MOUNT KILIMANJARO – Umbwe route

Day 1: Kilimanjaro
Arrive Kilimanjaro Airport and transfer to hotel (Springlands).

Day 2: Umbwe Gate (1800m) - Bivouac (first) camp (2940m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
Distance: 12 km's
After breakfast you will be driven to the Umbwe Gate at 1800m, passing through villages with banana and coffee plantations. On arrival at the Parks Gate your guide and porters will meet you. You will have to sign the register before you enter the park. As you head into the forest, temperatures can rise to about 35 degrees C, but as you quickly rise in altitude, they will progressively drop, by about 1 degree for each 200m climbed. The paths can also be quite muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and becomes steeper as you 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 3: Bivouac (first) camp (2940m) - Barranco camp (3950m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Habitat: Montane forest & Moorlands
Distance: 6km
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 and as it ascends through the heath, the ridge narrows and sharpens quite quickly. As you gain higher altitude, you will note how quickly the various vegetation zones change. Sighting of Lammergeyer are quite common. 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.

Day 4: Acclimatisation Day
This Day will be spent at Barranco camp to aid with acclimatisation. You can spend the Day walking around to explore the surrounding areas such as up to the Barranco wall, take in sights of the magnificent Scenecio's, or just rest.

Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu Camp (4600m)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Habitat: Moorland/Semi desert
Distance: 6km
After breakfast you will begin the scramble up the Great Baranco Wall and then begin the traverse over the scree towards the Karanga Valley at 4000m. It is here that you will get the incredible views of the Heim, Kersten and Decken glaciers. After leaving the Karanga Valley, you will continue along the trail to Barafu Hut. You will now find yourself completely in the alpine desert of crushed stone and scree. The campsite is very cold and gets buffeted by the wind.

Day 6: Barafu - Summit (5895m) to Mweka
Hiking time: 12-15 hours
You will wake around 23h00 and after a cup of tea and a biscuit, shuffle off into the night for the summit of Kilimanjaro. The route heads up between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers towards stella Point and then on to Uhuru Peak where you will enjoy the magnificent views and a well deserve photo opportunity.
You will then descend back down to Barafu camp from the summit, which 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 paths are well laid and rocky. 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 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: About 12 km's
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a 2-3 hour, scenic hike back to the Park gate. As you walk through the forest, you might be lucky enough to spot some black and white Colobus Monkeys in the tree tops. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who were too tired to continue from the crater floor and diverted back down via Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (50min) hike. You will then drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower and celebrations!! Overnight in the hotel.

Day 8: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

End of services

Day 1: Kilimanjaro
Day 2: Umbwe Gate (1800m) - Bivouac (first) camp (2940m)
Day 3: Bivouac (first) camp (2940m) - Barranco camp (3950m)
Day 4: Acclimatisation Day
Day 5: Barranco camp (3950m) - Barafu Camp (4600m)
Day 6: Barafu - Summit (5895m) to Mweka
Day 7: Mweka camp (3100m)- Mweka Gate (1980m)
Day 8: Departure