7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Umbwe Route

This day you will woke up early around 6am and prepared, ready for breakfast, and Check out at the Lodge/hotel and depart from Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) to Umbwe entrance gate. After registering at the gate, then you start your ascent at the small Umbwe gate just above the village and follow a gentle winding vehicle track for an hour to a signboard that announces, the small steep Umbwe trail. 

The introduction is over, and you now climb up for several hrs through a dense forest of rubber trees and giant fig trees. In places, you must scamper up steep sections of roots and rock. The Umbwe camp is in the forest, and there are some caves nearby. 

You will be greeted here with a graciously served hot meal. You will commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route. To the First encampment at 2800m dinner and overnight at the First cave campsite.

Your day starts early with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. After breakfast, you will climb steeply through glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to the Barranco encampment located at 3 900 m. The clouds will part to reward you with a view of Uhuru peak looming overhead. After lunch, you enter a zone of giant ground sells (scenario Kilimanjaro) that seem to guard the heights, and this garden is one of Kilimanjaro’s special treasures you may find. After dinner you overnight at Barranco campsite.

After breakfast, the hike will continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. 

Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. 

From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting or exploring. After two long days, this short day is very important for your acclimatization, since your summit push is about to start. After dinner you will overnight at Karanga Campsite.

There will be a short day walk which is approx 100 to 200 meters high walk from Karanga Valley to half way to Barafu, and the walk can take approx 2-3hrs walk also around the Karanga Camp. 

In the evening Your Guide will give you briefing for the next day as there will be no overnight at any Camp after you pass Karanga Valley, so the Guide will show and brief you on clothes to wear and get prepared to the next higher Camp which is Barafu Camp /freezing point. After Arrive at the Camp, you will have Finishing Dinner you overnight at Karanga Valley Campsite.

After spent a night at Karanga Valley, you will climb this awesome obstacle day, which turns out to be easier than it looks. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.” The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. 

Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. 

This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and to prevent from freezing, consider carrying your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed by 07:00 PM, and try to get a few hours of precious sleep. You will rise around 10:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You will start the summit hike walk at around 11:00pm from Barafu Camp to the Peak of Kilimanjaro mountain.

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

Your 6 to 7 hours climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on this day. This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon or evening. Dinner, and warm washing water will be prepared, and after well welcomed at the camp you will have dinner and overnight at Mweka Campsite.

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hours start walking down the small hills, will arrive at the park gate around 12noon. You will have Lunch and after the crew will wish you a well goodbye in a special way and you will never forget good memories of the trip.

Later you check all your gears if reached at the gate safely, but also remember gratuities as an appreciation handshake to the staff at the gate is a traditional way for guests and hosts staff on the mount Kilimanjaro after finishing up the trip. At Exit Gate, you will sign your name and add details in a register. 

This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates or get successful certificates at the hotel or where ever will be staying and have a celebration Dinner and drinks with Porters and Guides. Also you get photos when presenting a certificate to each member of the Group for Good Memory after accomplished the Dream.

After breakfast, you can get prepared for later transfer to the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or east Africa in general. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar and Bagamoyo in the coast there are good places to visit. We can arrange as many for reasonably priced trips.