Itinerary

1. Day 1: Moshi - Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp

   • Commence the trip by having a briefing session from your guide at 9:00 a.m. after an early breakfast.
   • Leave for an hour-long drive from your hotel in Moshi to the Umbwe village, where your guides and porters will prepare your equipment and supplies.
   • Complete the Kilimanjaro Park registration here and receive your lunch pack.
   • Begin your ascent from the Umbwe gate and continue on a small vehicle path until you reach the signage notifying you that you have reached the Umbwe Trail.
   • Climb for 5-6 hours through dense rainforest.
     • It is impossible to miss the giant fig trees and rubber trees as, in some places, their roots have overtaken the path. Although sometimes slippery themselves, they can make for good footholds when the path becomes sloppy with mud after rain. 
   • Umbwe Camp is inside the forest and will be your first stop.
     • Find your camp where the tent is already set up by porters.
     • Have some boiled drinking water and washing water in preparation for dinner.

   Rising(ft): 5,905ft/1,800m to 9,190ft/2,800m
   Stretch: 8 km
   Hiking time: 5-7 hours
   Climatic habitat: Rainforest

2. Day 2: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp

   • Pack up for the day trek after breakfast.
   • Begin your trek steeply through the disappearing rainforest glades before ascending into the drier air of Giant Erica and Heat land terrain, where the vegetation is sparse with small shrubs.
   • Continue on an exposed ridge that offers your first view of Uhuru Peak if the clouds have parted enough.
   • After lunch, you enter the semi-desert terrain and trek through a Senecio plant garden. These odd-looking groundsels resemble something like a pre-historic cactus. 
   • Once you reach Barranco Camp, your porters boil drinking and washing water before serving dinner. Pay attention to your body and inform your guide of any signs of altitude sickness.
   • Experience one of the most memorable sunsets you have ever seen as the sun drops through the valley while you wait for dinner.

   Rising(ft): 9,190ft/2,800m to 12,800ft/3,900m
   Stretch: 8 km
   Hiking time: 4-5 hours
   Climatic habitat: Moorland

3. Day 3: Barranco Camp Acclimatization

   • Spend the day exploring near Barranco Camp for much-needed acclimatization.
   • Keep your camera handy to capture the scenery of the groundsel-clad campsite.
   • Many trekkers rank this as their favourite camp on this trail, another reason this is the perfect spot for your acclimatization day. If you are highly confident in your body’s ability to acclimatize well, you can choose the 6-day Umbwe itinerary.

   Stretch: 10 km
   Hiking time: 7 hrs
   Climatic habitat: Moorland

4. Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

   • After sleeping below the Great Barranco Wall, you get your chance to tackle this hurdle.
   • Continue up until you reach just below the glacier.
   • Head down through the Karanga Valley. This is the last place for your porters to gather water. They will collect all the water for the remainder of the ascent here. 
   • Settle in here at the Karanga Camp.
   • After lunch, explore or rest the afternoon while enjoying the views of Mawenzi’s towering spires.

   Rising(ft): 12,960ft/3,950m to 13,780ft/4,200m
   Stretch: 7 km
   Hiking time: 4 hours
   Climatic habitat: Moorland

5. Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

   • Head east, crossing multiple ridges and valleys until you join the Mweka Route and turn left to continue up the ridge for an hour to reach the Barafu Hut.
   • Arrive at camp to find your tent pitched on a rocky ridge with high winds.
     • Be sure to familiarize yourself with the camp before dark to be safe.
     • Have your headlamp/flashlight handy if you need to leave the tent after dark.
   • Prepare your equipment (replace batteries for headlamp and camera) before bed by 7 p.m. and try to catch a few hours of shuteye before your summit attempt.

   Rising(ft): 13,780ft/4,200m to 14,930ft/4,550m
   Stretch: 5 km
   Hiking time: 3-4 hours
   Climatic habitat: Alpine desert

6. Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

   • Wake at 5:30 a.m. for tea or coffee and biscuits, then depart Barafu on your bid for the peak.
   • Climb for 6 hours through thick scree, following multiple switchbacks between the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (18,650 ft/5,685 m).
     • You have just completed what most climbers consider the most challenging trek part.
     • Depending on your pace to this point, you may enjoy the majestic sunrise during your short rest here.
     • Although you will be fatigued, it is essential to keep moving due to the extreme cold.
   • At Stella Point, you have joined up with the last bit of the Marangu Route.
   • Hike along the rim for another 1-2 hours until you reach Uhuru Peak, the Roof of Africa.
   • Take pictures with the world-famous Uhuru Peak sign. Remember, it is crucial to begin your descent soon to allow yourself enough time to rest at the Barafu Camp.
   • After a 3-hour descent down sliding scree, reach Barafu for a short rest while you collect your gear.
   • Continue down the path back into the forest camp of Mweka. You might experience a little rain in the afternoon, so be sure to have your rain gear in your daypack.
   • Enjoy some dinner and some well-deserved sleep. At Mweka Camp, the office sells bottled water, soft drinks, candy bars and beer.

   Rising(ft): 14,930ft/4,550m to 19,340ft/5,895m to 10,170ft/3,100m
   Stretch: 7 km up and 22 km down
   Hiking time: 8 hours up and 9-10 hours down
   Climatic habitat: Arctic

7. Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate - Moshi

   • Wake up for breakfast, pack, and descend through a short, scenic 3-hour hike to Mweka Gate.
     • Wait until you and your gear have reached the gate before you tip your staff.
     • After registering at the gate, wait to receive your summit certificates (green for those who reached Stella Point and gold for those who reached Uhuru Peak).
   • Continue your hike for 1 hour to the Mweka Village, 3km away.
   • Enjoy a hot lunch before being driven back to Moshi.

   Rising(ft): 10,170ft/3,100m to 6,500ft/1,980m
   Stretch: 10 km
   Hiking time: 3-4 hours
   Climatic habitat: Rainforest