Umbwe Route

Your adventure begins at the Umbwe Gate (1,800m) with registration at the park office. The trail starts steeply through the dense rainforest, following a ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers. This challenging first day offers stunning views and a true wilderness experience with few other trekkers.

Today's hike takes you above the rainforest into the heath and moorland zone. The vegetation becomes more sparse as you gain altitude, with giant heather and lobelia plants dotting the landscape.

Today is dedicated to helping your body adjust to the altitude. After a leisurely breakfast, you'll take an acclimatization hike to Zebra Rocks (4,020m), which offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The rest of the day is free to relax, play cards, and enjoy the mountain scenery. This extra day significantly improves your chances of reaching the summit.

Today's trek takes you through the alpine desert to Kibo Hut at the base of Kibo peak. The landscape becomes increasingly lunar-like as you ascend, with only the hardiest vegetation surviving. You'll reach Kibo Hut in the early afternoon, where you'll have an early dinner and rest before the midnight summit attempt. Try to get some sleep, though many find it difficult at this altitude.

You'll wake at around 11 PM for tea and biscuits before beginning the challenging ascent to the summit. The climb to Gilman's Point (5,685m) is steep and demanding, taking 5-7 hours. From there, it's another 1-2 hours along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating your achievement and taking photos, you'll descend back to Kibo Hut for a short rest, then continue down to Horombo Hut for the night.

You'll be woken around midnight for a light breakfast before beginning your summit attempt. The steep climb to Stella Point (5,739m) on the crater rim is the most challenging part, taking 6-8 hours. From there, it's another hour along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. After celebrating your achievement and taking photos, you'll descend back to Barafu Camp for a short rest before continuing down to Mweka Camp for the night.