6 Days Umbwe Route

Tour Overview

1. Pre day Arriving in Tanzania

   All trekkers need to organize their own flight to Kilimanjaro international Airport [JRO]. From JRO you will be met by our staff and transferred to Moshi in the peaceful surrounds of our comfortable pre and post trek accommodation from where there are great views of the mountain. You can relax by the pool before your briefing with the Guides, who will provide the essential information for your trek to the roof of Africa.

   The Hotel we are using is between these

   Parkview Inn Hotel

   Panama Garden Resort

   Weruweru River Lodge

2. Day 1 Umbwe Gate (1614m) – Umbwe Cave camp (2850m)

   After breakfast you will be driven to the Machame gate where registration formalities will be completed. From the Machame gate you will be transferred to the Umbwe Gate (1641m), passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. The air is thick with moisture and the path is usually muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers, with huge trees surrounding you. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro towering above you in the distance. The camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth.

   • Hiking time: 6 Hours

   Distance

   Approximately 10.3 km

   Habitat

   Forest (Montane)

   Meals

   Lunch & Dinner

   Overnight

   Umbwe Cave Camp

3. Day 2 Umbwe Cave camp (2850m) – Barranco camp (3985m)

   Shortly after leaving the camp the forest starts thinning and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you – etched against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley.
   From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while your dinner is being prepared.

   • Hiking time: 6 hours

   Distance

   Approximately 6.3 km

   Habitat

   Moorland

   Meals

   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

   Overnight

   Barranco Camp

4. Day 3 Barranco camp (3985m) – Karanga Camp (4040m)

   After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp.

   • Hiking time: 6 hours

   Distance

   Approximately 6 km

   Habitat

   Moorland / Semi desert

   Meals

   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

   Overnight

   Karanga Camp

5. Day 4 Karanga camp (4040m) – Barafu camp (4681m)

   Breakfast at Karanga camp and after breakfast turn left up the ridge and the route ascends 640m towards Barafu Camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night.
   Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge.
   Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

   The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed as early as possible and try to get some precious rest and sleep.

   • Hiking time: 4 hours

   Distance

   Approximately 3.4km

   Habitat

   Alpine desert

   Meals

   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

   Overnight

   BarafuCamp

6. Day 5 Summit attempt, Barafu camp (4681m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3090m)

   You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night.
   You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.
   For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route.
   At Stella Point (5739m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).
   From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.
   The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions.
   Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue.

   Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life!

   The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours.
   Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m).
   The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest.
   The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
   Dinner and washing water will be prepared.

   • Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp

   Distance

   Approximately 4.5 km ascent and 10.8 km descent

   Habitat

   Stone scree and ice-capped summit

   Meals

   Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

   Overnight

   Mweka Camp

7. Day 6 Mweka camp (3090m) – Mweka Gate (1641m)

   • 6 Days 5 Nights Umbwe Route
   • Private transport from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
   • Private transport to Kilimanjaro International Airport after trek to catch your flight back home
   • Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
   • National Park entry fees, camping fees, rescue fees
   • 18% VAT on tour fees & services
   • 4 Season Mountain tents with comfortable Sleeping Mattress
   • 2 nights of your hotel stay before and after trek in Moshi.
   • Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters [average ratio of support staff to climber is 4:1 in a group]
   • 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain
   • Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
   • Hot water for washing
   • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
   • Government taxes
   • Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter
   • Emergency firstaid kit

Places on This Trip

• Mountain Kilimanjaro National Park

Prices