The “Orbit” Experience
While traditional routes ascend and descend on narrow paths, the Northern Circuit orbits the massive volcanic cone. This unique 360-degree traverse offers a panoramic theater of the mountain’s shifting face—from the lush western forests to the stark northern frontier and the sapphire glaciers of the east.
The Gold Standard of Success
Success on Kilimanjaro is a biological game, and the Northern Circuit is the ultimate strategy. With a 9-day itinerary, this route offers the most superior acclimatization profile on Earth. By utilizing the professional “Climb High, Sleep Low” methodology over an extended period, we achieve our highest recorded summit success rates. In 2025, if your primary goal is to stand on the peak, this is your route.
True Wilderness Solitude
The Northern Circuit is the path less traveled. It enjoys the lowest daily trek traffic on the mountain. For much of your journey, the only footprints you will see are your own, allowing for a profound, meditative connection with the African wilderness.
The Latitude East Africa Edge: “Orbit Kilimanjaro”
We have refined the 9-Day Orbit Itinerary to ensure an unparalleled experience:
Remote Western Start: Begin your journey at the Lemosho trailhead, passing through pristine rainforests home to the elusive Colobus monkey.
The Northern Traverse: While others turn south toward the crowds, we turn north, venturing into the high-altitude silence of the northern slopes.
The Gilman’s Entry: We approach the summit via the dramatic Gilman’s Point, offering a grand reveal of the inner crater as the sun breaks over the 2025 horizon.
Route: Lemosho gate to Mti Mkubwa (“Big Tree”) Camp
Stats: 2,400m to 2,800m | Distance: 6km | Duration: 3–4 Hours
The Experience: We begin at the remote Londorossi Gate. Your trek winds through an ancient, undisturbed rainforest where the calls of the Black-and-white Colobus monkeys echo through the canopy. This is the quietest entry point to the mountain.
Route: Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 Camp
Stats: 2,800m to 3,550m | Distance: 8km | Duration: 5–6 Hours
The Experience: Leaving the rainforest, you ascend into the moorlands. The trail steepens as you scale the hills below the Shira Plateau. As the terrain levels off, the massive Kibo Peak reveals itself across the vast, volcanic expanse.
Route: Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp
Stats: 3,550m to 3,850m | Distance: 7km | Duration: 3–4 Hours
The Experience: A gentle trek across one of the highest plateaus on earth. We offer an exclusive acclimatization detour to Shira Cathedral, a jagged rock spire offering 360-degree views of the plateau before reaching the tranquil Shira 2 Camp.
Route: Shira 2 to Moir Huts via Lava Tower
Stats: 3,850m to 4,200m (Peak at 4,600m) | Duration: 6–7 Hours
The Experience: We ascend the high desert to Lava Tower, a 300-foot volcanic monolith. To maintain our “Orbit,” we then head northwest toward the isolated Moir Huts. This camp is a hidden gem, tucked away in a corner of the mountain seldom visited by other trekkers.
Route: Moir Huts to Buffalo (Pofu) Camp
Stats: 4,200m to 4,020m | Distance: 12km | Duration: 5–7 Hours
The Experience: Today, we enter the true Northern Circuit. We begin with an optional scramble up Little Lent Hill (4,375m) for a panoramic look at the Kenyan plains. The trail then contours around the northern face, offering a level of solitude and silence found nowhere else on the mountain.
Route: Buffalo Camp to Third Cave Camp
Stats: 4,020m to 3,870m | Duration: 5–7 Hours
The Experience: We traverse deep valleys and high ridges through the alpine desert. This section of the orbit allows you to see the “backside” of the mountain, a perspective reserved for only the top 3% of Kilimanjaro climbers.
Route: Third Cave to School Huts
Stats: 3,870m to 4,750m | Distance: 5km | Duration: 4–5 Hours
The Experience: A steady climb brings us to “The Saddle,” a desolate lunar landscape between Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. We arrive at School Huts by early afternoon, allowing for a critical half-day of rest and mental preparation before the midnight summit call.
Route: School Huts to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
Stats: 4,750m to 5,895m to 3,110m | Duration: 12–16 Hours
The Triumph: At midnight, the world disappears, leaving only your headlamp and the stars. You ascend the switchbacks to Gilman’s Point on the crater rim. As the 2025 sun breaks over the horizon, you traverse to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After the victory, we begin the long descent past the glaciers to the shelter of Mweka Camp.
Route: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
Stats: 3,110m to 1,830m | Duration: 3 Hours
The Experience: A rapid descent through the rainforest. You emerge at the gate to receive your official gold certificate. We transfer you back to Arusha for a well-earned celebration at your specified lodge.
Paradoxically, the longest route is often considered the most manageable. While the journey requires high endurance, the 9-day pacing creates a “Gold Standard” for acclimatization. By allowing your body nearly double the time of shorter routes to adapt to the thinning air, the physical strain is significantly reduced. You will find the terrain generally “easy underfoot,” though a high level of cardiovascular fitness remains the hallmark of a successful 2025 climber.
Need help with booking? Send Us A Message
