Finest Expeditions Route
An ascent of Kibo by the Umbwe Route is one of the finest non-technical mountaineering expeditions in East Africa – Iain Allen. Lying between and parallel to the Machame and Mweka Routes, the Umbwe Route is a very steep, wild, exhilarating climb. The trail scales the thickly forested slopes beneath the Great Barranco Valley before climbing to Barranco Camp. The climb by Umbwe Route showcases some of Kilimanjaro’s finest features and the views from Barranco Camp are outstanding. The climb generally takes five days to complete, however there is scope to build in additional vital acclimatization days by taking extra night at Barranco Camp or higher at Larva Tower.