About the Operator:
The reason I went with Almighty Kilimanjaro ( 10 Best Tanzania Tours & Trips 2026/2027 - TourRadar ) was that they were one of the few operators on TourRadar that listed the Umbwe Route. It is supposed to be the more strenuous route up Kilimanjaro because you have a few less acclamatization days. They had some great reviews and further, they had a decent price point based on a private departure.
Overall, the operator was great and super responsive. Answered all my questions super quickly and communicated all necessary trip details in tim,e so my travel buddy and I felt super prepared.
About the Trip:
I am always looking for a challenge when it comes to hiking trips so I did my research prior to see which would be the best route for me. I absolutely loved this route. For the first 2 days, we did not see any other travellers, which made our hike up very special. You are just in the middle of the jungle with just the guides and porters. Then later on you do join the main route and it does feel a bit more commercial again. I went in July and most days were super sunny but you have to pack all sort of layers and clothes cause you never know what the days and weather might bring. We were lucky and were only hit with rain on our last day when we already were walking down. It was just me and a friend and I think we had about 10 supporting staff with us (Cook, porters, guides etc). Super frienly and knowledgeable throughout.
We were also amazed at the amount of food they gave us. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all sooo much, but honestly, you need all the energy you can get.
The hike itself was, of course, challenging, and we were lucky that we didn’t get altitude sickness (but saw many people struggle, especially on the early morning ascent to the peak). We did take altitude sickness pills so that must have worked.
Reached the peak of course was the highlight, seeing the sun rise and the glaciers as well as the Mars-like landscape. Just breathtaking.
Tipps:
- Bring extra layers, the hike to the peak was extremely cold, and I would have loved an extra pair of thick socks, a scarf and extra thick gloves.
- Bring a Kindle or some books. You do have a lot of downtime.
- Get the private porter potty. It is worth the extra money.
- Take your time and really enjoy the scenery. Don’t rush it!
- Get a few training hikes in at a higher elevation.
