7 Days Umbwe Route
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- 7 Days Umbwe Route
Route Overview & Introduction
The Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct route. It is considered to be very difficult and is the most challenging way up Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the quick ascent, Umbwe does not provide the necessary stages for altitude acclimatization. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the chances of success are also low. The route is offered at a minimum of six days, though seven days is recommended when attempting this route. The Umbwe route should only be attempted by those who are very strong hikers and are confident in their ability to acclimatize. However, overall, the Umbwe route is not recommended and we discourage its usage for our clients.
Day 0: Pre-trek Briefing
If you have opted for the optional airport transfers, we will pick you up from Kilimanjaro Airport or Arusha airport and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.
Pre-trek briefing at your Moshi hotel. You should be planning to arrive at least one day before the start of the trek. Today we will spend time having a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
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
INCLUDED
- Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
- 2 nights of accommodation in Moshi in FULL BOARD (FB).
- Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate
- Park entry fees,
- Camping fees
- Crater fee (if any)
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- mountain tents
- Double layered Sleeping Mats 4 inches (10cm) thick
- Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters
- 3 meals daily while on the mountain
- Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek
- Hot water for washing
- Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO)
- Government taxes
- Portable oxygen tanks
- Ox meter
- Emergency first-aid kit
- Stethoscope
- Portable flush toilet with a toilet and tent
- Mountain climbing certificates
EXCLUDED
- Drinks at your hotel before and after the climb.
- Travel Insurance
- Flights
- Laundry (Available at the hotel)
- Personal items and toiletries
- Tips for guides, porters and cook
Preparing for the epic journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro requires careful consideration and strategic packing. As you gear up for this unparalleled adventure with Love Africa Tours, we’ve compiled a comprehensive Kilimanjaro packing list to ensure you’re well-equipped for the trek of a lifetime.
Gear List
- Top Base Layer
- Bottom Base Layer
- 4-5 Pairs of Underwear
- 3-4 Short Sleeve
- 1 Insulated Trekking Pants
- 1-2 Long Sleeve Hiking Shirts
- 1-2 Pairs of Hiking Trousers
- 1 Insulated Winter Jacket
- 1 Polartec Fleece Jacket
- 1 Hard Shell Jacket
Clothing
- Quick dry T-shirts
- Underwear Lightweight hiking trouser (avoid heavy cotton, they don’t dry quickly)
- Fleece (middle layer)
- Thermal underwear (under layers)
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof jacket
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof pants
- Insulated down jacket for summit night (parka)
- One pair thermal socks
- Mittens or warm gloves
- Waterproof gloves
- Good quality hiking socks and thin liner socks Waterproof hiking boots – sturdy and worn-in.
- Extra shoelaces
- Comfortable shoes for overnight camps (running shoes, sneakers, etc.)
- Sun hat to protect head, ears and neck
Other Items
- Headlamp with Extra Batteries
- Water Bottles and Camelback (3 litter carrying capacity)
- Sunglasses
- Camera with extra memory card and extra batteries
- Watch
- Playing Cards
- Hand Warmers (optional)
- Pocket Knife
- Notebook and Pen
- High energy snack (Cereal, protein bars, chocolate, trail mix, dried fruit)
Toiletry & Medicine
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Quick-dry washcloths and soap
- Toilet Paper Tissues
- High SPF Sun-block
- Lip Balm with SPF
- Sunglasses with UV-filter lenses
- Lotion
- Sanitary Wipes/Wet Wipes
- Blister Kit
- Tweezers
- Nail Clippers
- Deodorant
- Hair brush/Comb
- Sanitary Products
- Vaseline to prevent chafing skin and heel friction blister
- Antiseptic
- Pain Killers (Ibuprofen)
- Decongestan
- Diamox or High Altitude Medication (optional, please consult with your doctor)
- Anti-diarrhea Medicine
- Malaria pills ( if you choose to take these)
- Cold/Flu Tablets
- Any medication you normally use
- Dioralyte sachets or similar rehydration packs
- Throat Lozenge
- Eye drops (spare Contact Lenses and fluid, if worn)
- Water purification tablets / Iodine drops
- Ear Plugs
- Plastic bags (for dirty washing, wrapping, etc.)
