Climbing Kilimanjaro through the Northern Circuit route: overview, map, ranges

The Northern Circuit - the newest and yet least known route to climbers ascending Kilimanjaro. This unique route goes around the entire Kibo volcano and ends with the conquest of Kilimanjaro. At an altitude of over five thousand meters above sea level you will experience breathtaking natural power and behold beautiful landscapes, while getting an opportunity to witness the unique eternal ice, signs of volcanic activity and experience the sense of absolute freedom standing at the peak of one of the most superb natural attractions.

The very first ascent of Kilimanjaro was carried out by Hans Meyer and Ludwig Purtcheller in 1889. The first public route was opened in 1932 after the construction of the storm shelter of Kibo Hut. It passed through the Gilman point to the peak of Uhuru (5895 m).

In 1977 Kilimanjaro was declared a national park, opened to the public and modern routes were formed. Currently, there are seven popular routes: the Northern Circuit, Marangu, Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe and Shira which are strictly regulated by the administration of the National Parks of Tanzania (TANAPA) to ensure the safety of climbers and the preservation of the unique ecological complex of Kilimanjaro.

How to choose a conquest route of Kilimanjaro?>

Many climbers may have difficulty choosing a conquest route. The first consideration is the visual aspect – whether it is picturesque enough, then its complexity, capacity and the characteristics of high-altitude acclimatization. According to estimations tourists climb the routes of Kilimanjaro in the following percentages: Machame (45%), Marangu (40%), Lemosho (8%), Rongai (5%), Shira (1%), Northern Circuit (0%) and Umbwe (0%). The Kilimanjaro trek is not fully considered mountaineering, since the mountain is technically very simple and the actual obstacle for the conquest is the high-altitude acclimatization, which most tourists have little time for. Therefore, the longer the route, the better for the climber.

Route    | Min. Days | Rec. Days | Difficulty | Scenery | Traffic
Northern Circuit 9    - 9 - high -    excellent   -   very low
Lemosho Route 6 - 8 - high - excellent - medium
Rongai Route 6 - 7 - medium -   very good -   low
Machame Route 6 - 7 - high -   excellent   - high
Shira Route 6 - 7 - high    -    excellent   - medium
Marangu Route 5 - 6 - medium -       good    -   high
Umbwe Route 5 - 7 - very high - very good - very low

Why is the Northern Circuit the best route for the conquest of Kilimanjaro?

The longest routes for the conquest of Kilimanjaro are Lemosho and Northern Circuit. The Lemosho route is a rather popular one chosen by many beginning climbers. The traverse lies in Kilimanjaro Northern Circuit and is the newest, longest (98 km) and most fantastic route. So far, it is also the least visited route on Kilimanjaro. Although this route is gaining popularity among ordinary climbers, it has long been loved by professional photographers who have the opportunity to take stunning pictures while climbing. The path starts in the tropical forest on the western slope of the Shira plateau, runs along the northern part of the volcano and completes ascending along the eastern slope, skirting Kilimanjaro around 270 °. The Northern Circuit paths ascent takes 9 days. Of all routes from the conquest of Kilimanjaro this particular one has the highest success rates (90-95%), as the given time is enough for excellent acclimatization.

The high probability of successful height conquests, the incredible beauty of the scenery and the very low number of route visitors make Northern Circuit one of the best routes to Kilimanjaro.

Source: http://www.satprnews.com/2017/09/18/climbing-kilimanjaro-through-the-northern-circuit-route-overview-map-ranges/