Dreaming of summiting Africa's highest peak? The Northern Circuit offers a unique and rewarding journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. This route is renowned for its stunning scenery, gradual acclimatization, and high success rate.
This is the longest route to the summit, offering trekkers ample time to acclimatize and fully immerse themselves in the breathtaking surroundings.
In this guide, we’ll take you through each stage of the Northern Circuit route on Kilimanjaro, providing tips, insights, and essential information to help you prepare for a memorable journey.
The Northern Circuit route on Kilimanjaro is the newest and longest route on Kilimanjaro, covering approximately 90 kilometers (56 miles) over 9 to 10 days. A minimum of 8 days on the mountain is recommended to acclimatize & prepare for the summit, with 9 days or more significantly increasing your chance of reaching the summit. Known for its gradual ascent, this is one of the routes with the highest summit success rates. The path circles around the northern side of the mountain, providing hikers with stunning, less-frequented views and diverse landscapes - from rainforests to alpine deserts.
This route is perfect for trekkers who want to avoid the busier southern routes, such as the Machame or Marangu routes. It also offers more opportunities for acclimatization, which increases your chances of reaching the summit successfully.
Your adventure begins when you arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you'll be greeted by your personal tour guide and transferred to your hotel near Moshi, a small town located at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The first day on the mountain starts with a two-hour drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate (2,100 meters). After registering with Kilimanjaro National Park authorities and completing formalities, you’ll head to the starting point at 2,360 meters. A short hike of 3-4 hours will take you through the rainforest, where you’ll end this gentle trek at Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,820 meters).
After an early breakfast, you’ll continue trekking through the last section of the rainforest before entering the Shira Plateau. This plateau is one of the highest on Earth and offers a change of scenery as you leave the forest behind and enter the alpine moorland zone. The trek is relatively short and gradual, and the day ends at Shira Camp 1.
On Day 4, the trek crosses the stunning Shira Plateau before heading northeast towards the base of Moir Camp. The plateau offers vast, expansive views of the African plains below and the Western Breach above. The route gradually climbs to Moir Camp, a secluded site that offers beautiful views and is relatively uncrowded compared to other camps.
Day 5 starts with a moderately steep climb out of Moir Valley. Trekkers can take an optional detour to summit Little Lent Hill (4,375 meters), a great acclimatization hike, before rejoining the Northern Circuit. The path continues around the northern slopes of Kibo, with views stretching towards Kenya. You’ll arrive at Buffalo Camp after a 5-7 hour trek, where you can relax and enjoy lunch.
On Day 6, you’ll climb up to Buffalo Ridge before descending into Pofu Camp for lunch. Afterward, you continue the trek eastward around the northern side of Kibo to reach Rongai Third Cave Camp. By this point, most trekkers are well acclimatized, and the walk is shorter than the previous days, providing an opportunity to enjoy the scenery and take a restful afternoon at camp.
Day 7 involves a steady ascent across the Saddle, a flat area that lies between the peaks of Kibo and Mawenzi. The day ends at School Hut Camp (4,800 meters), your base for the summit push. After arriving, you’ll have an early dinner and head to bed as you’ll be awakened before midnight for the final ascent to the summit.
Summit day begins with a midnight wake-up call for hot tea and biscuits before the final ascent. The climb to Uhuru Peak takes around 6-8 hours, with a stop at Gilman’s Point (5,681 meters). After reaching Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa, you’ll take in the views and celebrate your achievement. After a brief rest, you’ll descend back to Millennium Camp (3,950 meters) for the night, a total of 14-16 hours of trekking.
On your final day, you’ll make a steady descent through the dense Montane Forest back to Mweka Gate. The trek takes around 3-4 hours. After signing out with Kilimanjaro National Park authorities, you’ll receive your summit certificate, green for those who reached Gilman’s Point and gold for those who summited Uhuru Peak. You’ll then be driven back to your hotel for a well-deserved rest.
After breakfast, you will be transferred back to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight home, marking the end of an unforgettable adventure.
Conquering Northern Circuit route on Kilimanjaro is an unforgettable adventure that will test your limits and reward you with breathtaking views and a sense of accomplishment. With the right preparation, support, and a positive mindset, you can achieve your goal of summiting Africa's highest peak.
Partner with Good Earth Tours for a seamless and responsible Kilimanjaro experience. Our expert team will guide you through every step of the journey, ensuring your safety, comfort, and enjoyment. We are committed to traveling responsibly and minimizing our impact on the environment.
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