Northern Circuit on Kilimanjaro: The Longest Route and the Most Time to Acclimatize

Northern Circuit at a glance

Why choose the Northern Circuit on Kilimanjaro?

It comes down to time and space. You spend longer at moderate altitude than on any other route, which gives your body the best chance to adapt. You also leave the busy southern path after Lava Tower and spend days on slopes that few climbers ever walk. If you have been on a crowded trail before, the difference is striking.

The Northern Circuit trail, section by section

The western forest and Shira Plateau

The first days follow the Lemosho path, through forest from Londorossi Gate and then across the Shira Plateau, with Kibo in view ahead.

Lava Tower to Moir Hut

You climb to Lava Tower at 4,600 meters (15,090 feet), then turn north to Moir Hut at about 4,200 meters (13,780 feet). This is where you leave the southern routes behind.

The northern slopes

Over the next days, you cross ridges by way of Buffalo Camp and Third Cave, with wide views across the plains toward Kenya. The path rises and falls, which is hard on the legs but excellent for acclimatization.

School Hut and the summit

From School Hut at 4,750 meters (15,580 feet), you leave around midnight for Gilman's Point on the crater rim, then walk past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 meters (19,341 feet).

Down through Mweka

You descend the southern side to Mweka Camp and Mweka Gate, completing a circle of the mountain.

Northern Circuit climbs and prices

Prices are per person for two sharing, and include two hotel nights in Moshi, airport transfers, park fees and your full crew of one guide, five porters and one cook per climber.

How difficult is the Northern Circuit?

It is the longest route, but also the most gradual. Most walking days are moderate, and there is no Barranco Wall. Your main challenges are the number of nights in a tent and the same long summit night as every other route. By the time you reach School Hut, most climbers feel well adjusted, but it is still cold, long and hard.

Is the Northern Circuit worth the extra days and cost?

It costs $2,580 per person, which is $490 more than a 7-day climb and $245 more than the 8-day Lemosho. For that, you get more nights to adapt and far fewer people. Operators publish very different summit figures and none are independently audited, so treat any single number with caution. Commonly quoted ranges run from about 27 to 42 percent on 5-day climbs, and from about 64 to 92 percent on 7-day climbs, with 8 and 9-day climbs reported higher still. The exact figures matter less than the pattern: more days means better odds.

If you have nine days and summit success matters to you, we think it is worth it. If you want the Barranco Wall and the southern views, or you are short of days, the 8-day Lemosho is the right call.

Who should climb the Northern Circuit?

Choose it if reaching the summit matters most, if you have struggled at altitude before, or if you want the mountain almost to yourself. It may not suit you if you dislike camping, since you spend eight nights in a tent, or if your holiday is short. Bring comfortable camp clothes and something to read for the afternoons.

Best time to climb the Northern Circuit

The driest months are January to mid-March and June to October. Because it spends so long on the quieter northern side, this route feels uncrowded even in July, August and September, which makes it one of the best choices if you need to climb in peak season. See our month-by-month guide.

Summit night on the Northern Circuit: what to expect

Summit night on the Northern Circuit starts from School Hut around midnight and climbs to Gilman's Point on the crater rim, usually around dawn. From there, you walk the rim past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, with the glaciers beside you. After eight days of gradual acclimatization, many climbers feel stronger here than on shorter routes. It is still cold and hard, so do not let the long build-up make you complacent about your layers.

What a typical day on the Northern Circuit feels like

Most days start with a hot drink at your tent or bunk around 6:30 a.m., followed by breakfast. You set off by about 8 a.m. with your guide, walking slowly with regular stops for water and photos. Your porters pack up behind you, pass you on the trail and have the next stop ready by the time you arrive. Lunch comes either on the trail or at camp, depending on the day.

Afternoons are for resting, reading, washing with a bowl of warm water and getting to know your crew. Dinner is hot and filling, and most climbers are asleep soon after dark. It is a simple rhythm, and many people say it is the part of the Northern Circuit they miss most.

Getting to the Northern Circuit from Moshi

The climb begins at Londorossi Gate on the western side, about three hours by road from Moshi including registration. We collect you from your hotel in the morning, so you reach the trailhead around midday. You finish at Mweka Gate, about an hour from Moshi, and we drive you back to your hotel. Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), about an hour from Moshi, and we meet you there. All these transfers are included in your price.

How to prepare for the Northern Circuit

Start training at least 12 weeks before you fly, with long hikes on back-to-back days. Our Kilimanjaro training plan shows you how. Our packing list covers what to bring and what you can rent in Moshi. See a travel clinic six to eight weeks before you leave, and ask about altitude medication and malaria tablets for the lower areas.

Your crew and safety on the Northern Circuit

Every climber on our Kilimanjaro climbs has one guide, five porters and one cook. A group of two therefore has two guides, ten porters and two cooks. That ratio is higher than many operators offer, and it means that if one climber needs to slow down or turn back, the other can continue with their own guide.

Our guides have worked on Tanzania tours for 7 years. They are graduates of the College of African Wildlife Management, Mweka, and the National College of Tourism, and they hold certification from those institutions. We are also a partner of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), which works for the fair treatment of mountain crews.

We carry pulse oximeters to track your blood-oxygen levels each day, emergency oxygen cylinders for emergency descents and severe altitude illness, and a Gamow bag, a portable pressure chamber used to treat advanced altitude sickness. Helicopter evacuation is available through providers including Kili MedAir and Proflight Helicopters, with fees starting from $3,500 per person. It is not part of the climb price, so check that your travel insurance covers trekking to 6,000 meters (19,685 feet) and evacuation before you buy it.

Northern Circuit: your questions answered

How the Northern Circuit compares with other Kilimanjaro routes

Still deciding? Our Kilimanjaro route comparison shows all five side by side.

Should you climb the Northern Circuit?

If you have nine days and you want the best chance at the summit, with few people around you, yes. Send us your dates and we will send a written quote.