- Mount Kilimanjaro -

6 Days Umbwe Route

The Umbwe route is another camping route, short and very steep but scenic route starting from the south. It is the last useful and most demanding of all routes. As its challenging and difficult ascend is not popular with most climbers, it is often used for emergency descend from the Machame route or Shira routes.

Umbwe route is the most difficult route up to the summit as we as altitude acclimatization is difficult due to the fast ascent and the success rate is very low.

This route can be done for the maximum number f days 7 days and 6 nights and t the minimum can be done for 6 days 5 nights on mountain

The Umbwe Route is widely regarded as the hardest trail, a tough vertical slog through the jungle, in places using the tree roots as makeshift rungs on a ladder. Having reached the Southern Circular Route, trekkers can continue North-West to tackle Kibo from the West and the difficult Arrow Glacier Route; or you can follow the Southern Circular Route east round to Barafu and approach the summit from there. The entire walk up and down takes a minimum of five days.

Day 1: Arrival in Tanzania and transfer to the hotel
Arrive in Tanzania via Kilimanjaro International airport (JRO) Our staff will pick you up and transfer to Moshi town where you will spend the first night at Park View Hotel
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast at Park view Inn - Moshi
Parkview Inn is located in Moshi, Tanzania. The hotel is 40 km away from Kilimanjaro International Airport which is serviced daily by KLM and other regional airlines. If you arrive by bus or shuttle, the hotel is less than 5min away from the bus station. All rooms offer the following services and amenities: Individually controlled air conditioning, Safety deposit box, En-suite washroom with hot shower/bath, Mini-refrigerator, Telephone, Work table with comfortable chairs. Complimentary WIFI Internet access, Cable television, Numerous power outlets, Quality linen and towels, windows with mosquito netting.

Day 2: Drive to Umbwe Park Gate to Umbwe Cave camp
After Breakfast Kilimanjaro Brothers team will gather at the hotel for the introduction of the crew that will accompany clients then drive from Moshi town to Umbwe Park Gate (4,100ft) for registration process before begin hiking to the first camp which is Umbwe Cave camp.
The first day is through the Montana Forest. Lush vegetation with old trees and lilts of ferns and mosses mark this area that gets reliable rain year round. The forest abounds with wildlife, small bushbucks and duikers as well as monkeys. There is also a rich and varied bird-life. The first 3 hours or so is on a gently rising land before steepening for the last 2 hours. The camp for the night is in a small clearing on the trail.
Umbwe Cave Camp – Elevation 2940m or 9500ft
Distance 8km
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Vegetation zone: Montane forest
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
Shortly after starting the hike the forest gradually gives way to the giant heath. The trail has been following a ridge for some time and as it ascends through the heath land the ridge narrows and sharpens, finally becoming knife-edge with steep drops on each side. As the height of the heath reduces there are stunning views of both Kilimanjaro’s southern flank and across the Mount Meru some of 50 miles away.
Elevation 3860m or 12,800 ft
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Vegetation zone: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga
On the Eastern side of the valley, across the stream is the Barranco Wall barrier of volcanic rock. Although it is tall and looks steep, it is very easy to climb. This is our first challenge of the day. The views from the wall are nothing less than magnificent. The rest of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo Peak over left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up Barafu hut.
Elevation 3860m to 4000m or 12,700ft to 13,300ft
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu
From Karanga the tour heads up a moraine ridge taking your time and going slowly. The views here can be spectacular on the Southern glaciers .The final stage to Barafu is quite steep and as always it’s taken very slowly. As with the day before you reach camp by around lunchtime leaving lots of time to prepare and relax. In the evening your guide briefs you for the final ascent.
Elevation 4600m or 15,100ft
Hiking Time: 6 hours
Distance: 7km
Vegetation Zone : Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Barafu to Uhuru Peak then descend to Mweka camp
Begin hiking toward the summit at 11:30 pm and sometimes the guide can propose the time then continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a Northwestern direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m/18,652ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most important magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).

From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Camp sit, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist, Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain.
Elevation 4600m to 5895m (and down 3100m) or 15,000ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft)
Distance: 7km
ascent/23km descent
Hiking Time: 6 – 8 hours ascent
7 – 8 hours descent
Vegetation Zone: Stone scree and ice-capped
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Descend from Mweka camp to Mweka Gate
After breakfast, we continue to descent down the Mweka Park Gate is lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, at the gate will met by our driver and transferred back to Park View Inn for summit Ceremony and overnight stay.
Elevation: 3100m to 1830m or 10,200ft to 6000ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Vegetation: Forest
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast at Park view Inn - Moshi

Day 8: Departure
Transfer to airport for the flight back home 

Included

• Medical evacuation with AMREF flying Doctors
• 2 nights and accommodations-one before and after the trek at Park view Inn accommodation Bed and Breakfast.
• Emergency Oxygen tanks.
• All Park entrance fee.
• Rescue fees in mountain.
• Arrival and Departure transfers to the airport.
• All meals while on the Mountain.
• Portable person flash toilet.
• Salaries to the guides, cooks and porters.
• Professional & experienced mountain guides.
• Government Tax.
• High quality camping gears e.g. Quality Mess tents with table and chairs, sleeping tents, crew tents
• Hot water for washing every day
• Clean, purified drinking water
• Management and safety procedures
• Fair and ethical treatment of porters
• Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
• Pulse Ox meter
• Summit Emergency Oxygen. 

Excluded

-International Flight from your beloved Country
-International Insurance
-Airport taxes
-Shopping, Alcohol, Souvenirs and etc
-Tips for Driver Guide & Assistants Guide