8 days Kilimanjaro Trekking Umbwe Route
The notorious 8 Days Umbwe Route is our newest tour and the toughest route to tame the summit of Kilimanjaro. If you’re an experienced, bold climber you’ll relish challenging yourself on the unforgiving but uncrowded and beautiful terrain. You’ll enjoy breathtaking sights that few travelers see. You’ll experience the raw, primitive beauty of sun bleached rocky outcrops and balance along knife-edge ridges with water-carved ravines swooping giddily below.
You’ll climb upon the gnarled tree roots of ancient rainforest trails, traverse ice fields shimmering like frosted diamonds in the African sun, and sleep under sweeping star-filled skies. You’ll skirt round the dangerous mist-clad Western Breach, crossing each grade of alpine and glacier zone. Every moment will be a feast to your senses and a challenge to your body and character.
The Umbwe Route is like no other; a test of endurance amongst the majesty and grace of Kilimanjaro. As you stand proudly on Uhuru Peak at sunrise, you can say that you have conquered Umbwe. Although not technical, this route is arduous and the steep but short physical climb early on in the tour means there’s no time for altitude acclimatization. If you’re undecided or less experienced, try our Machame Route; more gentle but just as amazing.
As the shortest and steepest route on Kilimanjaro, the Umbwe Route is best suited to experienced hikers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly while tackling steep slopes. Due to its demanding nature, this route attracts less traffic than the others, making it ideal for those who are looking for a more secluded journey to the Roof of Africa, but its difficulty shouldn’t be underestimated.
Kilimanjaro’s Umbwe Route is typically climbed over six days, although seven-day options are available upon request. It approaches from the South, with registration taking place at Machame Gate, and traverses the dense rainforest at the base of the mountain before turning east and following the Southern Circuit to Barafu, Stella Point, and Uhuru Peak. Descent is via the Mweka Route.
When you Climb Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route with Tanzaniaflow tours, pre-and-post climb accommodations and airport transfers are included in the cost of your trip, and so the only extras you need to budget for are dinner/drinks at the hotel in Moshi and tips for your mountain crew.
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UMBWE ROUTE ITINERARY
DAY 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO
At Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After hotel check-in, you will have a few hours to relax before meeting with your guide for a briefing.
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)
DAY 2: MOSHI – MACHAME GATE – UMBWE CAVE CAMP
Your driver will collect you early morning and transfer you to Machame Gate where you will complete the registration process. From here, you will continue further to the Umbwe Gate, where you will start your expedition to the Roof of Africa at 5,250ft or 1,600m above sea level. Today’s hike will take you through the unspoilt rainforest on route to Umbwe Cave Camp.
DAILY INFORMATION
Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Cave Camp
Elevation (ft): 5,250ft to 9,515ft
Elevation (m): 1,600m to 2,900m
Distance: 11 km / 7 miles
Hiking Time: 6 – 8 hours
Habitat: Rainforest / Heath
Overnight: Camping Simba Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3: UMBWE CAVE CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP
You’ll start your day with a hot cooked breakfast in the mess tent before departing for your next basecamp, the impressive Barranco Camp that sits beneath the Barranco Wall. You’ll follow rocky terrain today with steep forest gorges and moss-covered trees until you reach the Barranco Valley and its magnificent Senecio forest.
DAILY INFORMATION
Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation (ft): 9,515ft to 13,045ft
Elevation (m): 2,900m to 3,975m
Distance: 6 km / 4 miles
Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
Habitat: Heath
Overnight: Camping Barranco Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP
Today you’ll tackle the mighty Barranco Wall, which looks far more imposing than it is. After breakfast, you’ll head over to the wall and begin your ascent using your hands in some parts to navigate the rocky terrain. After enjoying the spectacular vistas from the top, you’ll continue down through glacial valleys to Karanga Camp where you will dinner and overnight.
DAILY INFORMATION
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Elevation (m): 3,965m to 3,995m
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Overnight: Camping Karanga Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5: KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP
Today is a relatively short day for hiking and you’ll reach Barafu Base Camp at around midday. You’ll be leaving for the summit tonight, so it is essential that you rest, eat as much as possible, and prepare yourself mentally and physically for the challenge ahead. After an early dinner, you’ll head to your tent to sleep before a few hours. Now is a good time to prepare your backpack and hiking gear for your midnight departure.
DAILY INFORMATION
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Elevation (m): 3,995m to 4,665m
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Overnight: Camping Barafu Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 6: BARAFU CAMP – SUMMIT – MWEKA CAMP
It’s summit day! After hot tea and biscuits and midnight, you’ll leave Barafu Camp behind as you push for Uhuru Peak, Kilimanjaro’s summit at 5,895m above sea level. Today is going to be one of the most challenging days of your life, so prepare to dig deep, as you make your way through deep scree to the welcoming sign of Stella Point. From here, you have just an hour to go to reach your goal, and as the sun begins to rise over Africa, its warmth will spur you on your way. At Uhuru Peak, you’ll have time to admire the views and take souvenir summit photos before descending to Barafu Camp for a warm lunch.
You will then descend to Mweka Camp for your final night on the mountain.
DAILY INFORMATION
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Elevation (m): 4,665m to 5,895m (and down to 3,050m)
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles ascent / 12 km / 7.5 miles descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Overnight: Camping Mweka Camp
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 7: MWEKA CAMP – MOSHI
After a final mountainside breakfast, you will continue your descent to Mweka Gate, where you will collect your certificate and spend some quality time with your mountain crew. You will then transfer to your hotel in Moshi for a hot shower and evening of celebrations.
DAILY INFORMATION
Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Elevation (m): 3,050m to 1,645m
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Equatorial Rainforest
Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 8: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the airport for your return flight home, or onwards to your safari or Zanzibar beach extension.
From $1975.00 per person sharing