Kilimanjaro Climb Umbwe Route Home Mt.Trekking

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The Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct route. It is considered to be very difficult and is the most challenging way up Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Highlights

Umbwe Gate
Cave Bivouac
Barranco Camp
Karanga Valley
Barafu Camp

Description

Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1,800m) – Bivouac (first) camp (2,800m) – (5,900ft to 9,200ft) 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. Day 2: Bivouac (first) camp (2,800m – Barranco Camp (3900m) – (9,200ft to 12,800ft) 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. Day 3: Barranco Camp (3900m)-Lava Tower (4630m) | Arrow Glacier Camp (4800m) – (12,700ft to 13,800ft) 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. Day 4: Arrow Glacier (4800m) – Crater (5700m) 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). Day 5: SUMMIT ATTEMPT Crater (5700m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka (3100m) 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. Day 6: Mweka camp (3100m) – Mweka Gate (1980m) After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a 5-hour, scenic hike back to the Park gate. It is recommended to pay your porters any tips after you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.

Includes

All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel Professional, experienced, mountain guides Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis) Sleeping Mattress Emergency Oxygen Cylinder All meals while on the Mountain Quality Mess tents with table and chairs Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food Clean, purified drinking water Conservation fees (part of park fees) Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees) Rescue fees (part of park fees) VAT (18% charged by the Government) Kilimanjaro summit certificate

Important Information

Mount Kilimanjaro does not require any technical skills. It is what is known as a “walk up” mountain because, well, you just walk up it. There is no need for mountaineering equipment like harnesses, ice axes or ropes because there is no danger of falling off a cliff or into a crevasse. Furthermore, there are no parts of the trail where one has to be particularly talented in rock climbing.