UNFORGETTABLE UMBWE ROUTE

6 days—UMBWE ROUTE

$1850-2000 USD

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Safari summary

The Umbwe Route is the least used, least crowded route on the mountain. For good reason, it is also the most difficult route on the mountain. Umbwe is a steep, constant, straight climb to the top.
This route is the hardest but most spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru Peak. It follows a forested ridge to the moorlands, then traverses below the Southern Icefields to reach the Barafu Route which is followed to the summit. An early start is made on the summit day to reach Stella Point, on the Crater Rim at dawn. Uhuru Peak lies a further 40 min. along the rim. The Mweka Route is used for the descent. Accommodation on the mountain is in tents which our team will pitch for you. This is a steep, tough and in places slightly exposed trek within the limits of a fit individual used to walking in mountain areas. An extra day can be added to our itinerary to explore or relax along the route, (best taken at the Barranco Hut).

About this tour

	Tour type	Set-date, set-itinerary, group
	Main focus	Hiking \| trekking
	Activity level	Strenuous activity
	Best months	January, February, March, April, July, August, September, October, November, December
	Countries	Tanzania
	Parks	Kilimanjaro

Fine details

Safari highlights

Hiking | trekking

Itinerary

Arusha/Moshi-Umbwe Gate

Kilimanjaro

Day 1-Drive to the Umbwe Gate at 1800m. from where a forestry track leads through natural rain forest to a narrow and steep forested ridge and the first campsite by some rock overhangs at 2940m, (5-6h)

Forest Cave Camp.

Forest Cave Camp-Barranco Camp

Kilimanjaro

Day 2-Continue until the forest ends and the path continues along a spectacular ridge with superb views of the icy Breach Wall above and the Great Barranco gorge below. The campsite is not far from the Barranco Hut. (5-6h, 3950m.).

Barranco Camp.

Barranco Camp -Karanga Valley Camp

Kilimanjaro

Day 3-Scramble easily to the top of the Great Barranco and then a traverse over screes and ridges to the Karanga Valley camsite (3h, 3937m.), beneath the icefalls of the Southern Glaciers.

Karanga Valley Camp.

Karanga Valley Camp -Barafu Camp.

Kilimanjaro

Day 4-The trail ascends a ridge to a campsite by the Barafu Hut, an airy location with little vegetation (3h, 4600m.)

Barafu Camp.

Barafu Camp-Uhuru Peak.

Kilimanjaro

Day 5-Start just after midnight for the ascent of the screes leading to Stella Point (6h, 5732m.). From here a further 40mins. leads to Uhuru Peak. Descend to the Barafu Hut for a rest and brunch before continuing down to camp at Mweka Hut at 3100m, (11-13h total walking time). Those with energy on the summit may wish to descend to the Reutsh Crater and visit the dramatic ice pinnacles of the Eastern Icefields.

Mweka Camp