Climb Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route
Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro,Climbing Kilimanjaro Umbwe
Route. Trek the Umbwe route to Uhuru Peak, Mt
Kilimanjaro
TGSTKIL 04 - 6 Days Umbwe Route Trip
A very strenuous walk up steep, slippery paths with many fallen
trees to negotiate. The middle section follows a narrow spectacular
ridge with magnificent views of the Great Barranco and Southern
Icefields.
Day 1 Umbwe
Gate (1800m) - Bivouac (first) camp (2940m)
Hiking time: 5h
After breakfast you will be driven to the Umbwe Gate at 1800m,
passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. On
arrival at the Parks Gate your guide and porters will meet you. Sign
the register before you entre the park for your first step to
accomplishing a life-long dream. 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. It then narrows
and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers,
with huge trees surrounding you. The path offers some spectacular
views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro
towering above you in the distance. The camp is perched between huge
trees and thick undergrowth.
Day 2
Bivouac (first) camp (2940m) - Barranco camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 6h
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, which should provide you with a memorable sunset
while your dinner is being prepared.
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, Kilimanjaro's little sister, punching her peak
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. The campsite is
spectacular. 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 need to be prepared.
Day 4 Arrow
Glacier (4800m) - Crater (5700m)
Hiking time: 5h
From the Arrow Glacier camp steep scree and rocky outcrops requiring
a scramble lead up the Western Breach to the crater floor (5700m).
This day will be the toughest challenge by far. After snowfalls the
route can become icy and in these conditions an ice axe or ski stick
may be required. When reaching the crater rim, you will be
astonished by the view of snow and glaciers. Visible to you left is
the Northern Ice fields of Kilimanjaro with the Furtwangler Glacier
in front of you. Walk past this glacier to the Crater camp, situated
at the crater rim. If time permits, you can climb to the Ash Pit (1
½ hour). The Ash Pit is 340m across, 120m deep and is one of the
most perfect-formed examples in the world. The campsite is very cold
as snow might occur. Be one of a fortunate few to spend a night in
the inner crater of Kilimanjaro.
Day 5
(Summit attempt) Crater (5700m)-Uhuru Peak (5895m)-Mweka (3100m
Hiking time: 2h to Uhuru, 7-8h to Mweka
You will rise around 04:00, and after some tea and biscuits you
shuffle off into the early morning darkness. From the crater floor
you will probably encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent
to Uhuru Peak. Time spend on the summit will depend on the weather
conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely
difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your
accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life.
The walk to Barafu camp from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here
you will have a well earned but short rest, before heading down to
Millennium camp (3100m). 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 provided as well as drinking water.
Day 6
Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3h
Habitat:
Distance: Approximately kms
Wake early to enjoy a well-deserved breakfast, and then tackle the
five hour walk to the park gate. Pay your porters only when you know
you and your equipment is safe at the gate.
At Mweka Gate you receive your certificate of summit, after signing
the register, and if you've completed the climb successfully.
Climbers who successfully got to Uhuru receive golden certificates,
while those who made it to Stella Point receive green certificates.
From Mweka Gate you walk to Mweka Village, a one hour walk through
3kms of muddiness (usually). You receive a hot lunch at the Mweka
Village, and are taken back to Moshi, where you can celebrate your
summit, and have that long-overdue hot shower. You stay the night in
Springlands Hotel.
Please note: Safety conditions or weather may cause the itinerary to
change without warning. Hike times are estimated, calculated to form
a comfortable pace throughout the ascend.
Please note: The itinerary above serves only as a guide. You can add
an extra day if you so wish. You can summit Mt Kilimanjaro via Arrow
Glacier or Barafu Camp with Umbwe Route.
Basically, the above price include: Guarantee Price, Guarantee Departure.
Free scheduled bus shuttle Nairobi-Arusha- Moshi-Nairobi.
2 nights accommodations in a mid-class hotel (Bed and Breakfast),
before and after the climb.
Accommodation in mountain tents/huts.
Meals (3 meals a day),
All park fees, including mountain rescue fees, and government taxes.
Services of our own trained English-speaking mountain guide, and a
skilled cook, and enough numbers of porters for your luggage,
Transport from your hotel to the mountain, and back to your hotel.
The price does not include: -Item of personal nature.
-Tips to guide and porters
Umbwe
Gate (1800m) - Bivouac (first) camp (2940m)
Arrow
Glacier (4800m) - Crater (5700m)
