Kilimanjaro Climbing
8-Day Northern Circuit Route Trek
The Northern Circuit is the newest and longest route on Kilimanjaro, and by most measures the best. It starts on the western side at Londorossi like Lemosho, crosses the Shira Plateau, then instead of turning south towards Barranco it swings north and circles almost the entire northern flank of the mountain before approaching the summit from the east.
That circuit adds days at altitude without adding sleeping height, which is exactly what acclimatisation requires. The result is the highest reported summit success rate of any route on the mountain, commonly cited at 95 percent or above for well run eight and nine day climbs.
It is also the quietest route by a wide margin. The northern slopes receive a small fraction of Kilimanjaro’s traffic, and for two or three days you may see almost nobody. For trekkers who find the Machame camps oppressive, this is the answer.
The trade off is time and cost. Eight days is a significant commitment and the route is among the more expensive because of crew days and the Londorossi transfer. What you get is the most complete experience of the mountain available: every aspect, every climate zone, and the best chance of standing on the summit.
Planning your trip
Practical planning. The itinerary runs over 8 days, which sets the pace: each additional day reduces transfer pressure and gives the guide room to respond to conditions rather than follow a fixed schedule. We quote fees at the tariff period current at the time of booking, since park, conservation and crater charges are revised periodically and are a significant share of the total cost. Yellow fever certification is required if you are arriving from or transiting a country with risk of transmission, and travel insurance covering medical evacuation is a condition of travel on all our programmes.
Season. The two reliable climbing windows are January to mid March and June to October. The long rains from late March through May and the short rains in November bring wet forest sections, heavier cloud and colder summit nights. Climbing outside the main windows is possible and cheaper, but success rates fall and the experience is materially harder.
On the mountain. Walk slowly, drink three to four litres of water daily and report headaches or nausea to your guide rather than concealing them. Guides carry pulse oximeters and check oxygen saturation twice daily. Descent is the only reliable treatment for altitude sickness, and a guide who calls it is protecting you rather than failing you. Porters are paid and loaded according to Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines.
Where this trip goes
Read the full destination guides for every protected area covered by this itinerary before you travel. Each one sets out habitat, seasonality, access and the managing authority in detail.
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Highlights
- Highest summit success rate of any Kilimanjaro route
- Quietest route on the mountain, with near solitude on the northern slopes
- Full 360 degree circuit of the summit cone
- Shira Plateau crossing and the Lava Tower
- Approach to the summit from the east via School Hut
Trip itinerary
Day 1: Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa Camp
The long drive around the western flank to Londorossi for registration, then three to four hours through wild rainforest to Mti Mkubwa at 2,780 metres.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp
Five to six hours out of the forest onto the western rim of the Shira Plateau, camping at 3,505 metres.
Day 3: Shira 1 to Moir Hut
Five to seven hours east across the plateau and then north to Moir Hut at 4,200 metres, a quiet camp in a valley on the northern side that most Kilimanjaro trekkers never see.
An afternoon acclimatisation walk up Lent Hills reaches around 4,600 metres before descending to sleep.
Day 4: Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp
Five to seven hours climbing over a ridge and then descending north east to Buffalo Camp at 4,020 metres, with expansive views north across the plains towards Kenya.
The northern circuit proper begins here and the sense of remoteness is considerable.
Day 5: Buffalo Camp to Rongai Third Cave
Five to six hours continuing east around the northern slopes, over the Buffalo Ridge and through the Pofu area to Third Cave at 3,800 metres.
A long, gently undulating day with excellent acclimatisation value.
Day 6: Third Cave to School Hut
Four to five hours climbing south west across the upper slopes to School Hut at 4,800 metres, on the eastern side of the summit cone.
Arrive in the early afternoon, eat and rest for a midnight departure.
Day 7: Summit day and descent to Millennium
Midnight start for the ascent to Gilman’s Point at 5,681 metres and on around the rim to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 metres.
Descend the southern side to Barafu for a rest and meal, then continue to Millennium Camp at 3,820 metres.
Day 8: Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Four to five hours descending through moorland and rainforest to Mweka Gate at 1,640 metres, certificates, and the transfer back to Moshi.
Included
- Kilimanjaro National Park entry, camping and rescue fees
- Four-season mountain tents, sleeping mats and mess tent
- Professional KPAP-registered guides and assistant guides at improved ratios
- Porters, cook and all mountain meals
- Two nights hotel in Moshi before and after the climb, bed and breakfast
- All transfers including the Londorossi Gate drive
- Emergency oxygen, pulse oximeter, twice daily health checks and portable toilet
Excluded
- International flights and Tanzania visa fees
- Travel insurance with high altitude trekking cover, mandatory
- Sleeping bag and personal trekking equipment, hire available
- Tips for the guiding and porter team
- Personal items, drinks and laundry
Accommodation
Seven nights camping in four-season tents with sleeping mats, mess tent and private portable toilet. The northern camps at Moir Hut, Buffalo Camp and Pofu are among the quietest on the mountain.
Guide and assistant guide ratios are improved on this itinerary given its length. Two hotel nights in Moshi bracket the climb with a full gear check and briefing.
FAQs
Is the Northern Circuit worth the extra cost?
If summit success and solitude both matter to you, yes. It has the highest success rate on the mountain and the lowest traffic. If cost is the binding constraint, seven day Machame delivers most of the outcome for considerably less.
How quiet is it really?
Genuinely quiet. The northern slopes carry a small fraction of the mountain’s traffic and there are days where you will see very few other trekkers. The camps only become busy again after you rejoin the descent routes.
Is eight days of walking difficult?
The individual days are moderate, five to seven hours of walking at a deliberately slow pace. The cumulative fatigue is real, but the gentle gradient and the extra acclimatisation mean most trekkers feel stronger by day six, not weaker.
Can this be done in nine days?
Yes, and it improves the profile further by splitting one of the longer northern stages. We are happy to quote the nine day version if you want the maximum possible margin.
What level of fitness does this climb require?
You need to be able to walk five to seven hours a day on consecutive days and to manage a summit push of fourteen to sixteen hours. Regular hill walking with a loaded pack in the months before travel prepares you far better than gym cardio. Kilimanjaro is a walk, not a technical climb, but it is a long one at altitude.
How are porters treated and paid?
We operate to Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project guidelines on load limits, wages, meals and shelter. Load weights are checked at the gate and again on the mountain. If you would like to see the wage schedule for your climb we will provide it.
What happens if I cannot continue?
An assistant guide descends with you while the rest of the group continues, which is why guide ratios matter. Descent is the treatment for altitude sickness and it is effective and immediate. Emergency oxygen is carried on every climb and evacuation arrangements are in place.
What equipment do I need to bring?
Broken-in boots, a sleeping bag rated to at least minus ten Celsius, insulated summit layers including a down jacket, waterproof shell, gloves, headtorch and trekking poles. We send a full kit list on booking and most items can be hired in Moshi if you would rather not carry them from home.
How far in advance should I book 8-Day Northern Circuit Route Trek?
For peak months, meaning July to October and the Christmas and New Year period, six to twelve months ahead. Camps and mountain permits in those windows genuinely sell out. For green season travel, two to three months is usually sufficient.
Can this itinerary be customised?
Yes. Every itinerary we publish is a starting point. Days can be added or removed, accommodation tiers changed, internal flights substituted for road transfers, and extensions to Zanzibar or the southern parks attached. Tell us the constraint and we will build around it.
