Northern Circuit Route

The Northern Circuit is the longest route on Kilimanjaro — and, thanks to all that extra time on the mountain, the one with the highest summit success rate of all. Starting from the western Londorossi Gate, it crosses the vast Shira Plateau before turning north to traverse the mountain’s remote, rarely-visited northern slopes, circling almost the whole way round to summit from the east. Over eight days it offers near-360° views, profound solitude away from the crowded southern trails, and the most gradual acclimatisation of any Kilimanjaro route — the reasons it’s often called the finest way up the mountain for those with time to spare.

Route at a Glance

Duration: 8 days on the mountain

Start gate: Londorossi Gate, western Kilimanjaro

Finish gate: Mweka Gate, south

Summit: Uhuru Peak, 5,895m

Summit base: School Hut

Accommodation: Full-service camping

Difficulty: Moderate — long, but the most gradual profile

Best for: Highest success rate, solitude, those with extra time

Scenery highlights: Shira Plateau · remote northern slopes · 360° views

Success rate: Approximately 85–95% (8-day) — the highest on Kilimanjaro

Why Choose the Northern Circuit

The highest summit success rate on Kilimanjaro. At eight days it’s the longest route on the mountain, and that extra acclimatisation time — with a steady “climb high, sleep low” profile — gives your body the best possible chance of reaching Uhuru Peak.

The quietest trail on the mountain. After the Shira Plateau the route turns north, away from the busy southern trails, onto slopes few climbers ever walk. The solitude across the northern side is profound — a rare thing on Africa’s most-climbed peak.

Nearly 360° of Kilimanjaro. Circling from west to north to south, the Northern Circuit shows you more of the mountain than any other route — a full loop of changing landscapes, ending with the summit and a descent down the green southern side.

The Shira Plateau. The early days cross the vast Shira Plateau, a high-altitude caldera floor of open, wind-swept scenery with Kibo rising ahead and Mount Meru on the western horizon — an otherworldly introduction to the high country.

Itinerary Summary

A day-by-day overview of the eight-day climb. (For the full detailed itinerary with camps and to book, see our 8-Day Northern Circuit package.)

Day 1 — Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp. Drive to the western trailhead, then a gentle climb through pristine rainforest; colobus monkeys in the canopy.

Day 2 — Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp. Out of the forest, up onto the vast Shira Plateau with Kibo ahead and Mount Meru on the horizon.

Day 3 — Shira 1 to Moir Hut (~4,200m). Across the plateau to a quiet camp on the northern flank; afternoon acclimatisation walk.

Day 4 — Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp. The circuit proper begins — onto the remote northern slopes, the quietest part of the mountain.

Day 5 — Buffalo Camp to Third Cave (~3,900m). The northern traverse continues through rolling high desert, altitude gain kept gentle by design.

Day 6 — Third Cave to School Hut. Turning toward the summit, a shorter day to the base camp for the final ascent.

Day 7 — Summit Night: School Hut to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), descend to Millennium Camp. Midnight start via Gilman’s

Day 8 — Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate. Gentle descent through moorland and rainforest, and your summit certificate.Point to the roof of Africa at sunrise, then a long descent.

➡️ See the full day-by-day itinerary and book the 8-Day Northern Circuit →

Difficulty & Success Rate

The Northern Circuit involves no technical climbing — the challenge is its length and the altitude, not the terrain. What makes it exceptional is its acclimatisation profile: eight days on the mountain, more time spent at altitude than any other route, and a gradual, undulating northern traverse that lets your body adjust thoroughly before the summit push. This is why our 8-day Northern Circuit records an approximate 85–95% summit success rate — the highest of any route on Kilimanjaro. Summit night itself is long, as on every route, but no other trail sends you up with better acclimatisation behind you.

Best Time to Climb the Northern Circuit

The Northern Circuit is best climbed in Kilimanjaro’s dry seasons: January to mid-March and June to October, for the clearest skies and best trail conditions. Its length makes it a superb choice in the busier months too — because it spends so much time on the quiet northern slopes, it stays peaceful even when the southern routes are crowded.

Weather & Terrain

The Northern Circuit passes through every climate zone on Kilimanjaro: montane rainforest at Londorossi, heath and moorland climbing onto the Shira Plateau, high alpine desert across the northern slopes, and the arctic summit zone at Uhuru Peak. Because it circles the mountain, it also shows the greatest variety of any route — western forests, the northern rain-shadow desert, and the green southern descent. Temperatures range from warm in the forest to well below freezing on summit night, so full layering and a sleeping bag rated to around -15°C are essential.

Accommodation on the Route

The Northern Circuit is a full-service camping route. You sleep in quality tents pitched and struck each day by your crew, with a shared mess tent, hot meals from a mountain cook, and safe drinking water throughout. Your camps follow the west-to-north-to-south loop: Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree Camp), Shira 1, Moir Hut, Buffalo Camp, Third Cave and School Hut base camp, before Millennium Camp on descent. A full team of licensed guides, cook and porters supports you the whole way.

How the Northern Circuit Compares to Other Routes

vs Lemosho — the two share the western start and Shira Plateau, but the Northern Circuit adds the quiet northern loop and extra days, giving even better acclimatisation and the higher success rate.

vs Machame — Machame is shorter, busier and steeper; the Northern Circuit is longer, far quieter and summits more reliably.

vs Marangu — Marangu is short and hut-based with a lower success rate; the Northern Circuit is the opposite in every way — long, remote, camping, and the highest success on the mountain.

vs Rongai — both enjoy quiet northern scenery, but the Northern Circuit’s extra length gives it the edge on acclimatisation and success.

Explore all our routes: Machame · Marangu · Lemosho · Rongai · Umbwe

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days does the Northern Circuit take? Our Northern Circuit is an 8-day trek on the mountain — the longest standard route on Kilimanjaro, chosen for its outstanding acclimatisation and the highest summit success rate of any route.

Why does the Northern Circuit have the highest success rate? Because it spends more time on the mountain than any other route, with a gradual profile that gives your body maximum time to adjust to the altitude — the single biggest factor in reaching the summit.

How difficult is the Northern Circuit? There’s no technical climbing. The challenge is the length and the altitude rather than the terrain — but the long, gradual profile makes the altitude far more manageable than on shorter routes.

Is the Northern Circuit good for beginners? Yes, for those with the time. Its gentle pace and superb acclimatisation make it one of the safest, highest-success choices for first-time trekkers with a reasonable level of fitness.

When is the best time to climb the Northern Circuit? The dry seasons — January to mid-March and June to October — offer the best conditions, though the route stays quiet year-round thanks to its remote northern trail.

Where does the Northern Circuit start and finish? It starts at Londorossi Gate on the western side and finishes at Mweka Gate in the south, circling the mountain from west to north to south — the fullest tour of Kilimanjaro of any route.

Ready to climb Kilimanjaro’s longest, highest-success route?

Our 8-Day Northern Circuit trek is a private climb with licensed guides, all park fees and full camping support.

➡️ View the full itinerary & book the 8-Day Northern Circuit →