7 Day Umbwe route
7 days Kilimanjaro Umbwe route safari – Hiking through the Umbwe route takes you through the shortest, but toughest route to the Southern Glaciers of Kilimanjaro and Western Breach of the Kibo Peak. An ascent of Kibo by Umbwe Route is one of the finest non–technical climbing mountaineering. It is a difficult route, best suited for only experienced but not beginners & solo travelers.
Day 1: Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Umbwe Gate (1,800 m/5,905 ft) to Umbwe Camp (2,800 m/9,190 ft) 8 km, 5-7 hours Montane Forest
Start your day 1 with an early morning briefing, after breakfast, and along with the driver, set off for Umbwe gate,where you will follow up the registration formalities. You will be assigned porters, guides, as well as your packed lunch, afterwards you will begin your ascent from the small Umbwe Gate just ahead of the village, following a gentle winding vehicle track for an hour to a post that announces the small steep Umbwe trail. The climb further continues upwards, for more hours through a dense forest of rubber trees and giant fig trees. You will arrive at Umbwe camp for a delicious dinner & an overnight
Day 2: Umbwe Camp (2,800 m/9,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) 8 km, 4-5 hours Semi-Desert
Begin your morning with a cup of hot tea/coffee, after which, you will climb steeply through the thin forest glades to Giant Erica, Heather, and drier air. You will proceed up a ridge that descends steeply on either sides, and gloriously, the clouds will clear up in the sky to reward you with spectacular views of Uhuru Peak appearing overhead. Enjoy your enroute lunch, and trek further, passing through a zone of giant groundsels (Scenario Kilimanjaro) , and later on arrive at Baranco Camp for a delicious dinner plus an ,overnight rest.
Day 3: Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft)
On this day 4, You will spend the whole day relaxing for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and boost your acclimatization.
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) 7 km, 4 hours Alpine Desert
Following your breakfast, You will proceed with your acent up a steep ridge to the magnificent Barranco Wall, thereafter you will hike this wall, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Viewing out just beneath the Heim Glacier, you will enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Kilimanjaro peak. With Kibo’s glaciers lying overhead, you will trek down into the verdant Karanga Valley to the Karanga campsite. At this point, you can be able to, view the jagged peaks of Mawenzi soaring high into the African sky you will enjoy lunch at the camp and spend the whole afternoon at your leisure, allowing your body to regain strength, which is also good for acclimatization. After your lunch, embark on your trek, slowly until the top of the Great Barranco and then cross over screes and ridges to the Karanga Valley campsite (3h, 4000m.), below the icefalls of the Southern Glaciers.
Day 5: Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) 13 km, 8 hours Alpine Desert
You will wake up early for breakfast, after then embark on your hike to Barafu Camp to experience the magnificent views of Kibo’s glaciers and the junction that joins the descent route, Mweka with the Machame. You will also, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu crosses through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers unique views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Go to sleep early, after delicious dinner as you will wake before midnight for your summit hike.
Day 6 : Summit Day! Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) 7 km up, 23 km down 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down Scree and seasonal snow
At midnight, begin your final ascent to Uhuru Peak, where you will hike by the guidance of the light of your headlamp for about 6 hours. The hike to the edge of the crater is the most mentally & Physically challenging part of the whole trek. The steep hike continues until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.
Then from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb, but less difficult, yet the altitude, makes the hike long and exhausting. The crater rim hike takes about 60 minutes. On reaching the peak, you will capture photos of your guide and group as you celebrate your victory at the peak. From here, you then begin descending to Mweka Camp, as you enjou beautiful views of mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers.
Enjoy your lunch at Barafu Camp & take a short break, after which you proceed for 3 hour, trekking to Mweka camp. Dinner and .an overnight rest in this camp.
Day 7: Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 15 km, 3 hours Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, finish the trek with a hike through the forest to Mweka Gate where you will be a warded your Kilimanjaro trekking certificate. Afterwards, meet the safari guide, who will drive you back to your hotel/lodge.
