7 Day Kilimanjaro Climbing, Umbwe Route

Day 1: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp

Pick-up from the hotel early in the morning and drive to the Umbwe Gate for registration before entering to the park.

The climb starts on a 4-wheel drive vehicle that rises with a constant gradient for the first 2 hours where we will continue rising onfoot with a constant gradient for approx 1.5 hours of climbing.

After lunch we will continue with the steeper trail, the views are amazing and then you will now start climbing along a knife-edge ridge with a deep ravine on each side, the one to the right carved by the River Umbwe far below. After 2 hours of trekking you will reach Umbwe Camp where we will rest overnight with stunning evening views of Kibo from Machame Camp.

Day 2: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp

Note that tonight the Umbwe Route merges with 3 major routes in the mountain which are the Lemosho Route, Shira Route and the Machame Route to form the Southern Circut

We wake-up early in the moring and after taking our breakfast we will climb almost the 4000ft in altitude so as to reach the Barranco Valleyfor about 2 hours until we reach the wall and Barranco Camp. At the camp you will have time to do some exploring of the local area. The Barranco Valley has some great views of Kibo to the North and Moshi to the South as well as a beautiful starry sky if the cloud holds off.

Day 3: Rest Day in Barranco Camp

It is a rest day today to get used with thinner air and also take some time to walk through the valley, snap a few pictures or take your binoculars and start watching the poor sods that have to climb the wall of Barranco but most important of all is to relax and visualize about tomorrow

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

After leaving the camp we will have a sjort climb towatds south from camp down a deep gorge in the mountain. You should just be able to see Moshi town on the plains. We will then  pass through a zigzags path up to the top and while you will need both hands at times, it’s a scramble not a rock climb. It will take about 1 hour 30 minutes to reach the top, your highest point of the day at 13,890ft / 4233m. From here it’s an hour’s walk to the Karanga Valley. You begin a gentle descent of about 1km into a small valley before a short ascent out the other side. Then it’s another shallow downhill for 1.5km. A steep scramble down a slope takes you to the floor of a gorge (12,925ft / 3940m) and steep switchback path of about 330ft/100m, taking about 20 minutes, brings you to the Karanga Camp. The afternoon’s your own.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Today we will be leaving the camp and rise and does so most of the way to Barafu Camp. After a balanced climb of 1 hour 30 minutes you enter a long, shallow valley. A walk of 1 hour 15 minutes followed by a short steep scramble brings you out of the valley. Turning north you begin the last leg to Barafu, taking about 30 minutes and with no serious incline.

At this point you are close to the summit and thus the guide will give you some tips on how to go for this final touch.

Day 6: Descent Barafu Camp to the Summit

You are advised to drink as much as you can tonight to avoid dehydration which may  end your climb. Afetr leaving the camp you will have to climb for about 2 hours to the top of a large ridge then to the back to area near the rim. After 30 minutes you reach Stella Point at 18,870ft/5752m having climbed 3510ft/1070m from Barafu. After 45 minutes of constant climb you are at the summit, the roof of Africa. In the east, you will see the sun rising over Africa,

Day 6:  Descent – Summit to Millennium Camp

We will descent following the same path you climbed to reach the summit. We will be using trekking poles, very important here; descent is not an easy job and sometime e going on knees.   Depending on your physics, the descent to Barafu Camp can take 2-4 hours. Meals are srved 1 or 2 hours before sleep time then we continue going down the mountain.

Day 7:  Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate

Before leaving camp, in the north you will see the snow-covered cone of Kilimanjaro. It’s a wonderful experience that you will remember over your lifetime.

We will descent steadily for about 1 or 2 hours downhill to Mweka Camp. There are some nice places to snatch a few last photos of the summit. You will use another 1 hour to descent through the green forest on the way to the Mweka Gate where you will be provided with the certificate. Green certificate are provided to climber who succeeded to reach Stella point while  the Gold Certificate is provided to the climber who trekked through the summit. After that we will be back to the hotel for a hot shower and full-menu meal You will have an overnight rest before your transfer to the airport on the following day.