Imagine walking for six days and seeing fewer than 20 other climbers. Imagine sleeping on the remote northern slopes of Kibo, where the glaciers calve in silence and the only footprints in the dust are from buffalo. The Northern Circuit is Kilimanjaro as it was 30 years ago – wild, quiet, and utterly yours.
Why experienced climbers choose Lemosho:
- ✓ Lowest crowds – 90%+ of climbers never see this side of the mountain
- Best acclimatization – you circle the entire mountain, gaining altitude slowly
- Wildlife encounters – buffalo, eland, and occasionally elephant on northern slopes
- Glacier views – the north side glaciers are the most pristine and least photographed
- Summit from the east – approach via School Hut, different perspective than Machame/Lemosho
What makes our Machame different:
- Experienced trekkers who want solitude
- Anyone who can take 11-12 total days off
- Photographers seeking unique angles
- Second-time Kilimanjaro climbers wanting a completely different experience
Day One
You leave Arusha by 8am. The drive to Londorossi Gate is 3-4 hours – longer than Machame, but worth every bump. You pass through small farms, coffee plantations, and villages where children wave at every vehicle.
Londorossi Gate is quiet. No queues. No chaos. Your crew handles registration while you watch forest hornbills in the trees.
The hike is gentle – a soft introduction. The rainforest here feels untouched. Moss hangs from branches. The trail is sometimes muddy, sometimes carpeted with leaves. You reach Lemosho Camp by late afternoon.
Day Two
The morning starts in forest. Then, around 10am, the trees thin. By noon, you are walking through open heathland with your first unobstructed view of Kibo’s glaciers.
This is the moment most climbers cry. Not from exertion – from awe.
Shira Camp 1 sits on the edge of the Shira Plateau – the remnants of Kilimanjaro’s third volcano, collapsed millions of years ago. The camp is exposed, sometimes windy, but the sunset turns the mountain pink and orange.
Day Three
Today is a gentle traverse across the Shira Plateau – flat, wide, and ancient. You walk past the Shira Cathedral (a massive rock formation) and through fields of giant groundsels that grow only on East African mountains.
Shira Camp 2 is better than Shira 1 – less wind, better water, and a clear view of Kibo’s western flank. You arrive by early afternoon.
Acclimatization activity: Your guide leads a short (optional) walk to a nearby ridge at 4,000m. Fifteen minutes up, then back down. This small effort pays huge dividends on summit night.
You will see the Machame route climbers joining you here. Do not feel superior. Just feel smart for choosing the longer, better route.
Day Four
You climb slowly toward Lava Tower (4,600m) – same as Machame climbers do. But instead of descending immediately to Barranco, you continue across the ridge to Moir Hut (4,200m).
This is the secret of Lemosho. You spend the night higher than Machame climbers do on Day 3, giving your body an extra dose of altitude stress before sleeping slightly lower.
The landscape is lunar – rocks, dust, and the occasional hardy lichen. Moir Hut is basic but beautiful. The views of Kibo’s glaciers are the best on the entire route.