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Trek Up Kilimanjaro
A wide view of climbers strung out along the trail

Northern Circuit Route

The longest route on Kilimanjaro and the strongest acclimatisation profile available. If you have nine days, this is the most conservative way up.

8–9 days
On the mountain
90 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
Camping
Sleeping
Northern Circuit Route altitude profile, in brief. Full data is given in the table below.
Northern Circuit Route altitude profile, in brief
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Londorossi Gate 2,100 0 No
1 Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 6 Yes
2 Shira 1 Camp 3,610 14 Yes
3 Shira 2 / Moir area 4,200 24 Yes
4 Buffalo Camp 4,020 36 Yes
5 Third Cave 3,870 44 Yes
6 School Hut 4,750 49 Yes
7 Uhuru Peak 5,895 58 No
7 Millennium Camp 3,820 67 Yes
8 Mweka Camp 3,100 74 Yes
9 Mweka Gate 1,640 84 No
Sleeping altitudes, night by night

In short

The Northern Circuit starts on Lemosho, then swings around the rarely walked northern slopes before approaching the summit from the east. It is the only route that shows you the mountain from all four sides.

What it does well

  • The most gradual altitude gain of any route on the mountain.
  • The northern slopes are the quietest ground on Kilimanjaro.
  • The only route that circles the entire mountain.
  • More time on the mountain means more margin if a day goes badly.

What to weigh up

  • The most expensive route, because of the number of days inside the park.
  • Nine days is a significant amount of leave to arrange.
  • Several long walking days in the middle of the itinerary.

Route facts

8–9 days
Recommended length
90 km
Total distance
5,895 m
Highest point
West
Approach side
Mweka
Descent route
Camping
Sleeping
Challenging but well paced
Difficulty
Jan · Feb · Mar · Jun · Jul · Aug · Sep · Oct
Best months

The altitude profile

Circles mark sleeping altitudes. Those are what your body adapts to — the high points you walk over during the day matter far less.

Northern Circuit Route elevation profile Route Sleeping altitude
Northern Circuit Route elevation profile. Full data is given in the table below. 2,000 m 3,000 m 4,000 m 5,000 m 6,000 m Mti Mkubwa 2,650 Shira 1 Cam 3,610 Shira 2 / M 4,200 Buffalo Cam 4,020 Third Cave 3,870 School Hut 4,750 Uhuru Peak 5,895 Millennium 3,820 Mweka Camp 3,100
Northern Circuit Route elevation profile
Day Location Altitude (m) Distance (km) Overnight
1 Londorossi Gate 2,100 0 No
1 Mti Mkubwa Camp 2,650 6 Yes
2 Shira 1 Camp 3,610 14 Yes
3 Shira 2 / Moir area 4,200 24 Yes
4 Buffalo Camp 4,020 36 Yes
5 Third Cave 3,870 44 Yes
6 School Hut 4,750 49 Yes
7 Uhuru Peak 5,895 58 No
7 Millennium Camp 3,820 67 Yes
8 Mweka Camp 3,100 74 Yes
9 Mweka Gate 1,640 84 No

The route, camp by camp

As walked on our 9 Days Northern Circuit Route itinerary, with the altitudes it gives.

N Mawenzi Londorossi Gate2,100 m Mti Mkubwa2,650 m Shira 1 Camp3,610 m Moir Hut Camp4,200 m Buffalo Camp4,020 m Third Cave Camp3,870 m School Hut4,750 m Uhuru Peak5,895 m Millennium Camp3,820 m Mweka Camp3,100 m Mweka Gate1,640 m
Ascent Descent Overnight camp Schematic map, not to scale: positions are approximate and not for navigation. Altitudes are from our itineraries. Terrain: SRTM (NASA), via Terrain Tiles on AWS.
  1. 01 Londorossi Gate gate 2,100 m
  2. 02 Mti Mkubwa (Big Tree) Camp camp 2,650 m
  3. 03 Shira 1 Camp camp 3,610 m
  4. 04 Moir Hut Camp hut 4,200 m
  5. 05 Buffalo Camp camp 4,020 m
  6. 06 Third Cave Camp camp 3,870 m
  7. 07 School Hut hut 4,750 m
  8. 08 Uhuru Peak summit 5,895 m
  9. 09 Millennium Camp · descent camp 3,820 m
  10. 10 Mweka Camp · descent camp 3,100 m
  11. 11 Mweka Gate · descent gate 1,640 m

Who this route suits

A good fit for

  • Climbers who want the most time to acclimatise
  • Trekkers seeking solitude
  • Anyone who has struggled at altitude before
  • Photographers

Probably not for

  • Travellers on a tight schedule
  • Climbers on a tight budget

Itineraries on this route

Before you decide

At a glance

Acclimatisation 5/5
Trail traffic 5/5
Difficulty 3/5
Scenery 5/5
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