6 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Umbwe Route

Overview

The Umbwe Route is the trail for trekkers looking for a true climbing challenge. It is a quiet, seldom-used path that can be very difficult, yet very rewarding at the same time. This is the route to choose if you want to test yourself on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, far from the crowds that are found on the more common trails.

While Umbwe route is a non-technical climb, it does offer steep ascents and requires trekkers to scramble over rocks and tree roots at certain points. It is known to be the hardest and most direct route up the Kilimanjaro, and even features several exposed ridges that are not for the faint of heart.

In the morning after breakfast our driver will pick you up at your lodge and take you to the Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your mountain guide will take care of the registration process and once everything is packed, you can begin your adventure. The trail will start as a wide forest road but then gets narrower as it climbs through the rainforest. You will walk on a mountain ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers before reaching Umbwe Cave Camp (2930 m) after about 5 to 6 hours of strenuous walking. At the campsite you can rest and enjoy some snacks while dinner is being prepared. You might be lucky enough to see the reflective eyes of a wild cat or monkeys jumping through the trees.

Accommodation :  Umbwe Cave Camp    Meals & Drinks : Lunch and Dinner included

Today the first section of the trail will be steeper than on the first day. You’ll start with several muddy slopes which make the ascent more difficult. As you climb higher you will enter the heather and moorland zone of the mountain, characterized by Erica tree heathers that grow up to 3 or 4 meters. You will continue on the ridge with views into the Umbwe Valley until you reach a vertical rock wall called Rope Rock. This is the steepest wall on any of this mountain’s routes. Your guide will take take your daypack and assist you to get up this rocky passage. Afterwards the gradient of the trail will ease out as you make your way to the picturesque Barranco Camp, you resting place for the night. Enjoy amazing views of Kibo and the Great Barranco Wall.

Accommodation :  Barranco Camp     Meals & Drinks : All meals included

After an early breakfast you will begin your day by tackling the famous Barranco Wall. From time to time you might need your hands to hold on tight but there are no real climbing passages, and the ascent is easier than it looks. Once you’ve tackled the wall, the trail will proceed in an undulating fashion towards Karanga Camp. There are great views of the southern glaciers of Kibo. Karanga Camp is situated less than 100 meters higher than your previous camp. After about 3 to 4 hours you will arrive at the camp and you can spend most of the afternoon relaxing or take further a acclimatization trip towards Barafu Camp before returning back to Karanga Camp for the night. Accommodation :  Karanga Camp     Meals & Drinks : All meals included

Your destination for today, Barafu Camp at 4640 meters, should be reached after about 3 to 4 hours. For most of the route you’ll be trekking through the barren and striking afro-alpine desert. This will be your last stop before the summit night. So try and get an afternoon siesta before dinner is served. After a final briefing from your guide you’re advised to get straight back into your sleeping bag as you will be woken up again around midnight to begin the summit climb. Accommodation :  Barafu Camp      Meals & Drinks : All meals included

Finally your time has come – you will slowly make your way towards the summit after a hot drink and some biscuits for fuel at the camp. Today’s strenuous trek will take around 5 to 7 hours until you reach Stella Point, the crater rim of Kibo. You can have a short rest here while the sun’s first rays light up a breathtaking view of the surrounding landscapes. From here the path flattens out for the final stretch to Uhuru Peak, which takes about an hour, towering above anywhere else on the African continent at 5895 meters. Standing on the `Roof of Africa’ will be a truly special moment as you watch the sunrise lighting up the mountain’s iconic glaciers. Shortly, you will move back to Stella Point and start your descent to Barafu Camp. After a couple of hours you can rest at the camp and enjoy a well-deserved meal. Your camp for tonight will be in sight after another descent of around 3 hours. Exhausted from the past few days’ achievments, you should have a good night’s sleep at Mweka Camp. Accommodation :  Mweka Camp     Meals & Drinks : All meals included

After breakfast, before starting your final stretch, you will enjoy a traditional farewell ceremony from the mountain guides. A 2 – 3 hours walk will take you through the rainforest back to the Mweka Gate. Our driver will be there waiting for you and take you back to your Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to freshen up, relax, and take in all the excitement of the last couple of days.

Meals & Drinks : Breakfast & Lunch included

  • Trekking tour according to the itinerary
  • Accommodation in huts / camps as indicated in the itinerary
  • Professional English-speaking guide
  • Personal porter
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
  • Drinking water
  • Transfers as indicated in the itinerary
  • National park fees
  • Rescue fees
  • All Taxes/VAT
  • Roundtrip airport transfer
  • International flights (From/to home)
  • Domestic Flight
  • Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour
  • Tips (Tipping guideline from US$10.00 pp per day)
  • Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, visa fees, etc.)
  • The government imposed an increase in taxes and/or park fees
  • Sleeping bag
  • Climbing gear


EXCELLENT rating
Based on 6 reviews
Verified
Highly recommended! Hans and his team at Kilimanjaro Tourenare highly recommended! We really enjoyed our Mt. Kilimanjaro hike because of them. Anyone who wants to try climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro should definitely contact Kilimanjaro Touren!
Daryle Dale D
Daryle Dale D
2020-08-29
Verified
Mt kilimajaru climb and safari Reliable and well accomodated to the participants. Recommended for kilimanjaru climb amd safaru tour
Joo mar
Joo mar
2020-01-16
Verified
Unforgettable Kilimanjaro Experience Kili Touren created a wonderful experience for me and my friends! We embarked on our journey from Moshi and stayed at a hotel prior to beginning the climb the next day. During this time Hans and his team made sure we were fully prepared and had the gear required to be safe and comfortable throughout our trip. For those that did not have everything, they took us to a shop so that we could rent anything we needed. We took the Rongai route and made it in 5 days. The first three days weren't too difficult, and the guides with us were very knowledgable on the right pace we should be taking to make sure we could acclimate to the elevation. Each night we had a delicious meal that typically involved 2-3 courses, and there was water readily available when we needed it! The summit day was pretty difficult, mostly in part to the fact that our trip required us to do additional hiking after making it to Uhuru Peak. For other considering the climb, I would recommend 6 days if you have the budget. This trip was an unbelievable experience and I would like to thank Hans and his entire team for helping ensure all of us made it up and down safely, while also making it fun! I would highly recommend Kilimanjaro Touren to anyone considering hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, or any other activity in Tanzania!
Stevey T
Stevey T
2018-11-06
Verified
Western New York & Boston Meets the in country Peace Corps Hans and company were great! The guides and the barriers were some of the hardest working people on the planet. When one of our crew members was struck with altitude sickness the guides were right there to make sure he got down safely. We all enjoyed their company and comradeship on the hike. I can strongly recommend KILIMANJARO Turen for your next hike up the mountain.
Richard R
Richard R
2018-11-03
Verified
Amazing Kilimanjaro Adventure Climbing mount Kilimanjaro is was an amazing bonding opportunity for me, my family and friends. A group of eight of us were led by Hans and the Kilimanjaro Touren team to the summit on the Rongai route and descend using the Marangu route in 5 days. Prior the start of the climb we stayed in Marangu, which is where Hans and many of the crew live or have family. They did a gear check and made sure we were all fully prepared for our journey. We were concerned that trying to complete the climb in 5 would result in some being unable to make it to the summit because we had heard success rates for 5 day climbs are lower because of acclimatization issues. We decided to make the climb in 5 days however because of our budge. Despite a snow storm the night of our final ascent our entire team (including my 62 year old father) made it to the top and back down safely. The team of guides proved to be experienced and made us feel safe while pushing through the harsh weather conditions above 5,000 meters. It is an experience that I will cherish forever and am grateful for the help of Kilimanjaro Touren.
Brian R
Brian R
2018-11-01

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