Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before
Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away
TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted
LanguagesEnglish
Private tourOnly your group will participate
Pickup offeredSee the meeting and pickup details below
Overview
The Umbwe Route is the least used, least crowded route on the mountain. For good reason, it is also the most difficult route on the mountain. Umbwe is a steep, constant, straight climb to the top.
Umbwe is mostly avoided because the ascent profile does not give climbers much time to adjust to the altitude. The success rate is very low.
The route takes six days minimum to complete, although seven days is recommended. The descent is down Mweka, on the south-east side of the mountain. Umbwe is not as scenically varied as Machame, Lemosho and Shira, because the path up and down is nearby.
The Umbwe is ideal for those who want a challenging climb, and are very confident in their ability trek over consistently steep slopes. Also, Umbwe is for those who are experienced at altitude and thus are confident that the punishing schedule of Umbwe will not impede their ability to adjust to the altitude. Umbwe is also for those who want a secluded hike.
What's included
All Fees and Taxes
Salaries for mountain crew as per guidelines set by Kilimanjaro National Park
Basic first aid kit (for use in emergencies only)
Return transfers Kilimanjaro airport to Moshi and Moshi to Kilimanjaro airport
Lunch
Fresh water for Drinking & Worm Water for washing up daily
Hotel the night before and the night after the climb, with dinner and breakfast included
Dinner
Breakfast
Emergency oxygen (for use in emergencies only – not as summit aid)
Qualified mountain guide, assistant guides, porters and cook
Visas, Flights, Health & Travel Insurances
Gratuities
Items of personal Nature
Personal hiking/trekking gear – we can rent some of the gear from our equipment store in Tanzania
Optional but highly recommended Portable toilet
Snacks, personal medicine and water purifying tablets
Meals & drinks not specified and snacks
What to expect
Day 1: Drive to Umbwe Gate, Hike to Umbwe Cave Camp
6h
Elevation: 1660m To 2850m | Distance: 11km/7mi | Hiking Time: 5-6 Hours
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour). Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route.
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Day 5: Barafu Camp; to Summit Uhuru Peak, then Descend to Mweka Camp
Mount Kilimanjaro
14h · Admission ticket included
Elevation: 4700m To 5895m | Down To 3090m | Distance: 5km/3mi Up / 13km/8mi Down
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, then drive to Moshi
After breakfast, we continue the descent down 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 probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
Meeting and pickup
Meeting point
At the entrance gate of Umbwe Kilimanjaro National Park, Kindly see the guide who will have your name in a paper
End point
At the entrance gate of Umbwe Kilimanjaro National Park, Kindly see the guide who will have your name in a paper
Additional information
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
