Arrival Day
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and transferred to your hotel.
You will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
Umbwe Route is a short, steep but direct route. It is considered to be the most difficult route because it is a quick ascent up kili. It has very low traffic but you must be well physically prepared for this journey.
Day1:Umbwe Gate (1,800m/5,905ft) to Cave Bivouac Camp (2,850m/9,350ft)
•Elevation Gain:1,050 meters, 3,445 feet
•Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours At 8am leave your hotel for Umbwe Gate where you will meet our porters, guides, and cooks who will spend the next six days trekking with you to Uhuru Peak, the roof of Africa. After arriving, wait at the
gate while we register your climb and the porters and guides make final preparations. Your first day’s destination is Cave Bivouac Camp, approximately 6 hours from the gate. The trail is steep and can be slippery in some places.
Porters and cooks will walk ahead to set up the camp in time for your arrival.
Day 2:Cave Bivouac (2,850m/9,350ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft)
•Total Elevation Gain: 1,100 meters, 3,610 feet
•Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
The first section of the trail continues following the ridge. After leaving the forest, continue through open Moorlands until reaching Barranco Camp. Barranco is generally regarded as the most scenic campsite on the Umbwe Trail as it’s surrounded by giant senecios and lobelias. As Barranco is in a valley, the sun rises later than at the other camps.
Day 3:Barranco Camp (3,900m/12,800ft)-Arrow Glacier Camp(4800m/15,748ft)
•Hiking time: 6 to 8 hours
After breakfast you will start your hike towards Lava Tower, a famous landmark on Kilimanjaro. The path is steep and rocky, with views of Mt. Meru,
shining through the clouds. From Lava Tower you turn towards the Western Breach, a steep climb to Arrow Glacier camp (4800m). This is taxing and
symptoms of altitude sickness might become noticeable. Vegetation has now all but disappeared,leaving only rock and scree in varying shades of brown and black. The campsite is very cold and you should be prepared.
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3,950m/12,960ft) to Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft)
•Elevation Gain: 250 meters, 820 feet
•Distance: 7 Kilometers
•Hiking time: 3 to 5hours
Leave Barranco Camp after breakfast for Karanga Valley. The day begins with a 1.5 hour scramble up the Barranco Wall. This is the hardest part of the day and in some places you may have to use your hands to aid your climb. After reaching the top, hike through fairly level terrain before making a short but steep descent into the green Karanga River Valley.
Day 5: Karanga Valley (4,200m/13,780ft) to Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft)
•Elevation Gain: 400 meters, 1,320 feet
•Distance: 6 Kilometers
•Hiking time:3 to 5 hours
After breakfast, begin the hike to Barafu Camp. On the way to Barafu, view several of Kibo’s glaciers as well as the junction that connects the descent route, Mweka, with the Machame trail. During day four, hike by the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Although the trail to Barafu passes through alpine desert with little vegetation, Barafu Camp offers stunning views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.Try to sleep after finishing dinner as you will wake before midnight for your summit hike.
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4,600m/15,100ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft)
•Elevation Gain: 1,295 meters, 4,240 feet
•Elevation Loss: 2,795 meters, 9,170 feet
•Hiking time: 6 hours to the rim, 1 hour to Uhuru, 3 to 4 hours back to Barafu, 4 hours to Mweka Around midnight, begin the final ascent to Uhuru Peak. Hike by the light of your headlamp for the next six hours. The ascent to the crater rim is the most challenging part of the entire trek. The trail is very steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.
The hike from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a gradual climb and, as far as hikes go, not very difficult.
The altitude, however, makes the hike long and tiring. The crater rim hike takes approximately one hour. Upon reaching Uhuru, take photos of your guide and group at the peak before beginning the descent to Mweka Camp. On the way down from Uhuru, enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds and glaciers.
At Barafu Camp, eat breakfast/lunch and take a short break. You still have another three to five hours to go before reaching Mweka Camp.
Day 7:Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,170ft) to Mweka Gate (1,500m/4,920ft)
•Elevation Loss: 1,600 meters, 5,250 feet
•Hiking time: 4 hours
After breakfast, finish the trek with a hike through the forest to Mweka Gate. The trail may be slippery following rain. Our vehicles will meet you at the lower station of Mweka Gate to take you back to your hotel for a hot shower and some relaxati