The steepest, most direct line to Uhuru Peak.
- Duration
- 6 Days
- Style
- Trekking
- Country
- Tanzania
- Format
- Private
6 days · Trekking
Every day is flexible — we tune the pace, lodges and game drives to you.
UMBWE GATE TO UMBWE CAVE CAMP
Elevation (m): 1600m to 2900m, Distance: 11km, Time: 6 hours, Habitat: Montane Forest. We will register at Umbwe Park Gate before starting our trek. The small winding path leads us up through the rainforest and along the Umbwe River. Overnight: Umbwe Cave Camp about 2,900m altitude.
UMBWE CAMP TO BARRANCO CAMP
Elevation (m): 2940m to 3970m, Distance: 6km, Time: 4-5 hours, Habitat: Montane Forest. We leave camp and shortly afterward the forest ends. We can see the sheer wall of the Western Breach appearing and disappearing as the afternoon mists roll up the Great Barranco. We will camp at Barranco camp tonight.
BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA CAMP
Elevation (m): 3950m to 3930m, Distance: 7 km, Hiking Time: 4 hours, Habitat: Alpine Desert. Today starts with a short, but fun scramble, to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers. We will stay overnight at the Karanga campsite.
KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP
Elevation (m): 3930m to 4600m, Distance: 6 kms, Hiking Time: 3 hours, Habitat: Alpine Desert. We leave the Karanga campsite behind to meet the junction connecting with the Mweka descent Trail. From here we continue up to the Barafu Hut. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. At camp, we can rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position. Overnight: Barafu Camp
BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT TO MWEKA HUT
Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m), Distance: 7km ascent / 23 km descent, Time:6- 8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent, Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit. You will be woken at 23:30 with some quick tea and biscuits. We start our trek to the summit between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers. We will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through a heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (5732m), we will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). At Uhuru Peak (5895m), we will have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. From the summit, we descend to the Mweka Hut camp site, via Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose gravel going down to Mweka Camp (3100m). Later in the evening, we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Overnight: Mweka Camp
MWEKA CAMP TO HOTEL
Elevation (m): 3100m to 1800m, Distance: 8 km, Time: 3-4 hours, Habitat: Montane Forest. After breakfast, we will descend to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and T-shirts will be suitable (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). Frequently asked questions The questions and answers below are specific to the Umbwe Route. How difficult is the Umbwe Route? The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach and it is the most challenging route on Mt Kilimanjaro. Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep, and direct climb. It is the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. It is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitudes, but the rewards are plentiful. Due to the rapid ascension to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the chances of success are also low. A good level of fitness is highly recommended. What is the distance of the Umbwe Route and how many days does it take? The exact trekking distance for the Umbwe Route is 53 km or 32 miles. The shortest number of days required for the Umbwe Route is 5 days. It’s a Shorter ascent with strenuous trekking days. By the time you have added arrival and departure days, it is 9 or 10. However, as it’s considered one of the Shortest and steepest routes on the mountain it is strongly recommended to be very well prepared and acclimatized to increase your chances of success. What is the Umbwe Route Summit Success Rate? The Umbwe Route is one of the Shortest routes up Kilimanjaro which has a very poor chance for acclimatization due to its steepness and days spent in the mountain. Whilst there are no official statistics, the average success rate across all operators is 70%. However, we have a summit success rate of over 90% for the Umbwe Route! What is the scenery like on the Umbwe Route? The first two days of the Umbwe Route trek are through tree plantations and the beautiful and rich rainforest, before continuing into the steep Western Breach and Arrow’s Glacier path, scramble up to the Reutsch Crater (5,800 meters) where trekkers spend the night near one of Kilimanjaro’s last remaining glaciers, Furtwangler Glacier. From Crater Camp, one can take an optional one-hour hike to Reusch Crater, or simply explore the areas around Furtwangler Glacier. Reusch Crater is a magnificent sight. It is almost perfectly circular and the ash pit measures 400 feet (120 m) deep and 1,300 feet (400 m) wide. This is rarely seen by tourists. When is the best time to Trek the Umbwe Route? July-September is the best time to trek the Umbwe Route, as the weather is most stable during this period, and encountering rain is less likely. That said, since it is close to the equator it is possible to climb the mountain at any time of the year. April and May are the rainy season so this period is best avoided.
Rates are in US dollars, per person sharing, based on the lodges in this itinerary. We'll confirm exact pricing for your dates and party.
2–6 trekkers
per person sharing
Per person sharing, USD; solo climber add-on $320, single supplement $280. 2022-23 rate: $1,650. Prices are guides and may change with season, availability and exchange rates. See our terms for payment and cancellation details.
Included
- Park, camping & rescue fees
- Professional mountain guides, cooks & porters
- Quality tents, mattresses & mess tent
- All meals & drinking water on the mountain
- Transfers to and from the gate
- Guide & crew wages
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