Umbwe 6 Days
Day 1: Moshi to Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp Elevation(m): 915m/1387m to 1,800 m 2,800 m
Elevation(ft): 3,000 ft/4921ft to 5,905 ft to 9,190 ft
Distance: 8 km
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
After breakfast at your hotel, we drive for one hour to Umbwe Village (1,490 m/4,890 ft) for registration. You start your ascent at the small Umbwe Gate just above the village and follow a gentle winding vehicle track for an hour to a signboard that announces the small steep Umbwe trail. The introduction is over, and you now climb up for several hours through a dense forest of rubber trees and giant fig trees. In places, you must scamper up steep sections of roots and rock. The Umbwe Camp is in the forest, and there are some caves nearby. You will be greeted here with a graciously served hot meal.
Day 2: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation(m): 2,800 m to 3,900 m Elevation(ft): 9,190 ft to 2,800 ft
Distance: 8 km,
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat Semi-Desert
Your day starts early with a steaming cup of tea or coffee. After breakfast, you will climb steeply through thinning forest glades to Giant Erica, heather, and drier air. You continue up a ridge that drops steeply on both sides, and hopefully, the clouds will part to reward you with a view of Uhuru Peak looming overhead. After lunch, you enter a zone of giant groundsels (Seneci Kilimanjaro) that seem to guard the heights, and this garden is one of Kilimanjaro’s special treasures.
Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation(m): 3,900 m to 4,200 m
Elevation (ft):12,800 ft to 13,780 ft
Distance: 7 km,
Hiking time: 4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, and then you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro is. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky. After a hot lunch at camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting or exploring. This short day is very important for your acclimatization since your summit push is about to start.
Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation(m): 4,200 m to 4,550 m
Elevation(ft): 13,780 ft to 14,930 ft
Distance: 13 km,
Hiking Time: 8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
In the morning, you hike east over intervening ridges and valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. Turn left toward the mountain and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.” The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb, and drink a lot of fluids. After an early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of precious sleep.
Day 6: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate to Moshi
Elevation(m): 3,100 m to 1,980m to890m/1387m
Elevation(ft): 10,170 ft to 6,500m to 2,920 ft/4921ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Forest
After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details to a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive gold certificates. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1-hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. From there our vehicle will be waiting to take you back to Moshi.