Kilimanjaro Trek via Umbwe Route

Kilimanjaro Trek via Umbwe Route

Umbwe is one of the least climbed routes on Kilimanjaro, which makes it very appealing. We prefer this to the Machame Route which has become very crowded. For the first two days, you hardly see another climber. The rate of ascent is exactly the same as the other routes we trek and allows climbers who do not have extra time to summit happily and safely. On this route we start our summit climb at midnight.

Day 1: Arrive Tanzania - Moshi

3,000-ft/ 914-m

We will pick you up at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) and transfer to Moshi. Your tour guide will meet, greet and brief you about your trek to the Kilimanjaro. He will also make sure that you have  all the gear necessary for the trek.

Day 2: Umbwe Cave

9,360-ft/ 2,853-m | 6.83 miles/ 11 km | 5-6

hrs

Drive to the Umbwe Gate at 4,590 ft. Start the trek via the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers beneath the massive tree canopy. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and glimpses of Kilimanjaro off in the distance. Our scenic camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth.

Day 3-4: Barranco

12,950-ft/ 3,950-m | 4 miles/ 6.4 km | 4-5 hrs.

We find more rocky terrain with undergrowth and trees draped with witches beard. We follow the ridge, gaining altitude, occasionally seeing Kibo peak towering in the distance. As we approach Barranco, the path flattens out a bit and then descends into Barranco camp. We spend 2 nights at Barranco to acclimatize. On our extra day, we hike up approximately 1,500 ft. towards Lava Tower for a beautiful view of the Barranco, and its unusual flora, such as Senecio and Lobelia.

Day 5: Karanga

13,230-ft/ 4,033-m | 3.6 miles/ 5.8 km | 4-5 hrs.

Our first challenge of the day is to breach the 500 ft. Barranco Wall. Most of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo peak over our left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley and climb up the other side, where we rest up for the night before climbing up to Barafu Hut.

Day 6: Barafu

14,950-ft/ 4,556-m | 2.1 miles/ 3.4 km | 4 hrs.

The air starts getting quite thin, and you will be running short of breath. It's tough, but a rewarding uphill climb to the rocky, craggy slopes at the camp. "Barafu" means, "ice" in Swahili, and it is extremely cold here. The clouds move in and out, revealing the eroded peak of Mawenzi, painted with colors of the African sun.

Day 7: Barafu | Summit - Uhuru Peak | Mweka

Summit: 19,340-ft/ 5,895-m | 2.75 mi/ 4.5 km | 7-9 hrs

Mweka: 10,400-ft/ 3,170-m | 6.8 mi/ 10.9 km | 7-8 hrs

Summit day! This day normally starts after midnight, take the trails following an increasing steep valley on the edge of Scree fields,passing between Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to emerge at Stella point (5681m) on the southern rim of Kibo then ascending further to Uhuru peak(5895m) Later descend to Barafu for a short rest then proceed to Mweka camp.

Day 8: Mweka Gate | Moshi

Gate: 5,500-ft/ 1,676-m | 5.3 mi/ 8.5 km | 4-5 hrs

Moshi: 3,000-ft/ 914-m | 30 minute drive

This is a short relatively swift and final day on the mountain, descending via the forest with lush and extremely picturesque to Mweka gate. We will pick you up and drive to the hotel for a hot shower.