9 Days Umbwe Route

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to Keys Hotel.

Keys Hotel is a family-run hotel located on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, offering comfortable accommodation, a variety of meals, a clean swimming pool, and friendly service. Located just a ten-minute walk from Moshi town centre, with palatable meals and relaxing surroundings, Keys Hotel is a spectacular place one will always wish to stay.

Accommodation: Keys Hotel – 823m / 2,700ft

Meal Plan: Bed & Breakfast (BB)

Walking Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles

Walking Time: 5–7 hours

Altitude Gain: 1,050m / 3,445ft

Today is the day you have prepared for and dreamt about for months, if not years—time to tick conquering Africa’s highest free-standing mountain off your bucket list.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Umbwe Gate at Kilimanjaro National Park, where your hike begins. Today’s trekking pace is slow and comfortable, allowing enough time to enjoy the natural surroundings as you walk through beautiful rainforest with dense vegetation, often on muddy trails with some steep sections.

You will have a packed lunch (lunch boxes) provided. Your guides will find a good spot for lunch, which may be at the gate or along the way to Umbwe Cave Camp, depending on timing.

The first campsite, Umbwe Cave Camp, is positioned in a steep valley with rock overhangs between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers.

Dinner and Overnight: Umbwe Cave Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)

Walking Distance: 6.5 km / 4.0 miles

Walking Time: 4–6 hours

Altitude Gain: 1,100m / 3,610ft

From Umbwe Cave Camp, the trail continues over steep terrain. Vegetation gradually changes from dense forest to sparse trees, bushes, and finally moorland. Views of Kibo and Uhuru Peak, with their snow-capped summit, become more frequent as you approach Barranco Camp.

Along the way, your guides will find a good spot for a break with tea, coffee, popcorn, nuts, and biscuits.

Once you reach Barranco Camp, you will be served a hot lunch.

In the evening, the sun paints the rocks around camp in dreamy red and yellow colours, with the white ice of the high peaks shining brightly. Looking south, you may see the town of Moshi far below. You often sleep above the clouds at Barranco Camp.

Dinner and Overnight: Barranco Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)

Walking Distance: 7 km / 4.3 miles (round trip)

Walking Time: 5–7 hours

Altitude Gain/Loss: +680m / −680m

Today you walk to Lava Tower through the famous Garden of the Senecio, featuring many giant senecio and lobelia plants. The ascent and descent will start very early in the morning in order to return to camp early for lunch.

Upon reaching Lava Tower, you will have a short break with bites, tea, coffee, popcorn, and nuts. After spending a few minutes at high altitude, you descend back to Barranco Camp, where a hot lunch will be served.

This day is excellent for acclimatization—climb high, sleep low.

Dinner and Overnight: Barranco Camp

Meal Plan: Full Board (FB)

Walking distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles

Walking time: 4–5 hours

Altitude gain: 310m / 1016 ft

Today begins with the famous Barranco Wall climb. Your guide will set a comfortable pace, ensuring everyone ascends safely. At the top of the Barranco Wall, approximately 4,260 m / 13,976 ft, you will take a break to pause, take photos, drink water, and enjoy some bites before continuing the trek.

Once over the Barranco Wall, the trail gradually leads across the alpine desert toward Karanga Valley. On the way, your guide may also choose spots for short breaks with biscuits, tea, coffee, popcorn, or nuts.

Upon arrival at Karanga Camp, you will be welcomed with a hot lunch. After lunch, you can rest or take a short hike for further acclimatization while enjoying the views of the surrounding peaks.

Dinner and Overnight: Karanga Camp (FB)

Walking distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles

Walking time: 4–5 hours

Altitude gain: 665 m / 2,180 ft

The scenic climb to Barafu Camp is mostly along a moraine and lava ridge, with Mawenzi Peak towering majestically to the right and Kibo Peak seemingly just out of reach overhead.

 The alpine desert terrain here is mostly mineral, with few lichens and mosses.

On the way, your guide will choose good spots for short breaks to enjoy bites, biscuits, tea, and coffee, allowing everyone to rest and take in the views.

Upon arrival at Barafu Camp, an early lunch will be served before 1:00 PM. In the afternoon, there is a summit clothing check. Dinner will be served early, around 5:00 PM, as climbers who plan to ascend to the summit will go to bed soon afterward, preparing for the longest and most challenging day ahead.

Dinner and Overnight: Barafu Camp (FB)

Walking distance: 16–18 km / 10–11 miles (depending on descent route)

Walking time: 13–17 hours total

Altitude gain: 1,195 m / 3,921 ft (Barafu → Uhuru Peak).

You will wake up around midnight for a light breakfast, and your climb will begin at approximately 12:00 AM. This is the most challenging portion of the trek, so climbers should carry as little as possible. Temperatures can range from -4°C to 5°C / 25°F to 41°F.

The climb to Stella Point (5,730 m / 18,800 ft) takes about six hours. From there, it is roughly another hour to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m / 19,341 ft), the highest point on the African continent.

 The track around the crater rim is rocky and often icy, so it is essential to concentrate on your footing and follow your guide closely.

The descent is equally demanding. You will return to Barafu Camp after about three hours, arriving around 11:30 AM, where you can rest and have refreshments.

 From Barafu, you will continue down to Mweka Camp (3,100 m / 10,170 ft) for the night, arriving around 5:00 PM.

 Today’s trek covers a total of 13–17 hours of walking.

Dinner and Overnight: Mweka Camp (FB)

Walking distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles

Walking time: 4–5 hours

Descent: 1,120 m / 3,670 ft

On the final day of the journey, climbers will descend from Mweka Camp to the park gate. The descent takes you through lush rainforest, with plenty of opportunity to enjoy the scenery along the way. The trek to the gate usually takes about 4–5 hours, and climbers typically arrive before noon.

Upon arrival at Mweka Gate, you will be presented with a certificate celebrating your achievement of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro. After the celebration, you will be transferred back to Keys Hotel for hot showers, a relaxing dinner, and overnight rest.

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