5.0 Excellent
Days 1–2 and 8Montane rainforest
Up to ~2,800 m
Tall, mossy trees, hanging lichen and birdsong. Damp, cool and muddy after rain, and the only part of the route that is.
Northern Circuit Route
Kilimanjaro's longest and quietest climb: an eight-day arc around the remote northern slopes with the most gradual acclimatization on the mountain.
~74 km (46 miles) on our 8-day itineraryTotal distance
Londorossi Gate, 2–3 hours’ drive from MoshiStarting point
Camping throughoutAccommodation
The remote northern slopes, with views toward the Kenya borderRoute highlight
Route overview
The long way round the mountain
The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro's newest and longest route, and the one that takes in the most of the mountain. It starts on the quiet western side at Londorossi Gate and shares its first two days with Lemosho, through the rainforest and up onto the Shira Plateau. Then, instead of turning south toward the busy Barranco and Barafu camps, it swings east around the northern slopes of Kibo before turning toward School Hut for the summit push, and descends by the Mweka route. That sweeping arc is the whole point. Long, gentle days across open, rarely visited ground give your body more time at altitude than any shorter route can, and the camps along the northern side, Moir, Buffalo and Third Cave, see only a fraction of the traffic on the southern trails. You trade a few extra days for the quietest climb on the mountain, wide views over the plains toward the Kenya–Tanzania border, and one of the most forgiving acclimatization profiles of any standard route.
Why choose it
What sets the Northern Circuit apart
It is not the quickest way up. It is the one that rewards time: quiet trails, remote camps and a body that has had every chance to adjust.
The most gradual profile on the mountain
Altitude, not fitness, ends most Kilimanjaro climbs early. Here you reach 4,200 m at Moir Hut on day 3, then spend the next two nights at 4,020 m and 3,930 m, a built-in "climb high, sleep low" before School Hut.
Far fewer people
Once the route leaves the shared Lemosho start behind, it turns away from the busy southern camps. Across the northern slopes you can go long stretches without seeing another group.
Kibo from every side
West through the rainforest and across Shira, north over the plains toward Kenya, then east to School Hut: you see the mountain from more angles than any other standard route offers.
Remote camps
Moir Hut sits beneath the Lent Hills, and Buffalo and Third Cave are tucked into the high northern moorland. They are quiet, uncrowded camps with big skies and very little else around.
The drier side
The northern slopes get the least rain on Kilimanjaro, which makes this one of the better-placed routes even in the wetter months. Only the rainforest sections at either end stay reliably damp.
A proper expedition
Eight days of steady walking, a full crew and a gradual build to summit night. It suits climbers who want the journey and not only the summit photo.
Plan your dates
Choosing your itinerary length
The Northern Circuit is climbed over 8 or 9 days. Every extra day is acclimatization time, not filler.
8 days
Our standard Northern Circuit
The itinerary we run: rainforest, the Shira Plateau, then five days of steady traverse across the northern slopes before School Hut and the summit. Two of those nights are spent lower than the one before, which is real acclimatization, not padding.
Best for: Most fit trekkers who want a quiet, well-acclimatized climb
9 days
The most gradual option
Adds an extra day on the Shira side before the northern traverse, usually with a climb-high, sleep-low walk toward Lava Tower. It gives the largest acclimatization margin of any Kilimanjaro itinerary. It is not on our standard departures list, so ask us and we will build it.
Best for: First-time high-altitude trekkers, or anyone putting summit odds ahead of time and budget
The climb, day by day
Our 8-day Northern Circuit
The real plan we run, with the camps, distances and walking times your guide will work to. Timings shift with weather and the pace of your group.
- 1
Into the rainforest
Londorossi Gate Mti Mkubwa Camp
Park registration at the gate, then an easy first walk under tall forest canopy at a deliberately slow pace.
- Elevation
- 2,360 → 2,895 m
- Distance
- 6 km
- Walking
- ~4 h
- Terrain
- Montane rainforest
- 2
Forest to the Shira Plateau
Mti Mkubwa Camp Shira 1 Camp
The forest thins into heather and open moorland, with the first views across the plateau toward Kibo.
- Elevation
- 2,895 → 3,505 m
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- ~6 h
- Terrain
- Rainforest, heath & moorland
- 3
Across Shira to Moir Hut
Shira 1 Camp Moir Hut
The route leaves the Lemosho line and heads east to the quiet Moir Valley beneath the Lent Hills. Giant senecio and wildflowers line the way.
- Elevation
- 3,505 → 4,200 m
- Distance
- 11 km
- Walking
- ~7 h
- Terrain
- Heath, moorland & alpine desert
- 4
Over the northern slopes
Moir Hut Buffalo Camp
A steady climb around the Lent Hills, then open, undulating ground with wide views over the plains toward the Kenya–Tanzania border. You sleep lower than you started.
- Elevation
- 4,200 → 4,020 m
- Distance
- 12 km
- Walking
- ~7 h
- Terrain
- Alpine desert & volcanic rock
- 5
Along the north face
Buffalo Camp Third Cave Camp
Gentle rises and falls around the northern flank of Kibo, one of the quietest stretches of the whole mountain.
- Elevation
- 4,020 → 3,930 m
- Distance
- 8 km
- Walking
- ~6 h
- Terrain
- Alpine desert & rocky terrain
- 6
Up to School Hut
Third Cave Camp School Hut
A short day to save your legs. Summit briefing, final kit checks, an early dinner and as much rest as you can get.
- Elevation
- 3,930 → 4,750 m
- Distance
- 5 km
- Walking
- ~5 h
- Terrain
- Alpine desert & volcanic rock
- 7
Summit night: Uhuru Peak
Summit daySchool Hut Mweka Camp
You start in the dark, reach Gilman’s Point on the crater rim around dawn, then continue to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m before the long descent to Mweka Camp.
- Elevation
- 4,750 → 5,895 → 3,090 m
- Distance
- 14 km
- Walking
- ~14 h
- Terrain
- Alpine desert, summit zone & rainforest
- 8
Down through the forest
Mweka Camp Mweka Gate
A muddy, mossy descent to the gate, where you collect your summit certificate and meet your vehicle back to Moshi or Arusha.
- Elevation
- 3,090 → 1,640 m
- Distance
- 10 km
- Walking
- ~5 h
- Terrain
- Montane rainforest
Route at a glance
Camp by camp on the map
See how the circuit leaves the shared Lemosho start and loops around the north of Kibo before the summit.
The Longest Route
Northern Circuit
The newest and longest standard route, circling most of the mountain for the most gradual acclimatization profile of any route and some of the quietest, most panoramic trekking on Kilimanjaro.
8–9 daysModerateCamping
Camp by camp
- Londorossi Gate2,250 m
- Shira Plateau
- Shira 1 Camp3,505 m
- Moir Hut4,200 m
- Buffalo Camp4,020 m
- 3rd Cave Camp3,930 m
- School Hut4,750 m
- Uhuru Peak5,895 m
- Mweka Camp3,090 m
- Mweka Gate1,640 m
Northern Circuit • 8–9 daysAscentDescent
Switch routes above to redraw the map
The broadest traverse
Northern Circuit shares Lemosho's western beginning, then leaves it on the Shira Plateau and arcs through Moir, Buffalo and 3rd Cave before turning toward School Hut and the summit. The descent follows the Mweka route, with a night at Mweka Camp.
Terrain & climate
Four climate zones in eight days
Climbing Kilimanjaro is like walking from the equator to the poles. The Northern Circuit spends more time in the high zones than any shorter route.
Days 1–2 and 8
Days 2–3Heath & moorland
~2,800 – 4,000 m
Giant heather, grasses and wildflowers on the open Shira Plateau, with giant senecio plants and the first clear views of Kibo.
Days 3–6Alpine desert
~4,000 – 5,000 m
Bare volcanic rock and dust under a huge sky, with big swings between hot sun and freezing nights. Most of the northern traverse is here.
Day 7Arctic summit zone
Above ~5,000 m
Scree, snow and ice on the crater rim, where it can fall to −10°C or lower before sunrise. Gilman’s Point, then the ridge to Uhuru Peak.
How it compares
Northern Circuit vs the other routes
The routes that come up most often when climbers are choosing, side by side.
Northern CircuitThis route
- Typical length
- 8–9 days
- Starts
- Londorossi Gate (west)
- Descends via
- Mweka
- Traffic
- Low
- Acclimatization
- Excellent
- Scenery
- Remote, panoramic, all sides
Lemosho
- Typical length
- 6–8 days
- Starts
- Londorossi Gate (west)
- Descends via
- Mweka
- Traffic
- Medium
- Acclimatization
- Excellent (8-day)
- Scenery
- Rainforest + Shira, very scenic
Machame
- Typical length
- 6–7 days
- Starts
- Machame Gate (south-west)
- Descends via
- Mweka
- Traffic
- High
- Acclimatization
- Good (7-day)
- Scenery
- Varied, Barranco Wall
Rongai
- Typical length
- 6–7 days
- Starts
- Nale Moru Gate (north)
- Descends via
- Marangu
- Traffic
- Low
- Acclimatization
- Good (7-day)
- Scenery
- Pine forest, drier north
A great fit if…
- You want a quiet mountainYou would rather share the trail with a handful of other people than a queue of headlamps.
- Summit odds matter mostYou are willing to spend extra days to give your body the best possible chance to adapt.
- It is your first big altitude climbNo technical skill is needed, and the gentle profile is forgiving for first-timers who are fit and well prepared.
- You love remote sceneryLong open horizons, the northern plains and Kibo from every side beat a quick photo at the top.
Think twice if…
- You have under a weekThe shortest sensible version is 8 days on the mountain, plus travel. Machame or Marangu fit tighter schedules.
- You want huts, not tentsMarangu is the only route with hut accommodation. The Northern Circuit is camping throughout.
- You are on a tight budgetMore days means more park fees and crew time, so it is generally the most expensive standard route.
- Long days wear you downFive to seven hours of walking for several days in a row can cause trekking fatigue if you have not trained for it.
When to go
Best time for the Northern Circuit
The northern slopes sit in a partial rain shadow, which gives this route more flexibility than most.
Warm and dry
Late December – early March
Clear skies and warmer days, one of the two main dry seasons. A good time to combine the climb with a safari.
Cold and clear
June – October
The most predictable weather of the year and the busiest season on the mountain, though the northern side stays the quietest.
Wetter months
April, May & November
The rain comes mostly to the southern slopes. The northern side sees the least of it, so the Northern Circuit is a smart choice if these are your dates. Expect a muddy rainforest at either end.
Be ready
Preparing for a long climb
A longer route asks for more stamina and more care. Here is how we look after you, and what we ask of you.
Health checks twice a day
Your guide checks blood oxygen saturation and heart rate with a pulse oximeter every morning and evening, and scores symptoms on the Lake Louise scale.
A full private crew
For one climber or a couple, that means a lead guide, one or two assistant guides, a mountain chef and roughly six to eight porters.
Train for 4–6 months
Cardio, stair climbing with a weighted pack and weekend hikes. You will walk five to seven hours a day for several days in a row, and up to 14 hours on summit day.
Pack for the cold
Summit night can fall to −10°C to −25°C with wind. Your duffel for the porters should weigh no more than 15 kg (33 lb).
Your safety comes first. Reaching the summit is optional, and coming home is not. Our guides have the authority to turn a climber back if it is not safe to continue. More in our full Kilimanjaro guide.
Know before you go
What's included
Included
- Professional, licensed mountain guide, assistant guides & porter team
- All Kilimanjaro National Park entry, conservation & registration fees
- Three meals a day on the mountain, plus hot drinks at camp
- Treated drinking water on the mountain
- Mountain camping tents, dining tent, sleeping mattress & kitchen equipment
- Private ground transport to and from the mountain
- Pre- and post-trek hotel accommodation
- Pre-trek equipment check & briefing
- Emergency oxygen & first-aid kit on the mountain
- Government taxes & VAT
- Kilimanjaro summit certificate
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa fee
- Tips & gratuities for your guide and porter crew
- Personal expenses
- Optional activities
- Alcoholic beverages
- Travel & medical insurance
- Government tax/fee increases
Ready to book
Available Northern Circuit tours
Every bookable Northern Circuit trip we run, from $2,100 per person — pick one to see the full day-by-day plan, pricing and dates.
On the mountain
What you'll see
Good to know
Northern Circuit route FAQ
Is the Northern Circuit the same as the Rongai "Northern Route"?
No, and the names cause real confusion. Rongai starts at Nale Moru Gate on the northern, Kenya-facing side, takes 6–7 days and descends via Marangu. The Northern Circuit starts on the western side at Londorossi, shares the first days with Lemosho, then circles the whole northern slope over 8–9 days and descends via Mweka.
Compare every Kilimanjaro routeHow does the Northern Circuit compare with Lemosho?
They share the first two days. Lemosho then turns south toward Lava Tower and Barranco and joins the busy southern circuit, while the Northern Circuit heads east around the quiet northern slopes. You pay for the extra days and distance, but you get a quieter mountain and a more gradual climb.
Read about the Lemosho RouteHow long is the Northern Circuit?
Our standard itinerary is 8 days on the mountain and covers roughly 74 km (46 miles), from Londorossi Gate to Mweka Gate. Some operators run a 9-day version for extra acclimatization; ask us if you would like one built.
What is the summit success rate?
Operators commonly report 90% or higher, among the best on the mountain, and the reason is the extra time to acclimatize. No park authority publishes official per-route figures though, and every operator measures success differently, so treat any single percentage with caution. What is not in doubt is that longer, gentler itineraries give more people the chance to reach the top.
Is the Northern Circuit harder than other routes?
It is longer, but not harder in the technical sense. There is no scrambling on the route, and the long, gentle days make it easier on the body than shorter routes. The main challenge is endurance, since you walk five to seven hours a day for several days. Summit night is the same demanding push as on any other route.
Where does the Northern Circuit start and finish?
It starts at Londorossi Gate on the western side, about 2–3 hours’ drive from Moshi, and finishes at Mweka Gate on the south side, from where your driver takes you back to Moshi or Arusha.
How cold does summit night get?
Temperatures on the crater rim before sunrise regularly drop to between −10°C and −25°C, with wind making it feel colder. A down jacket, windproof shell, balaclava, thermal mittens and thermal base layers are essential.
Who can do the Northern Circuit?
Our Northern Circuit trip is open to climbers aged 12 and over who are fit and well prepared. No technical climbing experience is needed, but plan on four to six months of cardio and hiking training beforehand.
What does it cost?
The price depends on group size and season. Solo climbers pay the most per person and larger groups pay less. As the longest standard route it costs more than shorter climbs, because park fees and crew days are charged per day. See the available trips on this page for current prices, or ask us for a quote.
Can I combine the climb with a safari or Zanzibar?
Yes, and it is a very common pairing: summit first, then recover with a few days of wildlife in the northern parks or on the Zanzibar coast. Tell us your dates and we will plan it as one trip.
See combination trips
Keep exploring
Other ways up Kilimanjaro
Lemosho Route
Shares the Northern Circuit's western start, then turns south for a shorter, more scenic climb with excellent acclimatization.
ExploreMachame Route
The "Whiskey Route", Kilimanjaro's most popular path, steeper and more direct, with more company on the trail.
ExploreFull Kilimanjaro Guide
Every route compared, fitness guidance, altitude safety, packing lists and more, all in one place.
ExploreTraveller stories
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