The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro's least-known and most rewarding route — a 9-day circumnavigation of the mountain's northern face that traverses terrain no other route touches, achieves success rates above 90%, and operates in near-total solitude compared to the crowded southern approaches. If you've climbed Kilimanjaro before and want to see a completely different mountain, or if this is your first attempt and you want every advantage stacked in your favour, the Northern Circuit is the answer.
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What Is the Northern Circuit Route?
The Northern Circuit (also called the 'Round Mountain Route') starts from the same western trailhead as the Lemosho Route at Londorossi Gate but, instead of joining the Machame/Lemosho path south at Lava Tower, peels north to traverse the entire northern face of the mountain before approaching the summit from the east. The route covers approximately 98 km over 9 days — the longest Kilimanjaro itinerary available.
Northern Circuit Route Map and Highlights
The route passes through: Londorossi Gate (2,100m) → Shira Forest Camp (2,650m) → Shira 1 (3,500m) → Shira 2 (3,840m) → Moir Hut (4,200m) → Third Cave Camp (3,870m) → School Hut (4,750m) → Uhuru Peak (5,895m) → Millennium Camp (3,820m) → Mweka Gate (1,640m). The north face section (Shira 2 to School Hut) is entirely off the standard tourist track.
Why the North Face Is Different
Tanzania's northern Kilimanjaro face looks into Kenya — on a clear day you can see Amboseli's elephant herds and the Amboseli basin from the trail. The vegetation here transitions from the southern moorland into more arid, Afromontane scrub — drier, rockier, dramatically different from the Shira Plateau. Most days on the north face, your team will be the only group on the trail. The silence is a genuine part of the experience.
Day-by-Day Northern Circuit Itinerary
Day 1: Londorossi Gate → Shira Forest Camp (2,650m)
Remote western entry through dense montane forest. Buffalo and elephant are occasionally encountered with your armed ranger escort. 7 km, 550m gain, 3–5 hours.
Day 2: Shira Forest Camp → Shira 1 Camp (3,500m)
Exit the forest into open Afromontane moorland. The Shira Plateau opens dramatically — a vast, high-altitude grassland with Kibo rising ahead. 8 km, 850m gain, 5–7 hours.
Day 3: Shira 1 → Shira 2 Camp (3,840m)
Cross the Shira Plateau to its eastern edge. Shira Cathedral rock formation. Kibo peak fully revealed for the first time. 6 km, 340m gain, 3–4 hours.
Day 4: Shira 2 → Moir Hut (4,200m) — Northern Circuit Begins
The route diverges north from the standard Machame/Lemosho path. Within an hour, you're in terrain no other trekkers visit. Moir Hut sits in a remote high-altitude valley — your team is almost certainly the only one there.
Day 5: Moir Hut → Third Cave Camp (3,870m)
Northern face traverse. Views into Kenya's plains. Descent to Third Cave for the 'sleep low' acclimatisation benefit — your highest point today was above 4,500m but you sleep at 3,870m.
Day 6: Third Cave → School Hut (4,750m)
Ascent of the north-eastern face to School Hut — the Northern Circuit's summit launch camp. Higher than Barafu (4,640m) on the southern approach, School Hut gives you a slight head start on the final push.
Day 7: Acclimatisation Day at School Hut
Full rest day with optional rotation walk to 5,000m. This extra high-camp day is the Northern Circuit's defining advantage — your body acclimatises at altitude without the exertion of a full day's hiking.
Day 8: Summit Night → Uhuru Peak → Millennium Camp
Midnight departure from School Hut. The northern approach to the summit joins the crater rim path at Stella Point — slightly different to the standard Barafu approach but equally demanding. Uhuru at sunrise. Descent to Millennium Camp (3,820m).
Day 9: Millennium Camp → Mweka Gate → Moshi
Final forest descent. Summit certificates. Transfer to Moshi.
Northern Circuit vs Lemosho vs Machame
The Northern Circuit takes 2–3 more days than Machame but delivers: better acclimatisation, no crowds on the north face, unique terrain, and success rates 5–8% higher than Lemosho 8-day. It costs more (additional park days) but is significantly less expensive than a failed summit and a return trip. If time is not a constraint, the Northern Circuit is the right choice.
Best Time for the Northern Circuit
The route operates year-round but the dry seasons (January–February and June–October) offer the most reliable conditions on the north face. The northern side of the mountain is drier than the southern face year-round — even in the long rains, the Northern Circuit is more viable than Machame or Lemosho during April–May.
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9-Day Northern Circuit Kilimanjaro — The Scenic Route Around the Mountain
The 9-day Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro's longest and most remote route — circumnavigating the north face with the highest summit …
$3,195.00
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