7 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing - Umbwe Route
From
$2,460 / Person
This trip is fully customizible
- Have a big group? We can help.
- We can customize the trip as per your need.
- We can help you make it fit your budget.
Duration
7 Days
Max People
28
Min Age
12+
Pickup
(JRO) Airport
Tour Overview
7 Days Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing – Umbwe Route Overview
The 7-days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing via the Umbwe Route is one of the most direct and challenging ways to reach the summit. This route is known for its steep ascent, making it physically demanding and best suited for experienced climbers with strong fitness and determination. Due to its difficulty, it is one of the least frequented routes on Kilimanjaro, offering a quieter and more remote trekking experience.
The trail for The 7-days Mount Kilimanjaro climbing via the Umbwe begins in dense tropical rainforest and gradually ascends through dramatic landscapes. Along the way, it eventually joins the Machame Route at Barranco Camp, where climbers will encounter more traffic from other popular routes such as Machame, Lemosho, and Shira. Despite this convergence, the Umbwe Route itself remains relatively uncrowded during the early stages of the climb.
Although the route can be completed in a minimum of six days, a 7-day itinerary is highly recommended to allow better acclimatization and improve summit success rates. The climb includes sections that require light scrambling, where climbers may need to use both hands and feet to navigate steep and rocky terrain. These features make the route not only challenging but also incredibly scenic and rewarding.
For those seeking additional adventure, there is an option to approach the summit via the Western Breach. However, this route is considered risky due to past rockfall incidents. In 2006, a rockfall accident resulted in fatalities, leading to its temporary closure by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA). The route was later reopened in 2007 with strict conditions, requiring climbers and their support teams to sign a waiver acknowledging that they undertake this option at their own risk.
Overall, the 7-day Umbwe Route offers a thrilling and less crowded climb, ideal for adventurous trekkers looking for a demanding yet scenic Kilimanjaro experience. Contact Us to book you’re Adventure to for African Highest Summit.
Tour Include/Exclude
- All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- Kilimanjaro summit certificate
- Tanzania Visa
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel (available as an optional addon)
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleeping bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
Full Tour Itinerary
Tour Plan
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour). Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route.
Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft
Distance: 11km/7mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Extra Day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 0km/0mi
Hiking Time: 0 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Hiking Time: 34 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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 a 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.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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 gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
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