Climb Mount Kilimanjaro via Umbwe Route with Tanzania Horizon Safaris. The Umbwe Route is the shortest and steepest route to the summit of Kilimanjaro, making it a challenging trek that requires a high level of fitness and endurance. It covers a distance of approximately 48km, and the trek can take anywhere from 6 to 8 days, depending on the trekker’s pace and acclimatization.
The route begins at the Umbwe Gate, which is located on the western side of the mountain, near the town of Moshi. From here, trekkers will hike through the lush rainforests, past waterfalls and rivers, before ascending up to the Barranco Wall, one of the most dramatic and challenging sections of the trek.
The Barranco Wall is a steep and imposing rock face that requires trekkers to use their hands and feet to climb up. The climb is not technically difficult, but it can be intimidating, especially for those who are not used to exposure. Once trekkers reach the top of the Barranco Wall they will pass the Kissing Rock and shortly after they will be rewarded with stunning views of the mountain and the surrounding landscape.
From here, the route follows a circular path around the mountain, passing through the Karanga Valley, Barafu Camp, and finally, the summit. The trek culminates in a midnight summit push, where trekkers will hike for several hours through the darkness to reach Uhuru Peak, the highest point on Kilimanjaro.
The Umbwe Route offers a unique and remote experience that is unmatched by the other routes on Kilimanjaro. The trail is less crowded, with fewer trekkers and porters, which makes it feel more isolated and rugged. The route also offers some of the most spectacular views of the mountain, with sweeping vistas of the Western Breach and the Barranco Wall.
However, the Umbwe Route is not for everyone. It is a challenging trek that requires a high level of fitness and endurance. The steep ascent, combined with the altitude, can be physically and mentally demanding, and trekkers need to be prepared for long days of hiking and camping in the mountains.
Acclimatization is crucial on the Umbwe Route, as the steep ascent can make it difficult for trekkers to acclimatize properly. To minimize the risk of altitude sickness, trekkers should spend several days acclimatizing before the summit push, and consider taking medication to help with altitude sickness.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
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 first section of the trail continues following the ridge. After leaving the forest, continue through open moorlands until reaching Barranco Camp. Barranco is generally regarded as the most scenic campsite on the Umbwe Trail as it’s surrounded by giant senecios and lobelias. As Barranco is in a valley, the sun rises later than at the other camps.
● Total Elevation Gain: 1,100 meters, 3,610 feet
● Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you may have to use your hands to aid your climb. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the green Karanga River Valley.
● Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet
● Distance: 7 Kilometers
● Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & 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, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Hike by the light of your headlamp for the next six hours. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point. The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. 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.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
● Meals: Breakfast Included
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
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 first section of the trail continues following the ridge. After leaving the forest, continue through open moorlands until reaching Barranco Camp. Barranco is generally regarded as the most scenic campsite on the Umbwe Trail as it’s surrounded by giant senecios and lobelias. As Barranco is in a valley, the sun rises later than at the other camps.
● Total Elevation Gain: 1,100 meters, 3,610 feet
● Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Extra Day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you may have to use your hands to aid your climb. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the green Karanga River Valley.
● Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet
● Distance: 7 Kilometers
● Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours
● Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & 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, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Hike by the light of your headlamp for the next six hours. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point. The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. 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.
*Safari, Zanzibar and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
● Meals: Breakfast Included
● Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in
Moshi.
● 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi
● Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
● Park entry fees,
● Camping fees
● Crater fee (if any)
● Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees
● 18% VAT on tour fees & services
● 4 Season mountain tents
● Sleeping Mats 4 inches (10cm) thick
● Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
● 3 meals daily while on the mountain
● Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
● Hot water for washing
● Fair wages for the mountain crew
● Government taxes
● Ox meter
● Emergency first-aid kit
● Stethoscope
● Mountain climbing certificates
– Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
– Travel insurance
– Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 80 for the entire trek.
– Flights
– Laundry (Available at hotel)
– Personal items and toiletries
– Tips for guides, porters and cook
– Portable Oxygen Tanks
• Guides: $20/day/guide
• Cook: $15/day
• Porter: $10/day/porter
