6-Day Kilimanjaro: Umbwe Route

After a hearty breakfast at your hotel in Moshi or Arusha, our driver guides collect you with a packed picnic lunch and drive you to Machame Gate, about 50 minutes away, for the registration formalities.

From there you continue to Umbwe Gate (1,800 m/5,905 ft), passing through villages dotted with coffee farms and banana plantations. The trail then climbs steeply through montane rainforest to Umbwe Camp (2,850 m/9,350 ft). Steep, short and wonderfully quiet, this first day gives you a real sense of why Umbwe is considered the most scenic way up the mountain. Dinner and overnight at camp near the Umbwe forest cave.

Distance: 11 km (6.8 miles). Walking time: around 5–6 hours. Habitat: montane rainforest.

After a warm breakfast the trail follows rockier terrain with sparse undergrowth and straggly, moss-draped trees. As you climb higher, glimpses of Kilimanjaro's summit appear through the gaps.

The path flattens as you approach the Barranco Valley, passing through a forest of giant senecios. At Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,795 ft) you can look forward to one of the most memorable sundowners of the trip as the sun sinks through the valley. Dinner and overnight at camp.

Distance: 6 km (3.7 miles). Walking time: around 5–6 hours. Habitat: moorland.

After a hearty breakfast you set off from Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,795 ft) with breathtaking views across the whole mountain – the glaciers above and the lowlands far below.

The day begins with an easy scramble to the top of the great Barranco Wall, followed by a traverse over scree and ridges into the Karanga Valley. These shorter stages are designed purely for acclimatisation, helping your body adjust to the mountain environment before the summit push. A hot lunch is served on arrival at Karanga Camp (3,995 m/13,107 ft), where you spend the afternoon resting before dinner and the night.

Distance: 6 km (3.7 miles). Walking time: around 4–5 hours. Habitat: moorland.

After breakfast you continue to Barafu Camp (4,673 m/15,331 ft), arriving around midday. The afternoon is yours to rest, acclimatise and check every piece of gear ahead of the climb to the summit.

Today runs to an earlier schedule: your guides hold the summit briefing and serve dinner early, so you have as much time as possible to prepare and sleep before the night ascent.

Distance: 4 km (2.5 miles). Walking time: around 3–4 hours. Habitat: alpine desert.

The longest day of the climb: around 17.5 km (10.9 miles) and 15–16 hours on the move, from Barafu Camp (4,673 m) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,341 ft) and back down to Mweka Camp (3,100 m). You rise at around 23:00 after four to five hours' rest, warm up with hot tea and snacks, put on your summit gear and head out into the night. The trail climbs through heavy scree to Stella Point (5,756 m/18,885 ft) on the crater rim, where you take a short rest – and, if the skies are clear, often a beautiful sunrise. From there it is 45 minutes to an hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. Savour the moment, but do not linger: the extreme cold, thin air and volcanic gases make a long stay unsafe, and fatigue makes it hard to get going again.

Ascent – elevation gain: 1,222 m (4,009 ft). Distance: 5 km (3.1 miles). Time: around 6–7 hours. Habitat: arctic.

You then descend to Barafu Camp for a rest, brunch and to collect the rest of your gear, before continuing down to Mweka Camp. The descent is demanding and the loose gravel is slippery, so keep a steady pace and use your walking poles – every step down is worth it. At camp you enjoy your last dinner and a deep, well-earned sleep on the mountain.

Descent – elevation loss: 2,795 m (9,170 ft). Distance: 12.5 km (7.8 miles). Time: around 6–7 hours. Habitat: moorland.

After a hearty breakfast you walk down from Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,171 ft) through the montane forest to Mweka Gate (1,640 m/5,381 ft), around 10 km (6.2 miles) and 3–4 hours. The air thickens, birdsong returns and the forest closes in green around you.

At the gate you collect your summit certificate, then drive to Arusha for a delicious hot lunch and a celebration of your achievement. Afterwards your driver guide transfers you comfortably by road to Kilimanjaro International Airport in time for your onward international flight home (transfer timing depends on your flight schedule). If you would rather rest before flying, an extra night in Arusha can be added on request. This marks the end of our services – kwaheri, and safe travels.

Distance: 10 km (6.2 miles). Walking time: around 3–4 hours. Habitat: montane forest.