Umbwe Route
Overview
The Umbwe Route is steeper and shorter than the Machame Route. Once at the Barranco Hut you continue on with the other Machame hikers. The descent is down the Mweka trail.
Since it is a very short and direct route, it is not recommended for people with little altitude experience
Number of Days
7 Days | 6 Nights
Area to Visit
Machame Camp, Shira 1 camp, Barrano Camp , Karanga Camp, Barrafu Camp, Mweka Camp
Full Itinerary
Day 1: Hotel to Umbwe Cave Camp
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour). Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route.
Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft
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: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
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
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
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
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 all the way 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
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
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).
Inclusions:
- Accommodation as per itinerary
- Meals plan as per itinerary: i.e. Bed & Breakfast in Town hotels, Full Board for Kilimanjaro climb.
- Porters to carry your luggage.
- Guides, porters, cook salaries and park fees.
- Trekking poles, sleeping bag
- Service of a professional English speaking guide.
- Transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to your hotel in Arusha
- Drop off at Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) for your departure flight
- Transfer to Marangu gate for Kilimanjaro climb and pick up at the gate after climbing
- Park entry fees and rescue fee for Kilimanjaro National Park as per itinerary.
- 18% VAT for park fee at Kilimanjaro National Park.
Exclusions:
- Visa for Tanzania
- Medical insurance
- Any International flight
- Any domestic flight
- Any alcoholic drinks
- Any non-alcoholic drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any item of personal nature.
- Tips