Umbwe Route

12 Days Kenya and Tanzania Wildlife Safari Combo

12 Days Birding Safari in Tanzania

10 Days Wildlife Kenya and Tanzania Safari

10 Days Safari in Uganda and Tanzania

10 Days Kilimanjaro Climb via Northern Circuit Route

The Umbwe Route Itinerary on Tanzania Safaris

On Tanzania safaris, the Umbwe Route is typically completed in five or six days. The shorter itinerary offers little time for acclimatization, making the summit push extremely dangerous. The longer, six-day itinerary is strongly recommended, though it still requires a high level of fitness and prior high-altitude experience. The path joins the Machame Route at the Barranco Camp, meaning you still have to conquer the infamous Barranco Wall .

Day 1: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp (2,940m)

The climb begins at the Umbwe Gate, located at about 1,600 meters. The road to the gate is rough and requires a 4x4 vehicle. From the gate, the trail does not meander. It attacks the mountain directly. The path is steep, narrow, and often muddy. You climb through the dense, humid rainforest. The trees are draped in moss. The trail is a series of steps and roots. After five to seven hours of relentless climbing, you reach the Umbwe Camp. The camp is small and nestled in the forest. You are already exhausted.

Day 2: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp (3,960m)

The trail continues its steep ascent. The rainforest begins to thin, giving way to the heather and moorland zone. The path is steep and rocky. You climb for six to eight hours. The views of the peak begin to open up. You will see the towering spires of the Western Breach. You eventually arrive at the Barranco Camp, joining the crowds from the Machame and Lemosho Routes. The camp is famous for the imposing Barranco Wall, which you will climb tomorrow.

Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp (4,035m)

This is a shorter day, but it begins with the climb up the Barranco Wall. This is not a technical climb, but it is a steep scramble over loose rock. You will use your hands. The exposure is significant, but the views from the top are breathtaking. You look back at the steep ridge you climbed on the Umbwe Route. After crossing the wall, the trail undulates through the alpine desert for four to five hours, passing through the Karanga Valley, before arriving at Karanga Camp.

Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,640m)

The trail climbs steadily for three to four hours through the barren alpine desert. The vegetation is gone. You are walking on volcanic scree. The peak of Kibo looms directly ahead. You arrive at Barafu Camp, a stark, exposed campsite perched on a rocky ridge. This is the final camp before the summit. There is no water here. You eat a simple dinner, fill your water bottles, and try to sleep by 6 PM. The summit push begins in a few hours.

Day 5: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) and Descent to Mweka Camp (3,100m)

Your guide wakes you at midnight. The night is freezing. You put on every layer of clothing you have. You start the climb by headlamp, the line of tiny lights snaking up the steep scree slope. The path is loose and steep. The air is thin. You stop every few steps to catch your breath. After five to seven hours of slow, grinding effort, you reach Stella Point at 5,739 meters, on the rim of the crater. The sun begins to rise. The sky turns orange and gold. From Stella Point, it is another one to two hours of hiking along the crater's edge to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. The feeling of accomplishment, after the brutal steepness of the Umbwe Route, is immeasurable. After a few minutes for photographs, you begin the long, painful descent back to Barafu Camp for a short rest, then continue down to the Mweka Camp for the night.

Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate (1,640m)

The final day is a knee-jarring descent of four to five hours through the rainforest. The trail is steep and can be slippery. At the Mweka Gate, your driver is waiting. You receive your summit certificate. Those who reached Uhuru Peak get a gold certificate. The adventure is over. You are driven back to the hotel in Moshi for a hot shower and a celebration dinner.

The lower slopes of the Umbwe Route are pristine and untouched. Because the route is less traveled, the rainforest is in a wilder state. On Tanzania safaris, the forest is teeming with life. You will see troops of black-and-white colobus monkeys leaping through the canopy. Their long white fur is a stark contrast to the dark green leaves. You will also see blue monkeys and hear the calls of the silvery-cheeked hornbill. The forest floor is carpeted with ferns and wildflowers. Above the treeline, the wildlife is sparse. A few species of birds, like the white-necked raven and the alpine chat, live at the higher altitudes. The Umbwe Route passes through some of the most beautiful stands of giant groundsels and lobelias, strange, prehistoric plants that have adapted to the freezing nights.

The Umbwe Route is a fantastic birding experience for those who have the energy to look up. The lower rainforest is alive with the calls of turacos, barbets, and sunbirds. The Hartlaub's turaco is a spectacular bird, with a green body, purple wings, and a white crest. It is common in the forest canopy. The silvery-cheeked hornbill is another highlight, its massive beak and loud call echoing through the trees. As you climb into the moorland zone, the birdlife changes. The scarlet-tufted sunbird is a tiny, brilliant red bird that feeds on the giant lobelia flowers. The alpine chat is a grey and white bird that is common around the camps, scavenging for scraps.

The best time for a Tanzania safari to include a climb of the Umbwe Route is during the dry seasons from June to October and December to February. The weather is stable, the skies are clear, and the trails are dry. The worst months are April and May, the peak of the long rainy season. The trails become dangerously slippery. January and February are also good months, though they are colder. For most climbers, the sweet spot is July through September. You get perfect trekking weather and clear views from the summit.

On Tanzania safaris, the starting point for the Umbwe Route is the Umbwe Gate, located about a one-hour drive from the town of Moshi. The road is rough and requires a 4x4 vehicle. Most climbers fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). From the airport, you are transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Your tour operator will arrange all transport to the gate.

Packing correctly is the difference between success and failure on Kilimanjaro. You need a warm, 4-season sleeping bag rated for -10°C or lower. The nights on the mountain are cold. You need a good quality tent. You need sturdy, broken-in hiking boots. Do not bring new boots. You need layers. The temperature at the summit can drop to -20°C. Bring thermal underwear, fleece layers, a down jacket, a warm hat, thick gloves, and a balaclava. You need a headlamp with extra batteries for the summit night. A good pair of sunglasses and high SPF sunscreen are essential. The sun at altitude is brutal. Pack a reusable water bottle and a hydration bladder. You will drink three to five liters per day. A lightweight daypack for your water, camera, and layers is essential. Do not forget your camera.

The Umbwe Route uses tented camps. There are no huts. Your tour operator will provide a large, dome-style tent for sleeping. You will also have a separate mess tent for eating and socializing. The camps are basic. There are no showers and no flush toilets. Your guide will dig a "long drop" toilet. You will be expected to use wet wipes to clean yourself. The camps are located in exposed, windy locations. The tents are your only shelter from the cold.

Booking your Tanzania safari with Dav Safaris ensures that your climb of the challenging Umbwe Route is safe, well-organized, and led by experienced, certified guides who specialize in high-altitude mountaineering. Our guides have climbed Kilimanjaro hundreds of times. They know the signs of altitude sickness and the proper pacing for the steepest route on the mountain. On a Tanzania safari with Dav Safaris, we handle everything, including your airport transfers, hotel bookings in Moshi, park fees, camping permits, guides, porters, cooks, and all meals on the mountain. You just show up with your gear and your determination. Their itineraries are flexible. Want to take the recommended six-day route? We can do that. Want to combine your climb with a safari in the Serengeti or a beach holiday in Zanzibar? We can arrange it. You focus on the steep trails, the raw challenge, and the unmatched feeling of conquering Africa's hardest route. We handle everything else on your Tanzania safari.