Kilimanjaro Climbing 6 Days Umbwe Route

After arriving at the Airport, you will be picked up and transferred to your hotel in Moshi. Later on, your Wild Wonders Expedition guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear.

Your guide and climbing support crew from Wild Wonders Expedition will arrive at your hotel for a final brief before the drive to Umbwe Gate. Situated at 1,800m, this is where your trek begins. After permits and registration are finalized, begin the hike through the lush rainforest. Climbing to 2,850m is a significant gain, so finding a steady group pace is key. Be prepared for rain showers in this zone; your support crew will have the camp and dinner ready upon your arrival.

Distance covered: 11 km
Approximate time taken: 7 hours
Habitat: Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

The day starts with an early breakfast before trekking to Barranco Camp. The rainforest quickly gives way to moorland, offering your first potential views of Meru Volcano. The route is moderate in length, and you will reach Barranco Camp (3,900m) nestled inside a massive volcanic fault by lunchtime. Relaxing for the afternoon here significantly aids the acclimatization process.

Distance covered: 8 km
Approximate time taken: 5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Today begins with the famous climb up the Barranco Wall. We recommend an early start to avoid crowds. The hike up the wall is non-technical and takes about an hour, offering great photo opportunities of Kibo. The trail then continues through various ascents and descents to Karanga Camp. After lunch, you will join an acclimatization hike toward Barafu Camp, gaining 200m in altitude before descending back to camp for the night.

Distance covered: 6 km
Approximate time taken: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Trek through the alpine desert toward Barafu Camp (Base Camp). This route takes you past giant groundsels and across the southern slopes of Kibo. Karanga Camp serves as the last stop for water before the summit. Upon reaching Barafu (4,640m), you will have an early dinner and rest as you prepare for the midnight summit attempt.

Distance covered: 4 km
Approximate time taken: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine desert
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Wake up around midnight for tea and cookies before the final push. You will climb heavy scree for 4-5 hours to reach Stella Point (5,756m) at sunrise. From there, it is a 1-hour hike to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. After celebrating at the top, descend back to Barafu Camp for lunch and a short rest before continuing down to Millennium Camp (3,950m) for your final night.

Distance covered: 15 km
Approximate time taken: 12-15 hours
Habitat: Glacier/Moorland
Meal: Breakfast, lunch and dinner included

After breakfast, complete the final descent through the moorland and rainforest to Mweka Gate. Here, you will collect your summit certificates and complete park formalities. A private Wild Wonders Expedition vehicle will then take you back to your hotel in Moshi for a warm shower and a well-earned celebration.

Distance covered: 14 km
Approximate time taken: 6 hours
Habitat: Moorland/Rainforest
Meal: Breakfast and lunch included

Later in the evening or the next day, you will be transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home. Wild Wonders Expedition can also organize affordable safari trips to world-class wildlife parks like Tarangire, Ngorongoro Crater, or the Serengeti.