Itinerary Highlights
- Duration in days: 6
- Itinerary Category: Kilimanjaro Trekking, Northern circuit
- Destinations: Mt Kilimanjaro via Umbwe Route
- Major Attractions: Vegetation zones, Wildlife, Mt Kilimanjaro
- Guiding Language: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
- Start point: Moshi
- End point: Moshi
- Essential items: DigitalCamera with enough memory space and extra batteries, binoculars, light clothes, safari boot, mosquito repellents, sunhat, sunglasses with ultra violet radiation filtering etc
- Additional information: The Umbwe route is for Kilimanjaro climbing which is famous known for its caves.
Itinerary Description by Day
Day 1: Trek from Umbwe Gate (1614m) to Umbwe Cave camp (2850m)
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Distance: 10.3 km
Zone: Montane forest
After breakfast you will be driven to the Machame gate where you will perform registration formalities. From the Machame gate you will be transferred to the Umbwe Gate (1641m), passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. The air is thick with moisture and the path is usually muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro towering above you in the distance. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the Umbwe Cave Camp (2 850m).
Day 2: Trek from Umbwe Cave camp (2850m) to Barranco camp (3985m)
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Distance: 6.3 km
Zone: Moorland
Shortly after leaving the camp the forest starts thinning and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you – etched against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley. From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall and which should provide you with a memorable sunset. Have dinner and overnight stay at Barranco Camp.
Day 3: Trek from Barranco camp (3985m) to Karanga Camp (4040m)
Trekking Time: 6 hours
Distance: 6 km
Zone: Moorland / Semi Desert
After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This route is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Enjoy dinner and overnight stay at the Karanga camp.
Day 4: Trek from Karanga camp (4040m) to Barafu camp (4681m)
Trekking Time: 4 hours
Distance: 3.4 km
Zone: Alpine Desert
Have breakfast at Karanga camp and after breakfast turn left up the ridge and the route ascends 640m towards Barafu Camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night.Make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed as early as possible and try to get some precious rest and sleep. This is for preparation of trekking to the Summit.
Day 5: Trek from Barafu camp (4681m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) then to Mweka (3090m)
Trekking Time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak and 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp
Distance: Approximately 4.5 Km ascent and 10.8 Km descent
Zone: Stone scree and ice-capped Summit
You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5739m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life! The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m). The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest. The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Dinner and washing water will be prepared.
Day 6: Descending from Mweka camp (3090m) to Mweka Gate (1641m)
Trekking Time: 4 to 6 hours
Distance: 8.5 km
Zone: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descending longer than planned. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!
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