanjaro to yourself.
Buffalo Camp (4,020m) sits in a protected valley on the northern slopes. The descent from 4,200m to 4,020m is intentional—"climb high, sleep low" optimizes acclimatization. You'll arrive tired but exhilarated. This day alone makes Northern Circuit worth it.
Altitude Tip: Sleeping at 4,020m after hiking at 4,200m+ is excellent for acclimatization. Your body gets time to consolidate gains. Headaches should be stable or improving. If symptoms worsen, tell your guide.
Another day of northern traverse. The trail continues east, rounding the back of the mountain. You'll hike through alpine desert—barren, rocky, and starkly beautiful. The vegetation is gone now; only lichen-covered rocks and volcanic dust remain. The air is thin, the sun intense, the silence complete. Mawenzi dominates the eastern horizon—closer now, its spires and ridges sharp against the blue sky.
Third Cave (3,870m) is a small camp beneath an overhanging rock formation—the "cave" that gives it its name. It's a simple, exposed site, but the views are breathtaking: Mawenzi to the south, Kibo to the west, and the endless expanse of the northern plains below. You're sleeping lower again (3,870m vs. 4,020m yesterday)—more "climb high, sleep low" magic. Your body is getting stronger and better adapted every day.
Altitude Tip: By Day 6, your acclimatization should be solid. Headaches should be mild or gone, appetite should be returning, and energy levels should feel better than Days 3-5. This is why Northern Circuit works—time.
Today you rejoin the main Kilimanjaro trail system, merging with the Rongai Route climbers. The trail climbs steadily toward School Hut—your base camp for summit night. You'll traverse the eastern flanks of Kibo, passing beneath Mawenzi's towering cliffs. The landscape is pure alpine desert: no vegetation, no water, just volcanic rock, scree, and the thin air of high altitude.
School Hut (4,750m) sits on a rocky saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo. This is it—your final camp before the summit. You'll arrive by early afternoon, eat an early dinner (around 5pm), organize your summit gear, and rest. Sleep is nearly impossible at 4,750m—your breathing will be irregular, your heart racing, every position uncomfortable. Don't stress. Just lie down and conserve energy. You'll wake at 11pm for summit night.
Summit Prep: Organize everything tonight. Lay out your gear in the order you'll put it on: base layers, insulated layers, down jacket, waterproof shell, gloves, balaclava, headlamp (fresh batteries!), insulated water bottles, snacks, camera. At midnight you'll be exhausted and half-awake—future-you will thank past-you for this preparation.
11:00pm-Midnight: Wake-up call. Hot tea, biscuits. Layer everything—all of it. By midnight, you're moving: a line of headlamps snaking up the scree slopes of Kibo. The cold is sharp and penetrating. Your breath forms clouds that freeze on your balaclava. The trail switchbacks endlessly upward—loose volcanic rock that slides beneath your boots. "Pole pole" isn't a suggestion—it's the only pace that works. One step. Breathe. Another step. Breathe. The rhythm becomes meditative, hypnotic.
The hours blur. Your world shrinks to the small circle of your headlamp, the crunch of boots, the rhythm of breathing. Your mind wanders—memories, doubts, strange half-thoughts born of oxygen deprivation. The cold seeps through layers. Your fingers go numb. "Why am I doing this?" crosses your mind. It crosses everyone's mind. You keep moving.
6:00-7:00am: Gilman's Point (5,685m)—you've reached the crater rim. The sky lightens from black to deep blue to gold. Sunrise ignites the horizon: orange, red, purple spreading across the sky. The glaciers glow like fire. You can see the summit now—Uhuru Peak, just 90 minutes along the crater rim. You're close. So close.
7:30-9:00am: Uhuru Peak (5,895m). The iconic green sign: "Congratulations, you are now at Uhuru Peak, Tanzania, 5,895m AMSL. Africa's Highest Point. World's Highest Free-Standing Mountain." You did it. You climbed Kilimanjaro—the long way, the beautiful way, the way that let you truly experience the mountain. Photos. Tears (everyone cries—oxygen deprivation lowers inhibitions). Hugs with your guide. The world spreads below you: glaciers, clouds, the curvature of the Earth. This is the top of Africa, and you earned every step.
Then begins the descent—back to School Hut for a brief rest, then all the way down to Mweka Camp (3,080m) via the Mweka Route. You'll drop 2,815 meters in one day. Your legs will shake. Your knees will scream. Trekking poles become crutches. But you'll be floating on summit euphoria. Every step down is a step toward hot showers, cold beer, and real beds. By the time you reach Mweka Camp in the montane rainforest, you'll have been moving for 14-16 hours. You'll collapse into your tent and sleep the deepest sleep of your life.
Real Talk: Summit night is brutal regardless of route. But after 8 days of gradual acclimatization on Northern Circuit, your body is as ready as it can be. The 97% success rate speaks for itself. Trust your preparation. Trust your guide. Trust your body. One foot in front of the other, and you'll make it.
Your victory lap. The final descent through thick, lush rainforest. The air feels thick and rich after days in the alpine desert—every breath feels like drinking oxygen. The trail is steep and often muddy, slippery with roots and moisture. Your legs are destroyed, but your spirit is soaring. Birdsong fills the canopy. Monkeys chatter. The forest is alive in a way that feels miraculous after the barren high slopes.
You'll reach Mweka Gate by late morning to sign out, receive your official summit certificate (gold for Uhuru Peak, green for Gilman's Point—you want gold), and say goodbye to your porters and guides. Then: transportation back to your hotel, the hottest shower of your life, a cold beer that tastes like nectar, and a meal you'll remember forever.
You climbed Kilimanjaro. Not just climbed it—you circumnavigated it, explored it, lived on it for 9 days. You saw landscapes other climbers never see. You walked the northern slopes in solitude. You reached the Roof of Africa with a 97% success rate backing you. This is the complete Kilimanjaro experience, and it's yours forever.
Lemosho: 8 days, 70km, 98% success rate. Shorter, slightly cheaper ($3,150 vs. $3,050), misses the northern slopes. Still excellent acclimatization.
Why choose Northern Circuit: One extra day, 28km more of trail, and access to the northern slopes that Lemosho never sees. If you have the time, Northern Circuit offers the most complete Kilimanjaro experience. The success rates are nearly identical (97% vs. 98%), but Northern Circuit gives you perspectives nobody else gets.
Machame: 7 days, 62km, 95% success rate. Shorter, cheaper ($3,000), more crowded. Good acclimatization but less gradual than Northern Circuit.
Why Northern Circuit wins: Two extra days for better acclimatization (+2% success rate), 36km more of trail through diverse landscapes, and the solitude of the northern slopes. Machame is excellent if you're on a budget or short on time. Northern Circuit is superior if you can afford the extra days and cost.
Rongai: 7 days, 73km, 93% success rate. Northern approach, gentler gradients, quieter than Machame/Lemosho. Less scenic overall.
Why Northern Circuit wins: Higher success rate (97% vs. 93%), more diverse scenery, and better acclimatization profile. Northern Circuit covers the northern slopes that Rongai approaches but then diverges from. If you want the northern perspective with maximum success rate, Northern Circuit is the better choice. Rongai is a good budget/time compromise.
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