6 Days Umbwe Route

Distance: 11 km Hiking Time: 5-7 hours Habitat: Rainforest After breakfast in Arusha, you will be driven to Umbwe Gate for registration. The trek begins through the dense rainforest, with a steep and narrow path climbing sharply as you make your way up the ridge. The trail is physically demanding, but the lush surroundings and beautiful scenery make it an unforgettable experience. You will arrive at Umbwe Cave Camp in the late afternoon, where you will camp for the night. Overnight: Umbwe Cave Camp

Distance: 6 km Hiking Time: 4-6 hours Habitat: Moorland The trail continues to ascend steeply, moving out of the rainforest and into the moorland zone. You’ll follow a ridge with views of Kibo and the plains below, before joining the southern circuit path leading to Barranco Camp. From this camp, you’ll be able to see the spectacular Barranco Wall and the dramatic landscape of the Great Barranco Valley. Overnight: Barranco Camp

Distance: 5 km Hiking Time: 4-5 hours Habitat: Alpine desert Today’s trek begins with the ascent of the Barranco Wall, a steep but non-technical climb that offers magnificent views of the glaciers. Once at the top, the trail follows a series of ridges and valleys before reaching Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day, designed for acclimatization and preparing for the upcoming challenges. Overnight: Karanga Camp

Distance: 4 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Alpine desert After breakfast, you’ll make the short but steep ascent to Barafu Camp, the base camp for the summit attempt. The landscape is harsh and barren, with little vegetation. Once at Barafu, you’ll rest and prepare for the final ascent to Uhuru Peak, which will begin in the early hours of the next morning. Overnight: Barafu Camp

Distance: 17 km (ascent to the summit and descent to Mweka Camp) Hiking Time: 10-14 hours Habitat: Arctic at the summit, Rainforest on descent Summit day starts around midnight with a steep climb over scree and rocks to reach Stella Point on the crater rim. From here, a final push leads you to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating your achievement and taking in the breathtaking views, you will begin the long descent back to Barafu Camp for a short rest. From there, you’ll continue descending to Mweka Camp, located in the rainforest. Overnight: Mweka Camp

Distance: 10 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours Habitat: Rainforest On your final day, you will make a short descent through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where you will receive your summit certificates: green certificates for reaching Stella Point and gold certificates for those who reached Uhuru Peak. A vehicle will be waiting at the gate to take you back to Arusha for some well-deserved rest and celebration.