7 Days Umbwe Route

Kilimanjaro climbing via Umbwe route

This is not a technical route; it is a very direct, steep, and tough root where you will sometimes be required to climb using your hands but you can get the support from the tree routes as they can help on your steps ahead. So with its characteristics, the route requires mountain climbing skills and experiences. Climbing via the Umbwe route, you will join the Machame route near the Barranco Camp. 7 Days of climbing with the Umbwe route is a bit challenging, and though it is not popular the rate of success for the summit is very low as the route needs a real climb experience.

Umbwe route

Highlight

Umbwe Cave Campsite
Baranco Camp
Karanga route
Barafu Camp
Mweka Camp

Day 1: Moshi to Umbwe gate - Umbwe cave campsite

Your adventure always starts with the preparation of having all the equipments at the office and then take drive up to the Umbwe gave where the real adventure will commence. After all the park registration regulation formalities, you will start the Hiking up to the Umbwe cave camp where you will have your overnight there.

Accompaniment: experienced Mountain Guide/guides, porters and chef Walking through: ridges and valleys into a really thick forest

Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 10km distance Elevation: 5,249 ft to 9,514 ft

What to see: good view of the montane forest

Meal plans: Lunch & Dinner

Day 2: Umbwe cave camp to Baranco camp

On this day of your adventure you will be climbing further through the moorland forest up reaching the Baranco camp, while climbing up there, you will be enjoying the greater view of the Baranco valley.

Accompaniment: experienced Mountain Guide/guides, porters and chef Walking through: ridges and valleys into moorland forest

Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 6km distance Elevation: 9,514 ft to 13,044 ft.

What to see: Baranco valleys and the ice caps Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 3: Acclimatization at the Baranco camp

As one of the factor to increase the rate of the climb success through the Umbwe route, you will have to spend this day at the Baranco camp, as there are altitude changes over there is a need to adopt to the altitude changes. This day will be spend the day around just taking some shots with your beautiful cameras and have the great scenery view of the groundsel-clad campsite. As this will be just a lazy spending day, if you are body in active and good at acclimatization yyou can just opt for the 6 days via the Umbwe route Day 4, Baranco camp to Karanga camp

On this trekking day you will be having a short day from Baranco to Karanga you will be starting your day by climbing the Baranco wall and then climb up through some hills up on reaching the Karanga valleys.

Accompaniment: experienced Mountain Guide/guides, porters and chef Walking through: Baranco wall and valleys to Karanga valleys

Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 5km distance Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

What to see: Kibo peak, the Western breach and the southern glaciers Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 4: Baranco camp to Karanga camp

Accompaniment: experienced Mountain Guide/guides, porters and chef Walking through: Baranco wall and valleys to Karanga valleys

Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 5km distance Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

What to see: Kibo peak, the Western breach and the southern glaciers Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 5: Karanga camp to Barafu camp

After the morning breakfast from the camp, you will leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. There after you continue the trekking up to the Barafu Hut. From there you have completed the South Circuit. This is the point which offers the great views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Accompaniment: experienced Mountain Guide/guides, porters and chef Walking through: Alpine desert

Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 5km distance Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

What to see: Kibo peak, the Western breach and the southern glaciers Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Day 6: Summit and descend to Mweka camp

This is the dream come true day where you will be leaving in the midnight passing between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You will be heading to the northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim where you can stop and have some rest. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit at the Uhuru peak and from there you will meet a Congratulation spot sight that you have reached the highest peak in Africa and you are on the list of the successful people who has made it to the roof of Africa as you will be certified for that. After the summit you will take your way back descending down until you reach the Mweka camp.

Walking through: The crater rim

Accompaniments: Mountain guide/guides, on the summit then joining the chef and porters at Barafu on descending back

Time and distance: hiking of 5to 7hrs ascending and 5 to 6 hrs descending a distance of 5km up and 13km down respectively.

What to see: the great view at the Uhuru peak Elevation: 15,350ft to 19,340ft up and 10,150ft down Meal plans: Breakfast, Lunch & dinner

Day 7: Mweka camp to Mweka gate then back to Moshi

You will be picked up from your accommodation

This is the last day of your adventure to the roof of Africa where you will be taking your morning breakfast at the camp and then takes time to continue the descending up to the Mweka gate where you will meet Ngaiza Adventures staff waiting to pick you back to Moshi. On descending at the lower elevation it will be wet and muddy hence the gaiters and highly recommended to be used.

Walking through: Wet and muddy forestry ways Accompaniments: Mountain guide/guides, chef and porters Time and distance: hiking of 3 to 4hrs a distance of 10km What to see: The forest and its features

Elevation: 10,150ft to 5500ft

Meal plans: Breakfast

and be driven straight to the airport which marks the end of your epic adventure.

What included

All transfers (pick up and drop off )
Park fees
Professional mountain guides, cooks, and porters
Filtered water throughout the trek
Fair wages for the mountain crew
Transportation to & from the mountain gate
3 meals daily while on the mountain
Pre and after Trek accommodation at the hotel

What is not included

Both National and International Flights
Visa fees
Items of a personal nature
Medical insurance for Kilimanjaro climbing
Laundry Services
A doctor for the group
Tips and gratitude for the mountain crew
A portable flush toilet

Ready to planning your trip to the Umbwe Route?

Africema is here to help you make your trip to umbwee route, speak to our safari expert to plan your trip to the “Roof of Africa”, the tallest free-standing mountain in the world.