Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours

At 8am leave Arusha for Umbwe Gate where you will meet our porters, guides, and cooks who will spend the next six days trekking with you to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. The drive through coffee farms and villages to Umbwe Gate takes about 2 hours. After arriving, wait at the gate while we register your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations. Your first day’s destination is Cave Bivouac Camp, approximately 6 hours from the gate. The trail is steep and can be slippery in some places.

Hike through the moss-covered trees of Kilimanjaro cloud forest. The forest will thin later in the hike and heathers, tall grasses and wildflowers will come into view. Porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival.

Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours

The first section of the trail continues following the ridge. After leaving the forest, continue through open moorlands until reaching Barranco Camp. Barranco is generally regarded as the most scenic campsite on the Umbwe Trail as it’s surrounded by giant senecios and lobelias. As Barranco is in a valley, the sun rises later than at the other camps.

Distance: 7 Kilometers

Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours

Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you may have to use your hands to aid your climb. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the green Karanga River Valley.

Distance: 6 Kilometers

Hiking time: 3 to 5 hours

After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Try to sleep after finishing dinner as you will wake before midnight for your summit hike.

Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet

Hiking time: 6 hours to the rim, 1 hour to Uhuru, 3 to 4 hours back to Barafu, 4 hours to Mweka

Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Hike by the light of your headlamp for the next six hours. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.

The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult. The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers.

At Barafu Camp, eat breakfast and take a short break. You still have another three to five hours to go before reaching Mweka Camp.

Kilimanjaro Climbs include:

• All park entrance, camping, hut and rescue fees

• All meals and filtered drinking water while on the mountain

• Camping equipment including mountaineering, mess and sleeping tents (Mountain Hardwear, North Face, Marmot), table and chairs, toilet tent, sleeping mattresses and pillows, hot water bottles

• Guide (Wilderness First Responder certified), cook and porter salaries and fees

• Baggage porterage

• Transport to/from national park gates

• First aid kit and pulse oximeter

• Portable altitude chamber included on Crater Camp summits

Prices do not include gratuities, soda/alcohol unless otherwise noted, accommodations in Arusha unless otherwise noted, health/evacuation insurance, visa fees, international airfare, laundry, and meals not noted on the itinerary.

What is Included

• All national park fees
• All mentioned activities
• Overnight stays in safari tents
• Professional Safari Cook(s)
• Transport in 4×4 Safari Vehicle(s)
• Certified Professional Guide/Driver
• Drinking Water during Safari