The Umbwe route is the hardest and most challenging routes on Mt Kilimanjaro. It also has the highest incidence of altitude sickness and the lowest summit success rate. The steepness and difficulty of ascent on the first two days are what leads to this poor acclimatization. After the second day the route joins the Machame route at Barranco camp and follows the rest of the Machame route up to the summit.

Descent is via the Mweka route.