Umbwe Route

Are you Umbwe enough? Karibu! Yep, it's been said before. The Umbe Route is the toughest route for climbing Kilimanjaro. But is it though? Comparing the different routes for climbing Kilimanjaro, opinions tend to differ. Discussions about which route is more beautiful, which one is toughest, and which one is easiest. If you've come here to read more about the Umbwe Route, you've come to the right place. Poa kichizi kama ndizi kwenye friji! Wait, what? That means "Crazy cool like a banana in the fridge", a saying Rintsje and I got to learn inside out during our turn on Kilimanjaro. You need to be a bit "crazy cool" if you're interested in the Umbwe Route. We've done the Machame Route ourselves, but if we would do it again, I am sure we would meet at the Umbwe Gate. Let’s go!

Ask anyone who’s done the Machame Route or the Lemosho Route on Kilimanjaro and they’ll probably mention the Barranco Wall. It’s one of the most talked-about sections of the entire climb. Steep, dramatic, and often hyped as the "Breakfast Wall" because you tackle it right after your morning meal. I climbed it myself in September 2022 as part of the Machame Route, and I get why people talk about it. It’s the first part of the trek where you stop walking and start scrambling. Hands on the rock, views behind you, and the trail hugging the side of the mountain—it’s an experience that sticks with you. The Barranco Wall looks intimidating from below, especially when you're staring up at it with your coffee still settling. But once you're on it, it’s more fun than frightening. It’s not super technical, there’s no climbing gear involved, and your guides will be right there to show you the best footholds. It’s one of those parts of the route where the scenery shifts fast and you get a real sense of altitude. In this post, I’ll walk you through what to expect, what not to worry about, and why the Barranco Wall might just become your favourite part of the climb. Planning your own Kilimanjaro adventure? This is one section you’ll want to be ready for.

Do you want to climb Mount Meru? It doesn't matter whether you are climbing Mount Meru in preparation for big brother Kilimanjaro or you just want to tick the 5th highest peak of Africa of your list. Mount Meru in Tanzania is marvelous. Kilimanjaro is the popular guy in school but Mount Meru may well be way too cool for school. Mount Meru is a highly underrated mountain and if you want to climb a mountain in true African style, then you would be very happy climbing Mount Meru. In this blog post, we answer the most important questions for your Mount Meru climb. Also, we speak to Ërick who has climbed Meru a few times and gather some insights and tips from him When you climb Kilimanjaro, you are not going to see any large wildlife. This is something that people only realize when they are already on their way to the rainforest on the lower slopes of the Roof of Africa. There is no wildlife on or around Kilimanjaro. Sure, some monkeys and snakes, but you are not going to see giraffe, elephant or buffalo. That is a completely different story on Kili's little brother, Mount Meru. Your trek to Socialist Peak will be packed with wildlife.