7 Days Umbwe Trails
Overview
Highlights
- Reach the summit of Kilimanjaro via one of the most difficult routes
- Observe the beautiful flora like the Senecio and Lobelia plants
- Take in views of the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.
Description
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe route is a challenging and beautiful way to reach the summit. The route is steep and includes some scrambling, and it’s recommended to take 7 days to acclimatize properly. However, due to the difficulty and lack of acclimatization, it is not recommended for hikers with little experience or those who struggle with acclimatization.
The Umbwe route on Mount Kilimanjaro is an epic and challenging climb for experienced hikers. The trail is less crowded, providing a sense of solitude and peace on the way to the summit. The daily trek takes around six hours, and summit day involves starting at midnight and being on your feet for 14 hours for both ascending and descending. The scenery is breathtaking, with glaciers, volcanoes, and unique vegetation such as moss-covered trees and giant Senecio and Lobelias. If you are up for the challenge, the climb offers an incredible nature experience and an unparalleled sense of accomplishment. Contact us today to book your spot.
Included/Exclude
- Guiding fee
- Accommodation included
- Transportation start and back
- Permit and entrance fees
- Group porters
- Clean drinkable water
- Breakfast
- Daily meal during the climb
- Camping equipment tents
- International and local Flights plus VISA
- Items of a personal nature (gears can be rented)
- Personal hotel room $70
Tour Amenities
Tour Plan
Umbwe Cave
The climb starts from Umbwe Gate, where the path follows a ridge between two deep valleys up through the dense montane forest. The camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth. There is no water available at this campsite, so we must carry from the gate all the water needed for drinking, food preparation and cleaning.
- Distance covered: 9.5km / 6.7mi
- Approx. time taken: 6hours - 7hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Barronco Camp
The path gets steeper on this section, as you get out of the forest along the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp situated in the valley. In this camp you will meet with other trekkers from Machame route and Lemosho route. Therefore the population will be bigger.
- Distance covered: 7.5km / 4.9mi
- Approx. time taken: 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Karanga Camp
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
- Distance covered: 5.5km / 3.4mi
- Approx. time taken: 5 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Barafu Camp
Our day starts by descending into the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley, which is our last stop for fresh water before the summit. Scree now forms the terrain as we walk through arid and desolate land towards Barafu camp.
- Distance covered: 3km / 1.9mi
- Approx. time taken: 3 hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Uhuru Peak
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.
- Distance covered: 16.4km / 9.6mi
- Approx. time taken: 13hours – 15hours
- Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Included
Mweka Gate
A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hotel.
- Distance covered: 9.1km / 7.5miles
- Approx. time taken: 3 hours
- Hotel: Bed &Breakfast
After a much needed nights rest, we will bid you goodbye. If you have arranged airport transfers with us or a safari / Zanzibar trip, we will collect you in the morning for your onward journey.
Location
Find a route from your location
Related Tours
Review Scores
Booking Tour
Last Minute Deals
Deaf Classic Safari
