6-Day Umbwe Route Kilimanjaro Climb

From Umbwe Gate the trail climbs a narrow forest ridge with roots, rocks and no flat sections. It gains height quickly, about 1,000 m in a day, and the camp at about 2,940 m is reached in five to six hours. It is steep, wet and demanding, and it is quiet.

Poles help and so does patience. Do not race; the second day is just as demanding.

More steep ground, with exposed ridges and views back down to the plains. The trail leaves the forest and climbs to Barranco at about 3,960 m, where it meets the Machame route. In two days you have gained more height than the other routes do in three.

That speed is why Umbwe suits experienced walkers. Tell your guide about any headache, nausea or poor appetite immediately.

First thing in the morning the group queues at the Barranco Wall, a rocky scramble that takes an hour or two. It uses your hands in a few places but is not technical, and the guides and porters know the footing well. Afterward the trail crosses the Karanga valley and climbs gently to the camp at about 4,000 m.

This is a short day on purpose. Rest, drink and eat. It gives your body a quiet night at height before the move to the high camp, which is why many guides prefer itineraries that include it.

A short climb of three to four hours takes you out of the Karanga valley and up the ridge to Barafu, at about 4,600 m. The ground is bare rock and scree, with Kibo's southern face above. You arrive in time for lunch and an afternoon of rest, which is the point: the day is kept light so you start summit night with energy.

Camp is cold, windy and exposed, and there is no water, so the crew bring it from Karanga. Check your gear, charge a power bank in your sleeping bag, and try to sleep from late afternoon.

You are woken around midnight, drink something hot and start in the dark by head torch. The path is steep and zigzags up loose scree; the pace is very slow, with frequent pauses. It is freezing, often well below zero, and the hours before dawn are the hardest. Stella Point on the crater rim, at about 5,685 m, is where the sun usually rises and where many people cry.

From Stella Point it is a further walk along the rim to Uhuru Peak at 5,895 m, with glaciers and the crater floor beside you. You stay only briefly, take the photograph and turn back, because the descent is long: down the scree to Barafu for a short rest and on to Mweka Camp or Horombo depending on the route. The whole day often takes ten to fourteen hours.

The last morning is a few hours through forest on a well-made path, sore in the knees but easy in the lungs. Trekking poles are most useful here. At Mweka Gate you sign out, receive your summit certificate if you reached Stella Point or Uhuru Peak, and the crew gather for a farewell.

A vehicle then takes you back to your hotel, where you will want a hot shower. Tipping is normally done at the final camp or gate; your operator should give you a written guideline in advance.