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Kilimanjaro Umbwe route is a short route, providing challenges as it is very difficult to climb due to its steepness. It is arguably the least frequented route on Kilimanjaro passes through the tropical rainforest and runs long the Machame Route, joining it at Barranco Camp. The traffic in this route is very low and unless a day is added to the climb. The route is offered at a minimum of six days, but seven days is preferred. This route also merges along with Machame, Lemosho, and Shira Route. If one wants more adventure, then one can approach the Western Breach route -risky and dangerous.
It requires some scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) at certain points. This path is very beautiful but also very challenging due to its rocks formations and its steep slope. The Western Beach was gaining popularity by climbers using the Umbwe route, Lemosho, Shira and Machame routes until a rock fall claimed the lives of three climbers in January 2006. In response, Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) closed the Western Breach Route, but in 2007 KINAPA opened it again with the conditions that all clients and their supporting members who want to use this option must sign at the entrance gate that they are doing for their own risk.
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Itineraries
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.
Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft
Distance: 11km/7mi
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Day 2
Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
After breakfast, we leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 2850m/9350ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 6km/4mi
Walking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 3
Stay at Barranco Camp
Extra Day for Acclimatization. Adding this day will ease your effort, and amplify your acclimatization.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 0km/0mi
Hiking Time: 0 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
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.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Hiking Time: 34 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
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.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
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.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi hotel
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).
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
Meals: Breakfast
- Park fees,
- camping fee,
- rescue fees,
- crew salary,
- professional English speaking mountain guide,
- cook and porters,
- camping equipment,
- 3 meals a day during trekking,
- unlimited drinking water,
- transport from your accommodation on Moshi to the starting point and back after the trekking,
- briefings and equipment inspections,
- accommodation before and after the trek,
- Airport pick-up and drop-off.
- Tipping for the crew,
- personal trekking gear,
- things of a personal nature,
- alcohol
Your tour will conclude in Mweka Gate on Day 7 of the trip. There are no activities planned for this day so you're free to depart at any time. We highly recommend booking post-accommodation to give yourself time to fully experience the wonders of this iconic city!
Day 1 of this tour is an arrivals day, which gives you a chance to settle into your hotel and explore Moshi City. The only planned activity for this day is an evening welcome meeting at 7pm, where you can get to know your guides and fellow travellers. Please be aware that the meeting point is subject to change until your final documents are released
Definitely we have airport pick up and drop up facilities for our clients who have booked our full packages tour. We are also pleased to inform you that we don’t charge for the pick up and drop up facilities. Actually it’s free of cost. But for this you need to provide the arrival time and date.
We provide English speaking chauffeurs for individual tours. For group tours, English speaking tour escorts would accompany the groups. During sightseeing involving historically important places or monuments, we provide English speaking local guides who are well knowledged in history and culture. We could even provide guides who speak French, German and Japanese, only on advanced booking.
Tipping is not included in any of our packages and it is left the discretion of the travellers. Though not compulsory, tipping is expected by one and all involved in the service industry. We would recommend carrying small change in your pocket. Tips to Guides or other services rendered (Highly recommended)
We don't accept children of all ages to travel on safari . For children to make the most out of their travels, we suggest looking into one of our special family itineraries.Please bear in mind, some of the accommodation have minimum age restrictions, so please inform us of the age of your child/children.
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