9 Days Northern Circuit Route Kilimanjaro Climb
Kilimanjaro's longest and quietest route, circling the remote northern slopes over nine days for the best acclimatization and summit chances on the mountain.
- Duration
- 9 days
- Route
- Lemosho Gate – Mti Mkubwa – Shira 1 – Shira 2 – Lava Tower – Moir Hut – Buffalo Camp – Third Cave – School Hut – Uhuru Peak – Millennium Camp – Mweka Gate
- Start / end
- Starts and ends in Moshi or Arusha (pick-up and drop-off at your hotel)
- Best time
- Late June to October and January to early March are usually the driest months; the northern side also tends to receive less rain than the south.
- Trip style
- Fully supported camping climb with professional mountain guides, cook and porters, using quality mountain tents, a dining tent and toilet tent. Available as a private climb or on join-in departures.
Tour overview
The Northern Circuit is the longest route on Kilimanjaro and, for many, the most rewarding. It begins on the western Lemosho trail, crosses the Shira Plateau and climbs to the Lava Tower, then leaves the busy southern circuit to traverse the rarely visited northern slopes, with views stretching across the plains toward Kenya.
Nine days on the mountain give your body the time it needs to adjust, and this route is widely regarded as offering the best acclimatization and some of the highest summit success rates on Kilimanjaro. The campsites are quiet, the scenery changes constantly, and the summit push from School Hut joins the crater rim at Gilman's Point before continuing to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m).
This climb suits hikers who want solitude, wilderness and the best possible preparation for summit night. It is also a good choice if you have struggled with altitude before. Professional guides, a cook and porters look after every detail.
Highlights
- Kilimanjaro's longest route with excellent acclimatization
- Remote northern slopes with few other climbers
- Shira Plateau, Lava Tower and views toward Kenya
- Summit via Gilman's Point to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)
- Nine days to enjoy every vegetation zone at a gentle pace
- Fully supported by guides, cook and porters
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Lemosho Gate (2,100 m) to Mti Mkubwa Camp (2,650 m)
After a morning pick-up from your hotel, drive about 3 to 4 hours to Londorossi Gate on the western side of the mountain for registration, then continue to the Lemosho trailhead. After lunch, set off on a gentle walk of about 3 to 4 hours through dense, quiet rainforest, listening for turacos and watching for colobus monkeys in the canopy. Reach Mti Mkubwa Camp in the late afternoon, where your crew has already set up camp and dinner is on its way.
Day 2Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp (3,500 m)
Leave the rainforest and climb steadily through giant heather and moorland, with the views opening up behind you. The trail crosses the Shira Ridge before dropping gently onto the edge of the Shira Plateau, an ancient collapsed caldera. Arrive at Shira 1 Camp after about 5 to 6 hours of walking. On a clear evening you get your first proper view of the snow-capped Kibo summit, glowing pink at sunset, with Mount Meru visible across the plains to the west.
Day 3Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp (3,850 m)
A relaxed day of acclimatization. Cross the open Shira Plateau, perhaps with a detour to the Shira Cathedral, a dramatic rock buttress with great views. The walking is gentle, about 4 to 5 hours, across grassland and volcanic rocks dotted with everlasting flowers. Reach Shira 2 Camp in time for a late lunch, then rest in the afternoon. A short walk higher up near camp in the late afternoon helps your body adjust before the bigger days ahead.
Day 4Shira 2 to Lava Tower (4,600 m) and Moir Hut (4,200 m)
Climb east through alpine desert to the Lava Tower, a towering volcanic plug at about 4,600 meters, where you stop for lunch and acclimatization. Here, instead of descending south to Barranco like most climbers, you head north toward Moir Hut, a quiet camp tucked beneath the Lent Hills in a broad valley. The walk takes about 6 to 7 hours. From now on you are on the less-visited side of the mountain, with only a few other groups for company.
Day 5Moir Hut to Buffalo Camp (4,020 m)
Climb out of the Moir valley and begin the traverse of the northern slopes. The trail rises and falls across ridges and gullies, with the summit glaciers above you on one side and the plains of Kenya's Amboseli region stretching away on the other. On clear days you may even make out distant hills on the horizon. After about 5 to 7 hours of walking reach Buffalo Camp, a wild and peaceful spot well suited to stargazing.
Day 6Buffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp (3,870 m)
Continue east around the northern flank of the mountain, crossing the Pofu area and dropping slightly in altitude, which helps with acclimatization. The terrain is open alpine desert with expansive views, and you will likely see few people all day. The walk takes about 5 to 6 hours and ends at Third Cave Camp on the upper Rongai route, beneath the saddle between Kibo and the jagged peaks of Mawenzi. Rest and enjoy the quiet afternoon.
Day 7Third Cave to School Hut (4,750 m)
Climb steadily up across the barren saddle toward Kibo, with Mawenzi's spires behind you. The walk takes about 4 to 5 hours and brings you to School Hut, your high camp for the summit push. Arrive by lunchtime, then rest, hydrate and prepare your summit clothing and equipment. Your guide gives a full briefing and health check. After an early dinner, try to sleep for a few hours before the wake-up call shortly before midnight.
Day 8Summit Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), descend to Millennium Camp (3,820 m)
Begin around midnight, climbing by headlamp up steep switchbacks to Gilman's Point on the crater rim, usually in about 5 to 6 hours. Continue along the rim past Stella Point to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, in time to see the sun light up the glaciers. After celebrating, descend the southern side past Barafu Camp, where you rest and eat, and continue to Millennium Camp. It is a long, demanding day of about 12 to 15 hours.
Day 9Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate (1,640 m) and Moshi
After breakfast and a farewell song from your crew, continue your descent through heath and then rainforest, passing Mweka Camp on the way down to Mweka Gate. The walk takes about 5 to 6 hours and can be muddy in places, so take your time. At the gate you sign out of the park and receive your summit certificate, and this is the customary time to thank your crew with tips. After lunch, transfer back to your hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
What is included
- Return transfers between your Moshi or Arusha hotel and the park gates
- All Kilimanjaro National Park fees, including conservation, camping and rescue fees
- Professional, certified mountain guides, assistant guides, cook and porters
- Quality mountain tents, sleeping mats, dining tent with table and chairs
- Private portable toilet tent
- All meals on the mountain as listed
- Purified drinking water and hot drinks throughout the climb
- Emergency oxygen, first-aid kit and daily pulse oximeter checks
- Summit certificate
Not included
- International flights
- Tanzania visa
- Travel insurance covering trekking to 6,000 m (compulsory)
- Tips for your guides, cook and porters
- Hotel accommodation before and after the climb
- Sleeping bag, trekking poles and personal gear (rental available)
- Drinks other than water and hot drinks
- Personal items and snacks
Good to know
- Nine nights of camping at altitude require warm layers, a four-season sleeping bag and good-quality boots.
- The northern slopes are cold at night and quieter, so camps feel remote; bring a power bank for charging devices.
- Tipping your mountain crew is a standard and expected part of Kilimanjaro trekking, and a larger crew supports this longer route.
- Allow at least one night in Moshi or Arusha before the climb for your briefing and gear check.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Northern Circuit considered the best for acclimatization?
It spends more days on the mountain than any other route and gains altitude gradually, with several nights around 3,800 to 4,200 meters. This gives your body time to adapt before summit night, which is the single biggest factor in reaching the top.
Is the Northern Circuit harder than other routes?
The daily stages are moderate, but the route is long, so you need the stamina to hike for nine consecutive days. Summit night is similar in difficulty to other routes and is generally easier thanks to the better acclimatization.
Will we see other climbers?
On the first days you share the trail with Lemosho and Machame climbers, but after the Lava Tower the route becomes very quiet. You rejoin other groups at the crater rim and on the descent.
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