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The journey
Embark on an adventurous trek to summit Mount Kilimanjaro via the Umbwe Route, a less-travelled trail known for its beautiful panorama and steep, rewarding ascent. Hike through cloud forest, open moorland, alpine desert, and glacier-studded high-altitude landscapes on your way to Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. With an acclimatization day built into the itinerary and full mountain support throughout the climb, this journey offers a challenging and unforgettable Kilimanjaro experience.
At a glance
Day by day
You will be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transported to your accommodation in Moshi town, where you will meet your guide for a briefing on your forthcoming trip and an equipment check to ensure that you have all the required mountain gear.
On this day, you may hire any missing equipment.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
Leave Moshi at 8 a.m. for Umbwe Gate, where you will meet the porters, guides, and chefs who will accompany you on your six-day journey to Uhuru Peak, Africa's roof. Wait at the gate upon arrival while we register your climb and the porters and guides complete their final preparations.
Your first stop will be Cave Bivouac Camp, which is around 6 hours from the entrance. The path is steep in parts and may be slippery. Hike into the cloud forest of Kilimanjaro's moss-covered trees.
Later in the walk, the woodland will thin out, revealing heathers, long grasses, and wildflowers. Porters and chefs will go ahead of you to set up camp in preparation for your arrival.
Distance traveled: 1,050 meters
Time spent: 6 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
The path continues to follow the ridge for the first part of the day. Continue across open moorlands until you reach Barranco Camp after exiting the forest.
Surrounded by huge senecios and lobelias, Barranco is often considered the most beautiful campground on the Umbwe Trail. Due to its location in a valley, Barranco has a later sunrise than the other campgrounds.
Distance traveled: 1,100 meters
Time spent: 7 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
An extra day is required for acclimatization. Adding this day to your schedule will reduce your effort and speed up your acclimatization.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner included.
After breakfast, depart Barranco Camp for Karanga Valley. A 1.5-hour struggle up the Barranco Wall kicks off the day. This is the most difficult portion of the day, and you may need to use your hands to help you climb in certain spots.
After reaching the summit, walk over reasonably flat terrain before descending on a short but steep drop into the lush Karanga River Valley.
Distance travelled: 7 km
Time spent: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
Begin the trek to Barafu Camp after breakfast. On the way to Barafu, view many of Kibo's glaciers as well as the intersection that links the Mweka descending path with the Machame trail. Hike by the Heim, Kersten, and Decken Glaciers.
Although the route to Barafu passes through an alpine desert with minimal flora, the views from Barafu Camp of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks are spectacular. After supper, try to get some rest since you'll need to get up before midnight for your summit climb.
Elevation gain: 400 meters
Time spent: 5 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
Begin the final climb to Uhuru Peak at about midnight. For the next six hours, hike by the light of your headlamp. The climb to the crater rim is the most difficult portion of the journey. The path is extremely steep until you reach the crater rim at Stella Point.
The trek from Stella Point to Uhuru Peak is a steady ascent that is not very challenging. The altitude, however, makes the trek lengthy and exhausting. The walk from the crater rim takes around an hour.
Take pictures with your guide and group at the summit of Uhuru before starting the descent to Mweka Camp. Enjoy views of the mountain, crater, clouds, and glaciers as you descend from Uhuru.
Take a brief rest and have breakfast at Barafu Camp. You still have three to five hours before you get to Mweka Camp.
Elevation gain: 1,295 meters
Elevation loss: 2,795 meters
Time spent: 6 hours to the rim, 1 hour to Uhuru, 4 hours back to Barafu, 4 hours to Mweka
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
Finish the trip with a walk through the jungle to Mweka Gate after breakfast. Following rain, the path may become slick.
Our cars will meet you at Mweka Gate's lower station to transport you back to Moshi.
Elevation loss: 1,600 meters
Time spent: 4 hours
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are all included.
After the hike, you'll have the rest of the day free to relax before your trip home. Depending on flight schedules, you may want to go sightseeing around Moshi and pick up some souvenirs before going to the airport.
If you want to continue exploring Tanzania, safaris, Zanzibar, and other add-ons are available.
Breakfast is included in the price.
The route
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Your 7 days finish where they began, in Mt Kilimanjaro.
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