UMBWE 7 DAYS
From USD 3,750per person
The Umbwe Route is steeper and shorter than Machame. After reaching Barranco Hut, it joins the Machame route for the rest of the trek. The descent is via the Mweka Trail.
This route is very direct and not recommended for climbers with little high-altitude experience.
A taste of what to expect…
Day 1: Hotel to Umbwe Cave Camp
Drive from Moshi to Umbwe Gate (~1 hour) and begin the climb through the rainforest, carrying a packed lunch.
Elevation: 1660 m / 5450 ft → 2850 m / 9350 ft
Distance: 11 km / 7 mi
Hiking Time: 5–6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch, Dinner
Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3: Stay at Barranco Camp
Extra Day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 0km/0mi
Hiking Time: 0 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and climb the steep Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley, then continue to the junction connecting with the Mweka Trail.
Elevation: 4000 m / 13,000 ft → 4050 m / 13,250 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 mi
Hiking Time: 3–4 hours (note: original “34 hours” seems to be a typo)
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
We continue up to Barafu Camp, completing the South Circuit with stunning summit views from multiple angles. Here we camp, rest, have dinner, and prepare for the summit climb.
Elevation: 4050 m / 13,250 ft → 4700 m / 15,350 ft
Distance: 4 km / 2 mi
Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
We start very early (midnight–2 am) for the final push to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. The climb is steep through heavy scree up to Stella Point on the crater rim—the toughest part of the trek. Here, you rest and enjoy a stunning sunrise. From Stella Point, it’s about 1 hour to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa, often with snow along the way.
After reaching the summit, we descend straight to Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Gaiters and trekking poles are recommended for the loose gravel. We spend our final evening on the mountain at Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 4700 m / 15,350 ft → 5895 m / 19,340 ft, down to 3090 m / 10,150 ft
Distance: 5 km / 3 mi up, 13 km / 8 mi down
Hiking Time: 5–7 h up, 5–6 h down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi hotel
After breakfast, we descend through forest down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificate. Lower elevations can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles are useful. Shorts and t-shirts are usually fine, but keep rain gear and warmer layers handy.
From the gate, continue for about an hour to Mweka Village, where a vehicle will transfer you back to your hotel in Moshi (≈30 minutes).
Elevation: 3090 m / 10,150 ft → 1680 m / 5500 ft
Distance: 10 km / 6 mi
Hiking Time: 3–4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
Cost includes
All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
All meals while on the Mountain
Conservation fees (part of park fees)
Kilimanjaro summit certificate
Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
Clean, purified drinking water
Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
Professional, experienced, mountain guides
Sleeping Mattress
Rescue fees (part of park fees)
Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
VAT (18% charged by the Government)
Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Hotel before and after the hike
Cost excludes
Tanzania Visa
Transfers (available as an optional addon)
Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)
International and domestic flights
Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
Travel insurance
Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
Tips and gratuities
Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
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