8-Day Umbwe Route Kilimanjaro Trek with Uhuru Peak Summit

• Arrive at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you will be met by a Himalayan Glacier representative and escorted to your designated hotel in Moshi.

• Later in the evening, attend a pre-trip discussion with the manager. You will be given all the details of the forthcoming climb and can ask your trip guide as many questions as you wish to gain a clear understanding of your upcoming adventure. The final part of your preparation is a last check of your readiness to tackle Kilimanjaro.

Driving time: 1 hour

Elevations: Moshi low (700 m) - Moshi high (950 m)

Maximum altitude: 950m

Accommodation: Aishi Machame Hotel or similar

• Wake up in the morning, when your guide will arrive at the hotel along with the support crew for another short briefing.

• After breakfast at your hotel, drive to Umbwe Gate (1640m) in Kilimanjaro National Park.

• After obtaining climbing permits and registering with the search and rescue service, begin trekking to Umbwe Camp (2930m). The route follows a forest track through the rainforest before steepening between the Lonzo and Umbwe Rivers. As you will be walking through the rainforest, tropical showers can be expected, so it is necessary to carry a raincoat on this day, along with spare clothes. Umbwe Camp is perched among large evergreen trees and thick undergrowth, with Umbwe Cave just a short walk away.

• Arrive at the campsite, where your tents will already be assembled and dinner will be served.

Since this is your first day at this altitude, we strongly advise you to pay attention to the following instructions:

• Stay away from caffeinated and alcoholic beverages.

• Drink as much boiled water as possible at frequent intervals. It is best for your body if you drink at least 4 litres each day on your trek.

• To lessen symptoms of altitude sickness, take a Diamox pill. If you are allergic to certain medicines, it is recommended that you consult your doctor before your trip.

• If you experience any discomfort related to breathing, start feeling sick, or develop a headache, tell your guide about your condition immediately.

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5 - 7 hours

Elevations: Umbwe Camp (2930 m)

Maximum altitude: 2930m

Accommodation: Tented Camping

Included meals: BLD

• After breakfast, begin your trek towards Barranco Camp. The landscape changes rapidly from rainforest to moorland, with rocky outcrops and sparse vegetation. The path continues along a narrow but spectacular ridge, and if the weather is clear, you will be able to see Meru Volcano for the first time. As you gain elevation, you will also catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you.

• Notice how the path flattens as you approach the Barranco Valley, and by lunchtime you will reach Barranco Camp (3960m) through the beautiful Senecio Forest. The camp sits inside a huge volcanic fault under the shadow of the Great Barranco Wall, with Kibo visible in the distance.

• Relax for the rest of the day after lunch to help your body acclimatize to the high altitude.

Hiking distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours
Elevations: Barranco Camp (3960 m)
Maximum altitude: 3960m
Accommodation: Tented Camping
Included meals: BLD

• Get ready to climb the Barranco Wall. Hiking up the wall is not very difficult and takes around one hour to reach the top. To avoid crowds from other groups, it is advised to make an early start from camp after breakfast.

• Reach the top of the wall, where you will rest for a while and take photographs in front of Kibo volcano. It is then time to continue on a more difficult hike towards Karanga Camp.

• Walk at an optimal pace over the frequent ascents and descents on the route, then reach the camp and have lunch.

• A couple of hours after lunch, hike higher for acclimatization and then walk back down to camp.

Note: It is advised to take the acclimatization hikes seriously, as they help you avoid altitude sickness and ultimately increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro. It is an easy trek with a slight gain in altitude, and it is recommended that trekkers do it to speed up the acclimatization process.

Hiking distance: 5 km (+2.5 km acclimatization hike)

Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours (+1 - 2 hours acclimatization hike)

Elevations: Karanga Camp (4035m) - Acclimatization point (4270m)

Maximum altitude: 4270m

Accommodation: Tented Camping

Included meals: BLD

• After breakfast, begin the trek towards Barafu Summit Camp (4640m). This camp is the starting point for the summit ascent to Uhuru Peak (5835m).

• Reach the camp, where you will have lunch and rest for a few hours.

• Head out for another acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4800m).

• Return to camp, where you will have dinner and spend the rest of your time resting and sleeping. Your summit attempt will begin at night.

Hiking distance: 6 km (+2 km acclimatization hike)

Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours (+1 - 2 hours acclimatization hike)

Elevations: Barafu Camp (4640m) - Acclimatization point (4800m)

Maximum altitude: 4800m

Accommodation: Tented Camping

Included meals: BLD

• Wake up just before midnight.

• Begin the climb to Uhuru Peak after having some tea and biscuits. Relatively, this is an easy climb, with the high altitude being the main challenge. Your trekking guide will monitor your physical and mental condition throughout the journey.

• Reach Stella Point (5685m), located on the crater rim, in about 6 hours and make a brief stop to enjoy magnificent sunrise views. From this point onward, you may encounter snow all the way during the final 1-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak, the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

• Spend some time drinking tea and taking photographs on the summit.

• Descend to the nearest glacier if you wish.

• Return to Barafu Camp, which will take around 3 hours. Here, you will rest and enjoy your hot lunch in the sun. After resting for a while, continue descending to Millennium Camp (3820m) for the night.

Hiking distance: 15 km

Hiking time: 9 - 12 hours

Elevations: Uhuru Peak (5895m) - Millenium Camp (3820m)

Maximum altitude: 5895m

Accommodation: Tented Camping

Included meals: BLD

• Wake up in the morning at the camp, situated in a tropical forest, and enjoy the relief of returning to a normal elevation along with the satisfaction of having made it to the top.

• After a well-deserved breakfast, have a big celebration with your staff and present your tips to the guides and other crew members.

• Descend for three hours towards the park's exit at Mweka Gate (1640m). Hikers will be congratulated and given the chance to share their opinions on the climb in the guestbooks.

• At the end, receive commemorative certificates at the office and transfer back to your hotel room.

Hiking distance: 12 km

Hiking time: 4 - 5 hours

Elevations: Mweka Gate (1640m)

Maximum elevation: 1640m

Included meals: BLD

• After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your international departure home. Hotel check-out time is 11:00 am, but if you have an evening flight and wish to check out later, there is an option to extend your hotel stay for an extra charge. If you would like to extend your stay in Tanzania for a few more days, you also have the option to go on a Tanzania safari or relax on the beaches of Zanzibar.

Included meals: B