6 days umbwe route

Welcome to Tanzania! Nowhere else in the world boasts first-class safari experiences, authentic cultural encounters with friendly people from all walks of life, and—of course—the chance to enjoy trekking on the incomparable Mount Kilimanjaro. When you arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, a representative from Chalema Tanzania Safaris will be waiting to welcome you to our country and escort you to Moshi. This little town lies right at Kilimanjaro’s doorstep, and you can look forward to astounding mountain views from your comfortable accommodations at the Parkview Inn. Your Umbwe Route trek begins tomorrow; spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at your leisure and prepare for your upcoming adventure.

Elevation: 1651m/5417ft to 2944m/9659ft

Altitude gained: 1293m

As the sun rises over Moshi, we’ll load our gear into the car and drive for about an hour to reach the Machame Game to the Kilimanjaro National Park. After getting registered, we’ll make another short drive to the Umbwe Gate, where we’ll begin our trek by hiking through lush montane forest. Today’s section of the Umbwe Route covers approximately 11 kilometers, or seven miles, and should take us about six or seven hours to complete. It won’t take long before the trail becomes especially steep, which you’ll soon discover is a persistent feature of the Umbwe Route. But hard work always pays off, and soon we’ll find ourselves enjoying some well-deserved rest and relaxation at our first stop on the mountain: Umbwe Camp.

Elevation: 2944m/9659ft to 3986m/13,077ft

Altitude gained: 1042m

Our second full day on the Umbwe Route trekking itinerary comes with a marked change in the mountain’s scenery. Soon after departing from Umbwe Camp, we’ll emerge from Kilimanjaro’s montane forest and step into an expansive wilderness of moors and heaths. We’ll wind our way through this otherworldly landscape for about four or five hours, trekking amongst distinctive dendrosenecio plants which sprout from the heather like twisted cacti. Our destination for today is Barranco Camp, where you’ll get your first glimpse of the daunting Barranco Wall. Make sure to get plenty of rest tonight, because we’ll be tackling that infamous landmark first thing in the morning!

Elevation: 3986m/13,077ft to 4034m/13,235ft

Altitude gained: 48m

You’ve already seen it; now it’s time to conquer it. The Barranco Wall represents an inevitable component of most trekkers’ paths to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, including our own adventure along the Umbwe Route. This is a 900-foot rock formation known for its steep angle of ascent—but we’ll take it slow and easy, climbing carefully to ensure that we successfully reach the top of the wall over the course of approximately two hours. From here, we’ll continue into the Karanga Valley, following a path which alternately rises and falls as it climbs gentle hills and dips into scenic smaller valleys. We’ll enjoy splendid views of Kilimanjaro’s summit and ice fields as we approach Karanga Camp, where we’ll stop for the day and set up our tents in an especially scenic environment.

Elevation: 4034m/13,235ft to 4662m/15,295ft

Altitude gained: 628m

While today’s section of the Umbwe Route is relatively short, it serves an important purpose on our quest to climb Kilimanjaro. As we trek for approximately three or four hours and connect with the Mweka Route, our bodies will have the additional time they need to acclimate to the increased altitude. At this point in our trek, we’ll be hiking above 4,000 meters in elevation, where the rarefied air begins to make the physical exertion of climbing even more taxing. This is our last day of hiking before we reach Kilimanjaro’s summit, so we’ll need to make sure that our bodies are prepared for the final ascent. Today also marks our successful completion of Kilimanjaro’s Southern Circuit. We’ll set up our tents in the alpine desert zone at Barafu Camp this afternoon and get ready for tomorrow’s attempt on the summit.

Elevation: 4662m/15,295ft to 5895m/19,341ft

Altitude gain: 1233m

Descent to 3106m/10,190ft

Altitude lost: 2789m

The entire Umbwe Route has been building to this moment: it all comes down to this. We’ll wake up at midnight and begin trekking after a quick cup of tea, ascending past ethereal glaciers in the early morning darkness to arrive at Stella Point. Standing at this natural lookout and watching the fiery ball of the sun break across the East African highlands is truly a memory to treasure forever. But it won’t be chief amongst your accomplishments today—after we’ve enjoyed the scenery, we’ll trek for another hour to climb to Kilimanjaro’s summit. Uhuru Peak is the highest point on the African continent, and we’ll stand here well above the clouds at 5,895 meters in elevation, basking in the glory of our accomplishments. When we’re ready to move on, we’ll descend along the Mweka Route to pitch our tents at Mweka Camp.

Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633m/5358ft

Altitude lost: 1473m

We can afford to sleep in this morning, enjoying fond dreams and memories of yesterday’s achievements. After breakfast, we’ll pack our bags and follow the winding path back into Kilimanjaro’s montane rainforest. Because the Umbwe Route follows never doubles back on itself, this is entirely new territory for us to explore. After trekking for about three or four hours, we’ll find ourselves leaving the Kilimanjaro National Park at Mweka Gate. From here, we’ll catch a ride all the way back to Arusha. We’ve arranged for a lovely room at the popular Arusha Planet Lodge, where you can enjoy a sumptuous meal, a swim in the hotel pool, or even a decadent massage to relieve your tired muscles. However you choose to relax, know that you’ve earned it after successfully climbing Mount Kilimanjaro on the Umbwe Route.

Today marks the end of our Kilimanjaro climbing itinerary. Throughout the course of the week, you’ve managed to trek across Africa’s tallest mountain for more than 53 kilometers, or 33 miles. This is an exceptional accomplishment and is sure to rank amongst your most cherished memories of Tanzania. When it’s time to return to the airport for your departing flight, Chalema Tanzania Safaris will bring you back to the Kilimanjaro International Airport. Thank you for choosing us to be your guides on the adventure of a lifetime!