7 DAYS - UMBWE ROUTE
The Umbwe route has a well-deserved reputation for being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Although the number of people on this trail is very low, the chances of success are also low. Umbwe is considered to be a very difficult, taxing route - one that should only be attempted by strong hikers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude.
Itinerary
Itinerary
Day 0: Arrive in Tanzania
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Day 1: Hotel to Umbwe Cave Camp
Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft
Distance: 11km/7mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour). Commence the climb through the rainforest with packed lunch en route.
Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and dinner after breakfast, we leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to Barranco Camp.
Day 3: Stay at Barranco Camp
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 0km/0mi
Hiking Time: 0 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Extra Day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.
Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Hiking Time: 34 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
Day 6: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through a heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point, you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa!
From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi hotel
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).
From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8: Depart Tanzania
The day is left free to wind down after the trek before your flight home. Depending on flight times you could go and explore Moshi town and grab some souvenirs before heading to the airport.
*Safari, Zanzibar, and other add-ons are available if you wish to continue exploring Tanzania.
Meals: Breakfast Included
