The Umbwe Ridge Route is without question the steepest approach route on Kilimanjaro, and for that reason, seldom used. Starting from Umbwe village on the south side of the mountain, the path leads through thick forest onto a steeply climbing ridge, with alpine terrain with a mix of hiking and scrambling. It is only suitable for those in excellent physical condition, and only for experienced hikers.

The first night is in the forest, and on the second day, once you rise into the moorland, the trail offers stunning views of the glaciers and the summit which make it appear "overhead". At the end of day two, the trail reaches Barranco Camp, which is part of what is commonly called the Machame Route (camp #3 on the Machame Route) and continues along the remainder of the Machame Route until reaching Barafu Camp. From here we make our overnight attempt at Africa's highest peak. Due to the steep and rugged terrain and limited acclimatization time, fitness and endurance play a huge role in the enjoyment and success of this trek.