Mt Kilimanjaro Climb, Umbwe Route

Day 0: Arrival, Tour Briefing and Resting

• You will be picked up from the airport in Moshi (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and be transferred to the booked hotel in Arusha
• Get the safari general briefing from the prepared safari consultant/guide
• Dinner and overnight at the booked hotel in Arusha

Day 1: Arusha to Umbwe Cave Camp (2850m)

• This morning you’ll meet your crew, who will be with you at all times during your trip
• After having breakfast you’ll be driven the 1:45-minute trip from your hotel through a lush landscape of bustling villages and coffee smallholdings sheltered by banana palms to the Umbwe Gate
• Perform registration formalities at the gate, while the porters and guides make last minute preparations
• Your journey begins through dense green mountain rainforest
• The route steepens between the Umbwe and Lonzo rivers, and you’ll need every ounce of strength to pull yourself upwards using the wild, strong tree roots
• As you climb, you’ll see Kibo, unexpected, glimmering in the distance
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Umbwe Cave Camp

Day 2: Climb from Umbwe Cave camp (2850m) to Barranco camp (3985m)

• After a good, energy-rich breakfast you’ll prepare for today’s trekking which takes you out of the rainforest and into the drier, crisper air of moorland broken with rocky outcrops
• You’ll ascend through cloud forest, past thinning, moss-entwined trees, glimpsing more and more of the bright blue sky as you ascend the hair-raising and spectacular Umbwe Route ridge with sides that drop steeply until it flattens out near to the Barranco Valley
• The Barranco Camp nestles in the valley below the Western Breach and the Great Barranco Wall, which you should study as this is your first climb after breakfast tomorrow!
• Enjoy a hot and delicious dinner and overnight stay at Barranco Camp

Day 3: Climb from Barranco camp (3985m) to Karanga Camp (4040m)

• The first thing that greets you this morning is the climbing of the 257 meter Great Barranco Wall, often called the Breakfast Wall as it’s the first thing you’ll do after breakfast!
• It’s challenging but more of a scramble than a climb
• You’ll top out just below the glorious Helm Glacier soaring above you, and from here the views are incredible
• You’ll descend through a tumbling up-and-down route across scree and ridges through alpine desert towards the Karanga Valley
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Karanga Camp

Day 4: Climb from Karanga camp (4040m) to Barafu camp (4681m)

• After a good breakfast you’ll attack the path that starts climbing as you leave Karanga Camp
• The Southern ice fields of Kibo sparkle to your left as you journey the arid and surreal high alpine landscape, such a contrast to the green lushness of earlier days
• The route takes you up a constant climb then shelves into a shallow valley with a short, sharp scramble and hike leading you into Barafu Camp
• Barafu Camp is situated on a rocky and desolate ridge, exposed to the elements but with glorious panoramic views from 15,000 feet up
• You’ll be gazing at clouds below your feet and ice fields and the summit above you
• It’s a tough environment for you to prepare your equipment and your mind-set for your final ascent tonight
• Have an enough rest as we will wake up before 11pm for trekking to the Uhuru Peak summit

Day 5: Climb from Barafu camp (4681m) to Uhuru Peak (5895m) then to Mweka (3090m)

• It is a summit day and you’ll be woken at 11pm for hydration, have energized food and a quick medical check
• The trekking in this area is the most dangerous so you should be careful
• You will be climbing a steep gradient of heavy scree in darkness through the night as the temperature drops to below freezing
• But as you reach Stellar Point, something amazing begin, look west to see the giant shadow of Kilimanjaro spreading across the plains far below you
• In another hour you’ll reach Uhuru Peak
• You have conquered Umbwe Route trekking
• There’ll be time for pictures before you make your descent via at Barafu Camp
• Your journey isn’t over, yet
• You’ve a long descent over loose gravel through ice-capped outcrops and down to the welcoming moorland of the lower reaches
• Mweka Camp nestles in lush vegetation in the mists of the upper forest and you’ll enjoy good food and good company as your body recovers from the harsh but beautiful experience of the night before

Day 6: Descending from Mweka camp (3090m) to Mweka Gate (1641m) then to Moshi

• Leave glorious memory of the successful trekking far behind you and you’ll begin your hike back
• The slope here is gentler than the ascent at Umbwe, but it can be slippery so watch those knees!
• You’ll have time to take in the misty cloud forest and perhaps even spot a Colobus monkey
• Arriving at Mweka Gate where you’ll receive your summit certificates
• Take you back to your hotel in Moshi for dinner and overnight stay

Day 7: Transfer from Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport

• Transfer to Kilimanjaro Airport from a hotel in Moshi Town, from where you will connect your flight back home or have other arrangement like go to a safari to national parks or beach holiday