6 Days Umbwe Route

This route is rarely used due to its high level of difficulty. So if you are looking for a quieter route, this is the right one for you if you have mountaineering experience.

Probably the most demanding route on Kilimanjaro is the Umbwe route. It is the shortest and steepest of the Kilimanjaro routes and accordingly has a poor acclimatization profile. This route should only be attempted by experienced climbers.

The Umbwe Route can be walked in 5 to 6 days. It is very little used in the first few days, but joins the Machame Route from Barranco Camp. Compared to Machame and Lemosho, the Umbwe Route is not as varied in terms of scenery.

 

Day 1 : Umbwe Gate (1600m) to umbwe cave camp (2900m)

After breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the umbwe park gate. Once you reach the park gate, report to the park office and final preparations for the climb will begin. Your accompanying porters will arrange the luggage. They load of the groceries, water, cooking gas, camping gear and most of your gear, allowing each porter to carry a maximum weight of 20kg.

Today you will cover 11 kilometres in a montane forest and on average it takes most participants about 6 hours to complete this route.

Day 2 : Umbwe camp (2900m) to barranco camp (3986m)

Distance: 6km, time: 4-5 hours

We leave camp and shortly afterwards the forests ends. We can see the sheer wall of the western breach appearing and disappearing as the afternoon mists roll up the great barranco. We will camp at barranco camp tonight.

Day 3 : barranco camp (3986m) – karanga camp (4034m)

The path today takes you up a steep ridge to the adventurous barranco wall in the karanga valley. You need between 4 and 5 hours for the 5.2 kilometer route. Overnight at karanga camp.

Day 4 : karanga camp (4034m) – barafu camp (4662m)

We continue through the alpine desert for 4 to 5 hrs up to barafu camps and once you reach it you have now completed the south circuit, which offers a multitude of breathtaking views of the summit from many different angles. An early dinner and rest while we prepare for summit night.

Your guide will wake you around 12:00 midnight, for tea and biscuits. You will then begin your summit attempt.

Day 5 : Summit attempt
Barafu camp (4673m) – uhuru peak (5895m) – mweka (3100m)

Hiking time: 5-7 hours to reach uhuru peak, 5-6 hours to descend to mweka
Distance: approximately 7 kilometre ascent and 13 kilometre descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Day 6 : Mweka camp (3100m) – mweka gate (1980m)

Distance: approximately 15 kilometres
Habitat: forest

Following a well-deserved breakfast, your staff will have a big celebration full of dancing and singing. After celebrating, you will descend for three hours back to mweka gate. The national park requires all hikers to sign their names to receive certificates of completion. Hikers who have reached Stella point (5685 m) receive green certificates and hikers who have reached uhuru peak (5895 m) receive gold certificates. After receiving the certificates, descend to the village of mweka for approximately 1 hour (3 km). You will be served a hot lunch, then drive back to Arusha for long overdue showers and more celebrations.

 

  • Airport transfers
  • one-night Accommodation before and after trekking in a Hotel
  • Transfer Hotel / Kilimanjaro
  • National Park fee
  • Camping Fees
  • Rescue Fee
  • Qualified Tour guides and mountain crew (Chefs, Waiter, incl. 3 Porters per guest)
  • Tent and sleeping mattress
  • All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
  • Mess tent (for dining) / Mini camping chairs / Table / Cutlery / Crockery
  • Pulse oximeter
  • First aid kit
  • oxygen bottle
  • Salaries for your team are very low in Tanzania, so we ask that you show your gratitude by tipping your guides, porters, cooks and waiters. (We recommend Chief Guides $25, Assistant Guides $20, Cook $15, Porters $7-10 PER DAY) Please also note that 3 porters are required for each guest.
  • International Flight
  • Visa
  • Equipment for your ascent (our recommendation can be found under FAQ)
  • Items of personal nature
  • Sleeping bag
  • Alcohol
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