Mount Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route 6 Days Moshi, Tanzania
This is probably the most hardest route up Kilimanjaro. A thoroghly tough uphill struggle liked by most mountaineers. As a reward for your Endevour’s however a clear day will provide you with views that many guides and porters insits are the best there are at Kilimanjaro.
1st Day
Umbwe Gate (1800 m) – Umbwe Cave Camp (2940 m)
Hiking Time: 5 – 6 hours
Distance: 8 km
Habitat: Montane Forest
From Umbwe Gate you asched through forestry track before it narrows and steepness to climb a ridge between Lonzo and Umbwe Rivers. This is the steepest part of the entire trek. Eventually after hours of this exhausting exercise, and again in altitude of 1050 m approximatley, you reach a rocky overhang. This is Umbwe Cave (29440 m) a popular first night Campsite with plenty of water sourcesavailable.
2nd Day
Umbwe Cave (2940 m) – Barranco Hut (3860 m)
Hiking time: 5 hours
Distance: 6 km
Habitat: Heather and Moorland
Roughly after 45 minutes after breaking camp, you emerge from the forest gloom onto the heather, to be presented with two awesome sights. The breathtaking Breach Wall – all 1000 m of it – and the glory of the Kibo summit. Finally the gradient eases and the day is spent ambling through moorland vegetation to the Barranco Hut Campsite on your right time to enjoy your dinner and camp overnight.
3rd Day
Barranco Huts (3840 m) – Karanga Valley (4200 m)
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Distance: 8 km
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After Breakfast, you leave Barranco Camp and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to Karanga Valley Camp for Overnight.
4th Day
Karanga Valley (4200 m) – Barafu Camp (4600 m)
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After Breakfast, you leave Karanga Valley Camp and scrabble up cliff to leave the valley. You continue to the Barafu Hut, which is located at an altitude of 4600 meters. You have completed the Southern Curcuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here you camp, rest, enjoy, dinner and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi und Kibo are to be seen from this position.
5th Day
Barafu Camp (4600 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – Mweka Camp (3100 m)
Hiking Time: 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak
Habitat: Stone scream and ice capped summit
Early morning, you continue your way to the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 meter. It can be bitterly cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will wnat clothing for both extremes with your. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and the Continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. You now make your descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Campsite at 3100 meters. This part of the descent takes about 5 hours. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well earned sleep.
6th Day
Mweka Camp (3100 m) – Mweka Gate (1500 m)
Hiking Time: about 3 Hours
Habitat: Forest
After Breakfast, you continue the descend down to the Mweka Park Gate. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. A Vehicle will meet your at Mweka village and take you to Moshi/Arusha.
Please do not forget to Tip your Guides, Cooks and Porters.
Equipment needed which you can hire if you do not have it:
– Sleeping Bag
– Mountain Poles
-. Warm Gloves
– Gaiters
– Balaclava
– Water Bottles
– Head Torch
– Rain Mac/Poncho
– Warm Jacket
– Warm Trousers
– Sunglasses
– Day Pack
– Mountain Boots
– Scarves
– Pairs of Socks