Umbwe Route (6 Days) – Challenging and Direct

The climb begins with a drive from Moshi or Arusha to Umbwe Gate (1,600m). After registration, you’ll embark on a steep and direct ascent through the rainforest. The trail can be challenging, with steep sections that test your endurance from the start. After 5-6 hours of trekking, you will reach Umbwe Camp (2,850m), located on a narrow ridge surrounded by the dense forest.

On the second day, the trail continues steeply upwards, leaving the forest behind and entering the moorland. As you gain altitude, the trees thin out, and the views of Kilimanjaro become more prominent. The trail leads you to Barranco Camp (3,976m), which is situated in a valley beneath the impressive Barranco Wall. This is a 4-5 hour trek, with spectacular views throughout the day.    

This day begins with the famous climb up the Barranco Wall, a steep rock face that requires some scrambling but is not as difficult as it looks. After reaching the top of the Wall, the trail undulates across the alpine desert, leading you to Karanga Camp (3,995m). The hike takes about 4-5 hours, and this is a relatively short and enjoyable day, with panoramic views of the southern glaciers.  

On Day 4, you leave Karanga Camp and make a short but steep ascent to Barafu Camp (4,673m). The trail takes around 3-4 hours, passing through a desolate and windy landscape of alpine desert. Barafu Camp is the base camp for the summit attempt, and you’ll spend the rest of the day resting and preparing for the final push to the summit.  

The summit attempt begins at midnight, with a strenuous ascent from Barafu Camp to Stella Point, and then on to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. The climb to the summit is extremely challenging, taking about 6-8 hours. After celebrating at the summit, you will begin the long descent to Mweka Camp (3,100m), which takes around 6-7 hours. This is the longest and most difficult day, with a total of 12-16 hours of hiking.  

On the final day, you will complete your descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate (1,640m), a 3-4 hour trek. At the gate, you’ll receive your certificate of achievement, before returning to Moshi or Arusha to rest and celebrate your climb.