Northern Circuit

No, the Northern Circuit doesn't lead you up Barranco Wall. The Barranco Wall is on the southern slope of Kilimanjaro, while the Northern Circuit leads you across the northern slope. If you're fearful of heights, the Northern Circuit is a very good option for you.

None of the routes up Kilimanjaro is easy; this is a tough mountain that requires fitness, determination and teamwork to successfully climb! That said, the Northern Circuit is one of the easier routes in the sense that it gives you plenty of time to acclimatise to the increased altitude. This means your chances of developing altitude sickness are low, and you should be able to make it to the summit.

The Northern Circuit is the longest of the seven Kilimanjaro routes. This is what gives it such an excellent acclimatistion profile. The entire route is 98 km (61 miles).

The scenery along the Northern Circuit is fantastic! For starters, you see so much of the mountain and have views in so many directions. This is because you ascend the western slope, traverse the northern slope, and then descend the southeastern slope. You walk through rainforest, moorland, alpine desert and the arctic zone.

On the Northern Circuit you stay in tented camps and your tour operator provides your group with a private toilet tent. During the day, when on the trail, you simply have to find a bush or a rock to hide behind. For full details, please read 6 things I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro.

To all the women intending to hike the Northern Circuit, you might like to purchase a Shewee or similar device to make life easier on the trail. You can learn more about this and other suggestions in Advice for women climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.