Itinerary Summary:
The Umbwe path is an easy-to-follow, short, and steep route. It is the most demanding route up Mount Kilimanjaro and is thought to be exceedingly difficult. Umbwe does not offer the requisite steps for acclimation to altitude because of the fast ascent. Although there is extremely little traffic on this route, the likelihood of success is also very low. Although seven days are advised when tackling this route, it is provided at a minimum of six days. Only extremely fit hikers who are confident in their capacity to acclimatize should attempt the Umbwe route. The Umbwe route is generally not advised, and we advise our clients against using it.
Full Itinerary:
Umbwe Route 7 Days
Day 1: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be met by your guide, who will give you a briefing on your forthcoming trip and check your equipment to make sure you have all the appropriate mountain gear when you are picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and taken to your hotel in Moshi town. On this day, the missing equipment can be rented.
Day 2: Umbwe Gate to Cave Bivouac Camp
- Altitude: 1,800 m to 2,850 m
- Trekking Time: 4 – 6 hours
Leave Moshi for Umbwe Gate at 8 a.m. There, you can meet our porters, guides, and cooks who will accompany you on your six-day trip to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Wait at the gate once you arrive while we register your climb and the porters and guides make any last-minute adjustments. The Cave Bivouac Camp is where you’ll spend the night on your first day; it’s around 6 hours from the gate. The trail has several areas that can be slippery and steep. Hike through the Kilimanjaro cloud forest’s moss-covered trees. Later on in the trip, the woodland will start to thin, and heathers, tall grasses, and wildflowers will start to appear. In order to set up the tent in time for your arrival, porters and cooks will walk ahead.
Day 3: Cave Bivouac to Barranco Camp
- Altitude: 2,850 m to 3,950 m
- Trekking Time: 5 – 7 hours
The trail’s initial segment keeps following the ridge. To get to Barranco Camp after leaving the forest, travel through open moorlands. Due to its surroundings of enormous senecios and lobelias, Barranco is sometimes cited as the Umbwe Trail’s most picturesque campsite. Barranco’s valley location causes it to rise later than the other camps.
Day 4: Barranco Camp
- Altitude: 3,900 m to 3900 m
An additional day to acclimate. By including this day, you’ll exert less effort and adjust to the environment faster.
Day 5: Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley
- Altitude: 3,950 m to 4,200 m
- Distance: 7 km
- Trekking Time: 3 – 5 hours
After breakfast, go to Karanga Valley from Barranco Camp. A 1.5-hour struggle up the Barranco Wall kicks off the day. This is the hardest section of the day, and you might need to use your hands in some spots to help you climb. Following a rather level trek to the summit, descend quickly but steeply into the lush Karanga River Valley.
Day 6: Karanga Valley to Barafu Camp
- Altitude: 4,200 m to 4,600 m
- Trekking Time: 3 – 5 hours
Start the climb to Barafu Camp after breakfast. View several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the intersection where the Machame path and the Mweka descent route meet on the way to Barafu. Hike alongside the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers on day four. Barafu Camp offers breathtaking views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks despite the fact that the trail to Barafu travels through an alpine desert with minimal flora. As you will need to rise up before midnight for your summit trip, try to get some sleep after dinner.
Day 7: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
- Altitude: 4,600 m to 5,895 m to 3,100 m
- Trekking Time: 6 hours
Start the last ascent to Uhuru Peak at midnight. For the next six hours, hike by the light of your headlamp. The hardest portion of the entire walk is the rise to the crater rim. Up until Stella Point, where the crater rim is located, the walk is extremely steep.
As far as hikes go, the ascent from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is gentle and not too challenging. But the hike is long and strenuous because of the altitude. The hike around the crater rim takes around an hour. Before starting the descent to Mweka Camp after reaching Uhuru, snap pictures of your guide and the group at the summit. Enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds, and glaciers as you descend from Uhuru.
Eat breakfast and take a quick rest at Barafu Camp. Before you get to Mweka Camp, you still have another three to five hours to travel.
Day 8: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
- Altitude: 3,100 m to 1,500 m
- Trekking Time: 4 hours
Finish the adventure by hiking through the jungle to Mweka Gate after breakfast. The trail could get slick after it has rained. To transport you back to Moshi, our vehicles will meet you at the lower station of Mweka Gate.
Day 9: Depart Tanzania
After the hike, you have the rest of the day to relax before your trip home. You might visit Moshi town and buy some souvenirs before going to the airport, depending on your travel schedule.
If you want to continue experiencing Tanzania, add-ons like safaris and trips to Zanzibar are also available.
