six days climbing Umbwe route

Safari summary

6 Days Climbing Umbwe Route

The Umbwe route is one of the most challenging and direct routes to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Climbing the Umbwe route in 6 days is a strenuous and demanding endeavor due to its steep ascent and rapid altitude gain. This route is known for its stunning scenery, including dense rainforest, moorland, and alpine desert landscapes.

Umbwe Route Overview 6 days climbing

The Umbwe route is one of the least used but most challenging routes on Mount Kilimanjaro, located on the southeast side of the mountain. The trek starts at Umbwe Gate, and hikers will summit via the Western Breach and descend to finish at Mweka Gate. Here is an overview table of the Umbwe route:

Stage Distance Time Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Campsite
Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Cave Camp 10 km (6.2 mi) 5-7 hours 1,250 m (4,100 ft) -100 m (-330 ft) Umbwe Cave Camp
Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp 6 km (3.7 mi) 4-5 hours 750 m (2,460 ft) -850 m (-2,790 ft) Barranco Camp
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp 7 km (4.3 mi) 4 hours 620 m (2,030 ft) -150 m (-490 ft) Karanga Camp
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp 5 km (3.1 mi) 3-4 hours 660 m (2,170 ft) -150 m (-490 ft) Barafu Camp
| Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka High Camp | 7 km (4.3 mi) ascent 23 km (14.3 mi) total 11-15 hours +1,295 m (+4,250 ft) -2,895 m (-9,500 ft) | Mweka High Camp* || | Mweka High Camp to Mweka Gate | 10 km (6.2 mi) | 3-4 hours | -1,400 m (-4,600 ft)| - ||

*Note: After reaching the summit, hikers will descend to Mweka High Camp before continuing to Mweka Gate.

The Umbwe route is known for its steep trails and challenging terrain. Hikers will pass through dense rainforests and heath landscapes before reaching the moorland zone with its unique vegetation. The route merges with the Machame and Lemosho routes at Barranco Camp before continuing to Karanga and Barafu campsites. The final ascent to the summit is via the Western Breach, a more technically demanding and less crowded alternative to the Marangu and Rongai routes’ Stella Point or Uhuru Peak ascent. After summiting, hikers descend through Mweka High Camp before reaching Mweka Gate.

About this tour

	Tour type	Custom, tailor-made, private
	Main focus	Hiking | trekking
	Activity level	Strenuous activity
	Best months	January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
	Countries	Tanzania
	Parks	Kilimanjaro

Fine details

Safari highlights

• Hiking | trekking

What’s included?

• Accommodation
• All drinks
• Meals
• Park fees
• Private vehicle and driver

What’s not included?

• Alcoholic beverages
• Internal flights
• International flights
• Tips and gratuities
• Visas