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Kilimanjaro Trek - Umbwe Route 6 days

Price for Joining Group FROM USD 1610

About the route

The Umbwe route takes a minimum of five days although six days are recommended for inexperienced hikers. Only people who have experience with hiking and are confident in their ability to acclimatize should consider taking 5 days climb. You can reach the summit using the Western Breach or the Barafu Camp. If you choose the Barafu Camp route, you will meet the Machame route at Barranco camp, and enjoy some spectacular views, stunning landscapes and exciting climbs up the Barranco wall. The Western Breach route takes you through Arrow Glacier hut, which is not crowded, but it is much more challenging. The descent down the mountain is along the Mweka route, which follows a steep descent to Barafu,  where you might take short rest, before embarking further down the ever-changing sceneries towards the Mweka huts and the path off the mountain.

Route summary

Day 1: Welcome to Tanzania

Transport will be provided from the Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodation in Moshi. You’ll have some rest before meeting your guides, who will brief you about the climb and Mt. Kilimanjaro, followed by equipment check to ensure that all you have all the essentials. If some of your equipment is missing or is in a bad shape, you can rent from us. You’ll have dinner and spend the night here in preparation for the adventure awaiting you.

Day 2: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Campsite

You will begin your day with an hour’s drive to Machame gate where you will complete registration formalities. We’ll then drive through villages and plantations of coffee and banana, to Umbwe gate. The trail will steeply climb on a forestry track through a dense rainforest and then narrow and steepen as you reach the ridge between two rivers which are surrounded by huge trees. Umbwe camp is located between trees and thick undergrowth.

  • Elevation 1800meters to 2950meters
  • Distance: 11 km
  • Hiking Time: 5 – 6 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 3: Umbwe Campsite to Barranco Campsite

On the second day of the trek, you will be hiking across rockier terrain scarcely tiled by undergrowth and random moss-covered trees. As we begin to climb, Kilimanjaro will be in plain sight, and our path flatten as we get near Barranco Valley. From Umbwe Ridge the path, gilded with unusual but yet amazing Senecio forest, leads down to Barranco camp.

  • Elevation 1800meters to 2950meters
  • Distance: 6 km
  • Hiking Time: 4 – 5 hours
  • Habitat: Heath and Moorland

Day 4: Barranco Campsite to Karanga Valley Campsite

Breakfast will be served before you head out from Barranco towards a steep ridge that follows the base of Barranco Wall toward Karanga Valley campsite. Once you get to Karanga, you will have a hot lunch, and later on acclimatization walk. Dinner will be served at the Karanga campsite before your rest for the night awaiting day five’s adventure.

  • Elevation 3950metters to 4002meters
  • Distance: 5 km
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 5: Karanga Valley Campsite to Barafu Campsite

You will continue trekking to Barafu, from which the view of the summit tends to be different as you shift angles. Once we reach the campsite, you can get the excellent view of the summit, but also enjoy the sight of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks. Dinner will be served early, and you should rest and prepare for the final ascend.

  • Elevation 4002meters to 4600meters
  • Distance: 4 km
  • Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6: Barafu Campsite to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Campsite

Hiking to the summit will begin short after midnight, at around 12:30 A.M., as our path twists through heavy scree towards Stella Point at the crater rim. This part of the hike is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the ascend. Once we reach Stella Point, you will rest and refresh with warm cup of tea or coffee, accompanied by the views of the magnificent sunrise coming above Mawenzi. Going further up, you might encounter snow storm, although it is dictated by the season you are taking for the hike. The summit, Uhuru Peak – the highest point on Kilimanjaro and all of Africa, is just an hour ascend from Stella Point.

From the summit, you will start trekking down to Mweka campsite. Lunch stop will be at Barafu camp, where you can take some rest, before we continue our descend towards Mweka Campsite, which is located in the forest. Here, you will have your last dinner and overnight on the Kilimanjaro.

  • Elevation 4600meters to 5895meters (and down to 3100meters)
  • Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
  • Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
  • Habitat: Arctic

Day 7: Mweka Campsite to Mweka Gate

Breakfast will be served before we begin hiking down to Mweka Gate, where you’ll receive summit certificates. Path on the lower elevations can be rather wet and muddy, so the gaiters and trekking poles might come handy. There will be a vehicle waiting at the gate to take you back to your accommodation in Moshi.

  • Elevation 3100meters to 1800meters
  • Distance: 10 km
  • Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
  • Habitat: Rain Forest

Price for Joining Group From USD 1610

Kilimanjaro Trek Cost:

  • 1 person $1780
  • 2-4 people $1650 per person
  • 5-9 people $1610 per person
  • 10+ people $1590 per person
Please note that we can arrange joining group climbs, group size between 5 and 9 people, and every individual pays the same price – $1,610. Option for all climbers looking for the budget climbs.

What’s included:

  • Transfer to and from Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Two nights’ accommodation in Moshi. {Pre and post climbing accommodation
  • Park fees, Camping fees, Hut fees, rescue fees and 18% VAT on tour fees and
  • Transport to and from the mountain gates before and after climb
  • Certified, professional and highly Experienced mountain guides, cooks and porters
  • Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
  • Warm water to wash every evening at camp
  • All meals on the Mountain.
  • 3 freshly prepared meals daily while on the mountain
  • Daily tea and coffee at camp
  • Filtered water throughout the trek
  • All Camping Equipment.
  • 4 season sleeping tents
  • Comfortable sleeping mattress
  • Crew tents
  • Mess tent
  • Breakfast at Hotel
    • Government Climbing Taxes
    • Climbing permits
    • Daily Briefings
  • Safety Equipment:
    • Emergency oxygen
    • Pulse Oximeter
    • First Aid kits
    • Portable Stretcher
    • Mobile Communications
    • Hot drinks at every meal
  • Free wireless internet at the hotel

What’s excluded:

  • Tips for guides and porters.
  • Airfare
  • Mountain personal equipment but they available for hire {Mountain clothes}
  • Travel insurance
  • Lunch and Dinner (which is not included in the itinerary).
  • Optional activities
  • Alcoholic and soft drinks
  • Visa fees

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