Umbwe Route - 7 Days
The Umbwe route has a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Although the number of people on this trail is very low, the chances of success are also low. Umbwe is considered to be very difficult, taxing route - one that should only be attempted by strong hikers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude.
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro's Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS® offers Umbwe as a six or seven day private climb. The seven day variation adds an acclimatization day on day three at Barranco Camp
Day 1:
From hotel to Umbwe cave campsite
Pick up with our vehicle from the hotel, drive to Umbwe gate. Here after completing the gate registration procedures, the trek starts through the rainforest to Umbwe cave campsite where you will find all tents already setup then stop for dinner and overnight. Today you will walk across ridges and valleys into a really thick forest
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Distance Covered: 10kms(4-5 hours)
Accommodation: Umbwe Cave Camp
Day 2:
Umbwe cave campsite to Barranco hut campsite
This day after breakfast you will trek through the remaining forest to the moorland and heath zone and you will be enjoying some wonderful views of Barranco valleys and ice cap on top of the mountain. Then you will arrive to barranco camp for dinner and overnight.
Meals: Breakast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance Covered: 9kms (4-5 hours)
Accommodation: Barranco Hut Campsite
Day 3:
Barranco Camp Acclimatization
You will spend Day 3 exploring near Barranco Camp for much-needed acclimatization. Keep your camera handy to capture the scenery of the groundsel-clad campsite. Many trekkers rank this as their favorite camp on this trail, which another reason this is perfect spot for your acclimatization day. If you are highly confident in your body’s ability to acclimatize well, you can choose the 6-Day Umbwe Itinerary.
Meals: Breakast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Day 4:
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
After sleeping below the Great Barranco Wall, you get your chance to tackle this hurdle. Don’t worry…It’s much easier than it looks. Continue up until you reach just below the Heim Glacier. Then head down through the Karanga Valley. This is the last place for your porters to gather water. They will collect all the water for the remainder of the ascent here. You will settle in here at the Karanga Camp. After lunch, you can spend the afternoon doing light exploring or resting while taking in the views of Mawenzi’s towering spires.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance Covered: 7km (4 hours)
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
Day 5:
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, you’ll head east, crossing over multiple ridges and valleys until you join up with the Mweka Route and turn left to continue up the ridge for an hour to reach the Barafu Hut. You will arrive at camp to find your tent pitched on a rocky ridge with high winds. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the camp before dark to be safe. Also, have your headlamp/flashlight handy if you need to leave the tent after dark. You will prepare your equipment (replace batteries for headlamp and camera) before you go to bed by 7 PM and try to catch a few hours of shut-eye before your summit attempt!
Meals: Breakast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance Covered: 5kms (3-4) hours
Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Day 6:
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Hut
Wake at 11:30 PM for tea or coffee and biscuits and then depart Barafu on your bid for the peak. You will climb 6 hours through thick scree following multiple switchbacks between the Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers until you reach Stella Point (18,650 ft/5,685 m). You have just completed what most climbers consider to be the most challenging part of their trek. Depending on your pace to this point, you may get the chance to enjoy the majestic sunrise during your short rest here. Although you will be fatigued, it is important to keep moving due to the extreme cold. At Stella Point, you have joined up with the last bit of the Marangu Route. You will hike along the rim for another 1-2 hours until you reach your ultimate goal of Uhuru Peak. Congratulations, you are now standing on the Roof of Africa! You will have time to take pictures with the world-famous Uhuru Peak sign, but it is important to begin your descent soon in order to allow yourself enough time to rest at the Barafu Camp. After a 3-hour descent down sliding scree, you will reach Barafu to have a short rest while you collect your gear and then continue down the path back into the forest camp of Mweka. You might experience a little rain in the afternoon, so be sure to have your rain gear in your daypack. Enjoy some dinner and some well-deserved sleep. At Mweka Camp, the office sells bottled water, soft drinks, candy bars, and beer.
Meals: Breakast, Lunch & Dinner
Distance Covered: 7kms up (8 hours) 22kms down (9-10 hours down)
Accommodation: Mweka Hut
Day 7:
Back to Moshi
After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain so you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montana forest this descent will take 3-4 hours. Then here at the gate you will do sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to Moshi.
Meals: Breakast & Lunch
Distance Covered: 9.1kms (3-4 hours)
- Trekking tour according to the itinerary
- Accommodation in huts and hotels 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
- Flights (international and domestic)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Beverages other than water (alcohol and soft drinks)
- Visa, tips, personal expenses, travel insurance
- Sleeping bag (can be rented, please ask us at the time of the booking)
- Hoteli
- Personal Mauntain Climbing Gears
