The Umbwe Route

The Umbwe Route (5-6 days) is the hardest trail, a tough vertical slog through the jungle, in places using the tree roots as makeshift rungs on a ladder. Having reached the Southern Circular Route, trekkers then traditionally continue north to tackle Kibo from the west and the difficult Arrow Glacier Route, though you can also follow the Southern Circular Route east round to Barafu and approach the summit from there.

The entire walk up and down takes about six days (with a day’s acclimatizing at Karanga Valley) if going via the Barafu Campsite, or five if going via the Western Breach. see map