BRIEF ABOUT THE UMBWE ROUTE 7 DAYS.

The Umbwe route approaching the mountain from the south, it is a short, steep and direct climb. Probably is also the most scenic route too, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro Umbwe route is noted as the one of the shortest routes to the Southern Glaciers and the Western Breach and its the most challenging route to Mt Kilimanjaro.

The route beginning with a short drive from Moshi to Umbwe Gate. Umbwe route heads up Umbwe cave, baranco campsite, Karanga hut Then, we will make our way to the East climb high up and over Barafu hut 4620m which is base campsite which is base campsite and rest for the summit.

The summit attempt is made from Barafu in the early morning hours, often during the full moon. This is the coldest area right on starting, windiest section of your adventure. But once the sun comes up, so can most of your extra layers. After the summit, the descent follows to Barafu again then Mweka trail to mweka hut, this will be begning the end your trek in Kili, ready for safari or other package in next day.

CLIMBING MT.KILIMANJARO 7-DAYS UMBWE ROUTE

First Day : will be off from the mountain is the time tourist arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport and picked up with our driver then transferred to the hotel where they will have rest and relax or explore Moshi town and the surrounding areas.

DAY-2 : MOSHI-UMBWE GATE TO UMBWE CAVE CAMPSITE

Starting elevation 900m Moshi Town
Ending elevation 1850m Umbwe Gate
Altitude gain 950m
Driving distance 30kms
Driving hours 1-2 Hours

In the morning after breakfast we will departure Moshi and drive to the Kilimanjaro National Park Umbwe gate, as we arrived Umbwe Gate we will make the registration for our Kilimanjaro trekking.

Here it will take a little bit time before the team of Guides, Chefs and Porters, start trekking , because they have to sort out each and everything to be used on the mountain all days six days, except the meals because we will have more fresh food from the town after three days on the mountain. It will be also the good time to have a great pictures and enjoing the views before starting our trekking, it can take average maximum time is 1 hour-2 hours to be done.

UMBWE GATE TO UMBWE CAVE

Starting elevation 1820m Umbwe Gate
Ending elevation 3100m Umbwe Cave
Altitude gain today to 1280m
Trekking distance 12kms
Walking hours 5-6 hours
Overnight hut Umbwe Cave
Elevation Zone Rainforest/Montane Forest

soon after registration and the team once ready for the hiking, they will let you know and start hiking, as we departure from Umbwe gate soon we will start the thicker rainforest, look for towering Eucalyptus trees, bird life, Columbus monkeys and the appearance of flowers such as impatiens kilimanjari and impatiens pseudo viola introduce some bright colors to the scenery.

There is a high possibility of rain in the forest, which will transform the trail into a very muddy and slippery experience so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts should be sufficient, but keep your rain gear and warmer clothing handy. After get in Umbwe Cave the team will prepare hot drinks such as coffee, tea, and chocolate drinks warm up your body and then waiting for the dinner.

DAY-3 : UMBWE CAVE TO BARRANCO CAMP

Starting elevation 3100m Umbwe Cave
Ending elevation 3920 Barranco Camp
Altitude gain today to 820m
Trekking distance 7kms
Walking hours 4-5 hours
Overnight hut Barranco Camp
Elevation Zone moorland and heather zone

Today is tough and steep soon after a breakfast we will start our climb which will take us out of the rainforest, into moorland and heather zone, broken rocky, with fantastic views down to the valleys on both sides of our trail. Some of Kilimanjaro’s most famous plants, including the wild senecio Kilimanjari and lobelias, now decorate the trail as we continue our climbing, with gorgeous views all around including, as approaching to the heather zone, the Kibo summit will show up and smile to us.

We will scramble over numerous rocks and test tourist endurance as we ascend. The path flattens as we approach Barranco Valley. From Umbwe ridge, the route descends to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest.

Barranco Camp site is the camp where we will be rewarded with beautiful landscape where offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs, we can say is the most beautiful camp all over Kilimanjaro , is the huge camp because is a junction campsite, about four route, (Machame route , Lemosho route , Shira route and Umbwe route itself) joining together to the same route all the way to the summit. some will stay at Karanga hut and the rest will go all the way to barafu hut 4600m

DAY-4 ; BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA HUT

Starting elevation 3920m Baranco Camp
Acclimatization point 4280m Top of Barranco Camp
Ending elevation 4010m Karanga Camp
Altitude gain today 270 m
Trekking distance 5 km
Walking hours 4-5 hours
Overnight hut Karanga Camp
Elevation Zone Moorland and Alpine Desert zone

Today our walk is short being only 5km and enjoyable afternoon views, the beginning will encounter the hardest part of this day stage on Barranco wall evolves a bit of rock climbing, it looks scared but it is easy as you approach it, because its offer many zig-zaga that makes it easy (also commonly referred to as the ‘Breakfast Wall’ as tourist will be right there after breakfast!)

From the top of the Barranco wall we will be above the clouds, also rewarded with best views of the Heim glaciers Kerstin glaciers and beautiful landscape, rest of today’s walk from the top of Barranco wall becomes a bit easier because its evolves many uphill and down hills , Walking along the ridge you can experience the beautiful landscape with its stunning contrasts of desert and vegetation, before finally reaching at the Karanga Camp. This is a shorter day meant for acclimatization again, that will increase chance to conger the highest point

DAY-5 ; KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP

Starting elevation 4010m Karanga Camp
Ending elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Altitude gain today 590m
Trekking distance 4kms
Walking hours 3-4 hours
Overnight hut Barafu Camp
Elevation Zone alpine-desert zone

Today walking is the shortest being only 4kms, great day very close to the summit. the air become dry due to the high altitude and may lead to your heavy breathing, stay positive the leader of the team aware to this so they will slow down the speed just to catch up breathing while going uphill, Barafu camp is located on an exposed ridge which is rough and rocky with the beautifully landscape.

On arrived at Barafu camp have a lunch and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night walking, early dinner will be served to you thereafter we will go to sleep as the attempt for summit will begin the same night from mid-night to UHURU.

DAY-6 : BARAFU CAMP TO SUMMIT BACK TO BARAFU CAMP

Starting elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Via Stella elevation 5720m Stella point
Ending elevation 5895m UHURU PEAK
Altitude gain today 1295m
Trekking distance 5-7kms
Walking hours 6-8 hours
Elevation Zone desert zone ice-capped summit

From Barafu hut to Stella point is the most mentally and physically challenging part of your trek to mount Kilimanjaro but hopefully with the great sense of achievement to reach a goal and will realize that this is Kilimanjaro time make the most of it. Normally a starting time is 12.00am midnight as a departure.

We will start our hike with long and tough climb from Barafu camp 4600m to Stella Point 5720m, making your trek more difficult, after you made to the Stella point the hardest part will be done. The Stella point is the top of the ridge but it is not the highest point of the mountain, the highest point of the mountain is UHURU PEAK 5895M.(UHURU means FREEDOM).

From Stella point is easy to reach UHURU PEAK, it will take just maximum of 45min to 1 hour to accomplish the dream and say wow!!, I made to Kilimanjaro!, the highest free-standing mountain in the world and the peak of Africa! Well done. It will not be safe to stay at the top (UHURU POINT) for the long time because some time acute mountain sickness can attack tourist after they made to the top recomended time 10min to 15min will be enough to enjoy the views and taking more pictures way back.

From UHURU PEAK we will switch back downhill to Barafu camp on the same way, where it will take the maximum of 2hrs-3hrs hours downhill and we will short break and barafu Camp before wake up for the lunch and starting walking down to Mweka Hut.

BARAFU CAMP TO MWEKA CAMP

Starting elevation 4600m Barafu Camp
Ending elevation 3100M Mweka Camp
Altitude Lost today 1500m
Trekking distance 7kms
Walking hours 3-4 hours
Overnight hut Mweka Camp
Elevation Zone moorland and alpine-desert zone

After rest and lunch at the Barafu hut, we continue back downhill to the Mweka Hut. Today’s walk takes us back downhill through the alpine desert, heath and moorland zones until we again enter the Rain forest zone via Millennium Camp (3770m).

The walking almost around 16 hours, less breaks! Exhausting, that started from mid-night. But if tourist made it to the top, they will think it was worth training they ever made in their lifetime, and shout up they will never ever again some used to say that! “Please to Climb Kilimanjaro Is Not Difficult Train To be scared , It Is All About Your Mindset , If You’re Ready To Climb It Please Stay Positive”

DAY-7 ; MWEKA CAMP TO MWEKA GATE TO MOSHI TOWN

Starting elevation 3100M Mweka Camp
Ending elevation 1820M Mweka Gate
Altitude Lost today 1280m
Trekking distance 8kms
Walking hours 2-3 hours
Overnight hut Moshi Town
Elevation Zone Rain forest zone

The Great day has come yet, seven days without shower, today everyone think about the hot showers. the walking will take us again through the lush rainforest, where deference species of Monkey and the endemic Impatiens Kilimanjari flower grows.

On arrived at the gate , tourist will be required to sign-out , for all successful climbers, they will be able to receive the certificate of completion.

Climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) receive green certificates and Climbers who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. After receiving certificates, Driver will take us back to the Hotel in Moshi or Arusha, where it is definitely time for hot shower and celebration! Departure to the airport or safari tour and other destination.

AFRITREKS MOUNT KILIMANJARO SERVICES