6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking Via Umbwe Route.
Duration
6 Days
Location
Mt.Kilimanjaro
Pickup Location
Kilimanjaro Int. Airport (KIA)
Group Size
Unlimited
The most challenging route to Kilimanjaro
The notorious 6 Days Umbwe Route is our newest tour and the toughest route to tame the summit of Kilimanjaro. If you’re an experienced, bold climber you’ll relish challenging yourself on the unforgiving but uncrowded and beautiful terrain. You’ll enjoy breathtaking sights that few travellers see. You’ll experience the raw, primitive beauty of sun bleached rocky outcrops and balance along knife-edge ridges with water-carved ravines swooping giddily below. You’ll clamber upon the gnarled tree roots of ancient rainforest trails, traverse ice fields shimmering like frosted diamonds in the African sun, and sleep under sweeping star-filled skies. You’ll skirt round the dangerous mist-clad Western Breach, crossing each grade of alpine and glacier zone. Every moment will be a feast to your senses and a challenge to your body and character. The Umbwe Route is like no other; a test of endurance amongst the majesty and grace of Kilimanjaro. As you stand proudly on Uhuru Peak at sunrise, you can say that you have conquered Umbwe. Although not technical, this route is arduous and the steep but short physical climb early on in the tour means there’s no time for altitude acclimatization. If you’re undecided or less experienced, try our Machame Route; more gentle but just as amazing.
- Difficulty: Challenge.
- Scenery: Excellent.
- Traffic:challenge.
Allow our professionals to assist you in planning one of the most unforgettable trips depending on your own interests. Create the tour of your dreams based on your selected destination, time schedule, and budget. Contact us if you want to spend a wonderful vacation on top of the Africa.
Full Tour Itinerary
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 have a pre-trek briefing. We will also review your equipment and rent any equipment which is needed.
- Elevation Gain: 1250 metres
- Walking Time: 5-7 hours
- Distance: 10.5km
This morning you’ll meet your crew, who will be with you at all times during your trip. After a sustaining breakfast you’ll be driven the 45-minute trip from your hotel through a lush landscape of bustling villages and coffee smallholdings sheltered by banana palms to the Umbwe Gate. Here, your crew will register you for your climb, while the porters and guides make last minute preparations. After lunch the real work starts. Your journey begins through dense green mountain rainforest. The air, warm and heavy with moisture, is redolent of the lush vegetation as you scramble and slide your way up an often muddy track through a dense canopy of rubber and giant fig trees. The route steepens between the Umbwe and Lonzo rivers, and you’ll need every ounce of strength to pull yourself upwards using the wild, strong tree roots. As you climb, you’ll see Kibo, unexpected, glimmering in the distance. Beneath your feet drop deep gorges. After a sumptuous dinner, you’ll rest overnight at the lonely Umbwe Cave Camp, nestling amongst giant trees and deep undergrowth, with the mystery of Umbwe Cave a short walk away.
- Overnight at : UMBWE CAVE CAMP.
- Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
- Elevation Gain: 1150 meters
- Walking Time: 4-6 hours
- Distance: 6.5km
After a good, energy-rich breakfast you’ll prepare for today’s climb which takes you out of the rainforest and into the drier, crisper air of moorland broken with rocky outcrops. You’ll ascend through cloud forest, past thinning, moss-entwined trees, glimpsing more and more of the bright blue sky as you ascend the hair-raising and spectacular Umbwe Route ridge with sides that drop steeply until it flattens out near to the Barranco Valley. The Barranco Camp nestles in the valley below the Western Breach and the Great Barranco Wall, which you should study as this is your first climb after breakfast tomorrow! Enjoy a filling and delicious dinner gazing on the dramatic colours of a glowing African sunset
- Overnight at : BARANCO CAMP.
- Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
- Elevation: 300 meters.
- Walking Time: 4-6hours
- Distance: 6km
The first thing that greets you this morning is the scaling of the 257 meter Great Barranco Wall, often called the Breakfast Wall as it’s the first thing you’ll do after breakfast! It’s challenging but more of a scramble than a climb and you’ll enjoy a total-body workout. You’ll top out just below the glorious Helm Glacier soaring above you, and from here the views are incredible. You’ll descend through a tumbling up-and-down route across scree and ridges through alpine desert towards the Karanga Valley, lying beneath the icefalls of the Decken, Heim and Kersten Glaciers. Overnight after a satisfying dinner at Karanga Camp.
- Overnight at: KARANGA CAMP.
- Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
- Elevation: 641 meters
- Walking Time: 4-5hours
- Distance: 3.5km
After a good breakfast you’ll attack the path that starts climbing as you leave Karanga Camp. The Southern ice fields of Kibo sparkle to your left as you journey the arid and surreal high alpine landscape, such a contrast to the green lushness of earlier days. The route takes you up a constant climb then shelves into a shallow valley with a short, sharp scramble and hike leading you into Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is situated on a rocky and desolate ridge, exposed to the elements but with glorious panoramic views from 15,000 feet up. You’ll be gazing at clouds below your feet and ice fields and the summit above you. It’s a tough environment for you to prepare your equipment and your mind-set for your final ascent tonight. Grab as much rest as you can before your 11pm push for the Uhuru Peak summit.
- Overnight at: BARAFU CAMP.
- Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
- Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters
- Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters
- Walking Time: 14-16hours
- Distance: 19km
It’s summit day and you’ll be woken at 11pm for hydration, food and a quick medical check. You’re very close now; but this section of the climb is the most dangerous. You’l l be climbing a steep gradient of heavy scree in darkness through the night as the temperature drops to below freezing. But as you reach Stellar Point, something amazing begins. Imperceptibly at first, then more quickly, the sky pales to the softest blue and as you look east, the sun rises apricot, pink and gold above the cloud horizon. Tramping through iridescent ice fields burnished gold by the colours of sunrise and past impressive, impassive Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers, look west to see the giant shadow of Kilimanjaro spreading across the plains far below you. In another hour you’ll reach Uhuru Peak. You have conquered Umbwe Route. Marvel at the glorious vista with Mawenzi silhouetted against the blue skies and the dawn clouds gliding below. There’ll be time for pictures before you make your descent via breakfast at Barafu Camp. Your journey isn’t over, yet. You’ve a long descent over loose gravel through ice-capped outcrops and down to the welcoming moorland of the lower reaches. Mweka Camp nestles in lush vegetation in the mists of the upper forest and you’ll enjoy good food and good company as your body recovers from the harsh but beautiful experience of the night before.
- Overnight at: MWEKA CAMP.
- Meals: BREAKFAST, LUNCH AND DINNER.
- Elevation: 3106m/10,190ft to 1633 m/5358 ft
- Altitude lost: 1473m
After breakfast and a heartfelt ceremony of appreciation and team bonding with your crew, it’s time to say goodbye. We continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. As the weather is drastically warmer, the terrain is wet, muddy and steep and we highly recommend Gaiters and trekking poles.
From the gate, a vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Enjoy a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!
- Overnight : KILIMANJARO WHITE HOUSE HOTEL (B&B).
- Meals: BREAKFAST AND LUNCH.
CERTIFIED ETHICAL CLIMBING
We believe the tourism industry has an obligation and a great opportunity to protect the world’s natural habitats, cultural heritage sites, and communities.
We actively promote environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
As a Partner for Responsible Travel, we are proud members and active supporters of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project, (KPAP) an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection, (IMEC).
KPAP raises public awareness regarding the proper treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro and assists climbing companies with implementing procedures that ensure fair and ethical treatment of their porters.
Every climb is audited to ensure crewmembers are provided proper salaries, tips, food, equipment and sleeping conditions.
Includes
- Kilimanjaro trekking according to the itinerary.
- Professional, English-speaking Wilderness First Responder & CPR certified Guide.
- Proper Ratio of Mountain crew (Guide, Cook & Porters).
- Accommodation Before and After Kilimanjaro Trek (2 nights Bed and Breakfast B&B)
- Airport Transfers.
- Meals according to the itinerary.
- Drinking water and Full Board Meals during your trek.
- All National Park & Hut Fees, Crew Permits and VAT.
- Fair and Sustainable Salary Crew Wages.
- Gate Transfers.
- Complimentary Oxygen Cylinder.
- Wine on the last day of the trek.
- Kilimanjaro certificate.
Excludes
- Flights.
- Visa fees.
- Travel or Medical Insurance is required and you should ask for Recommendation.
- Gamow Bag.
- Medication.
- Tips for porters and mountain crew (20% Industry Standard Recommended).
- Personal spending money for souvenirs etc.
- Energy food & beverages, alcoholic and soft drinks.
- Personal hire gear such as trekking poles, sleeping bags, etc.
- Additional lodge nights if early descent from the mountain.
Tour Route Map
