6 Days 5 Nights Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Through Umbwe Route

We pick you on arrive in Tanzania. Airport pick-up and transfer to our IBRAHIM GARDEN HOSTEL for the private room accommodation – Bed & Breakfast (Included) in Arusha city.

Elevation (m): 1600m to 2900m
Distance: 11km
Time: 6 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

We will register at Umbwe Park Gate before starting our trek. The small winding path leads us up through rainforest and along the Umbwe river. Dinner and overnight stay at Umbwe Cave Camp, at about 2,900m altitude.

Elevation (m): 2940m to 3970m
Distance: 6km
Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

We leave camp and shortly afterwards the forests ends. We can see the sheer wall of the Western Breach appearing and disappearing as the afternoon mists roll up the Great Barranco. Dinner and overnight stay at Barranco camp.

Elevation (m): 3950m to 3930m
Distance: 7 km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Today starts with a short, but fun, scramble, to the top of the Great Barranco Wall. We then traverse over scree to the Karanga Valley (3930m) beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. Dinner and overnight stay at Karanga campsite.

Elevation (m): 3930m to 4600m
Distance: 6kms
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

We leave Karanga campsite behind to meet the junction connecting with the Mweka descent Trail. From here we continue up to the Barafu Hut. You have now completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. At camp, we can rest, enjoy dinner and overnight stay, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be clearly seen from this position.

Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m)
Distance: 7km ascent / 23km descent
Time: 6-8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will be woken at 23:30 with some quick tea and biscuits. We start our trek to the summit between the Rebman and Ratzel glaciers. We will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging part of the trek. At Stella Point (5732m), we will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). At Uhuru Peak (5895m), we will have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. From the summit, we descend down to the Mweka Hut camp site, via Barafu for lunch. Trekking poles will be needed for the loose gravel going down to Mweka Camp (3100m). Dinner and overnight stay at Mweka Camp.

Elevation (m): 3100m to 1800m
Distance: 8 km
Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest

We depart after breakfast descending down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will be suitable (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy).