7 Days Umbwe Route

At 8am leave Moshi for Umbwe Gate where you will meet our porters, guides, and cooks who will spend the next six days trekking with you to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. After arriving, wait at the gate while we register your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations. Your first day’s destination is Cave Bivouac Camp, approximately 6 hours from the gate. The trail is steep and can be slippery in some places.Hike through the moss-covered trees of Kilimanjaro’s cloud forest. The forest will thin later in the hike and heathers, tall grasses and wildflowers will come into view. Porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival.

Elevation Gain:1,050 meters, 3,445 feet
Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

The initial segment of the route continues along the ridge. After exiting the woodland, proceed over open moorlands to Barranco Camp. Barranco is often recognized as the most gorgeous campground on the Umbwe Trail, surrounded by massive senecios and lobelias. Barranco has a later sunrise than the other campgrounds since it is located in a valley.

Total elevation gain: 1,100 meters (3,610 ft)
Hiking time: 5–7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

Extra day for acclimatization. Adding this day will reduce your effort and accelerate your acclimatization.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

After breakfast, leave Barranco Camp and head to Karanga Valley. The day starts with a 1.5-hour climb up the Barranco Wall. This is the most difficult section of the day, and in certain areas you may need to use your hands to help you climb. After reaching the summit, travel across relatively flat terrain before completing a short but steep descent into the lush Karanga River Valley.

Elevation Gain: 250 meters (820 feet)
Distance: 7 kilometers.
Hiking Duration: 3 to 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Included.

After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Try to sleep after finishing dinner as you will wake before midnight for your summit hike.

Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet
Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

Around midnight, start the last ascent to Uhuru Peak. Hike for the next six hours by the light of your headlamp. The climb to the crater rim is the most difficult aspect of the entire journey. The route is quite steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.

The journey from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a moderate climb that is not very tough. The altitude, however, makes the climb lengthy and exhausting. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers.

At Barafu Camp, eat breakfast and take a short break. You still have another three to five hours to go before reaching Mweka Camp.

Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet
Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet
Hiking time: 6 hours to the rim, 1 hour to Uhuru, 3 to 4 hours back to Barafu, 4 hours to Mweka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

After breakfast, finish the trek with a hike through the forest to Mweka Gate. The trail may be slippery following rain. Our vehicles will meet you at the lower station of Mweka Gate to take you back to Moshi.

Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet
Hiking time: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included

The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.