7 Days KILIMANJARO
UMBWE ROUTE
"Seven days on the most challenging route on kilimanjaro"
If you are looking for a challenge, Umbwe Route is made for you. There is no doubt that ths is the most difficult route on the mountain due to its steep first day, with little time for your body to acclimatize to the altitude. This route is almost exclusively chosen by those who are experienced, high altitude climbers. The beginning of the route is not at all busy, but it merges into the othere Southern Circuit Routes – Machame and Lemosho Routes, and from there on it is busy.
The minimum number of days required for this route is six days, although seven days is also offered. Since this route is most often chosen by those wanting the toughest challenge, the six days itinerary is the most chosen. But the seven day option does increase the possibility of a successful summit.
Arrival Day: Kilimanjaro International Airport
Welcome to Tanzania! You will be picked up at Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town. You will meet the company representative and your mountain guide who give you a thorough climb briefing, answering all your questions. There will also be an equipment check. Any items that you are lacking may be rented locally of good quality at a fair rate. If your arrival is late in the day, the briefing and equipment check may happen early the next morning instead. No meals are included in the itinerary for this day.
Day 1: Hotel - Umbwe Gate (1600m) To Umbwe Cave Camp (2900m)
After breakfast at your hotel, we pick you up and drive you to Umbwe Gate, where we complete park formalities and hit the trail. The trail ascends steeply through a lush rainforest. We arrive at Umbwe Cave Camp where there is still much tree cover.
Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp (2900m) to Barranco Camp (3976m)
During the trek, the forest will be giving way to a mountain moorland. The path is a steady ascent up to a ridge where it flattens into the valley. At the camp, climbers using Machame Route and Lemosho Route will share the area.
Day 3: Barranco Camp (3960m) - Acclimatization Day
At nearly 4,000m your body will feeel the effects of the elevation as the fatigue in your legs recovers a little more slowly than normal. But you have the day to relax and take in the view, or explore the valley.
Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960m) to Karanga Camp (3963m)
Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical, but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten Glaciers, we head towards the Karanga Valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga Valley to our night’s camp at Karanga Camp, set at 3963m, only 3m higher than the previous camp. For those feeling strong, we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.
Day 5: Karanga Camp (3963) to Barafu Camp (4640m)
After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu Camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation in sight! It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camp, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the summit attempt.
Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640m) to UHURU PEAK (5895m) & down to Millennium Camp (3790m)
We start off at around midnight, and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi Peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m)! You have achieved your dream! Of course you will want some photos but we won’t want to stay long lest cold and fatigue set in. There is still a long way to trek this day. We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Millennium Camp for a long well-earned rest.
Day 7: Trek Millennium Camp (3790m) to Mweka Gate (1630m)
Yes, your body will probably feel the fatigue of the previous day, but it will still be a victory trek, descending down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate. Many times the road will be too muddy for our vehicle to safely pick you up at the gate. Instead we may need to trek further to Mweka Village where our vehicle will return you to your hotel.
Departure Day
Our driver will be available to take you to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) at any time you require. If you have a safari planned through Dotcom Safaris, your safari guide will pick you up at the pre-arranged time. If you have planned for time in Zanzibar, we will have gone through the arrangements with you. Your breakfast is included in your itinerary this day as long as your departure is not before the hotel’s scheduled breakfast hours. Hotel checkout is at 10am but if you have a later departure we can try to arrange a late checkout or a day room (extra cost for day room).
7 Days Umbwe Private Climb Prices
All prices are listed per person in USD
1 person: $3422 2 people: $2490 3 people: $2130 4 people: $1940 5 people: $1930 6+ people: $1915
Prices are based on double occupancy in hotel and in mountain tents. For a single occupancy hotel room add $15/night. For single occupancy mountain tent add $160 for the trek. Groups with an odd number of participants already have 1 single occupancy room and tent factored into the price.
• Airport pick up and drop-off per group
• 2 nights at a hotel bed & breakfast plan
• English-speaking professional, certified guides & dedicated crew
• Transfers to and from the mountain
• All Meals as per daily itinerary
• Activities as per the itinerary
• National Park Fees and taxes
• Purified drinking water while on the mountain
• Dry bag to protect your duffel bag
• Oxygen cylinder(s) for emergency
• Portable chemical toilet
• Mountain tents plus standard sleeping mattress
• Official Summit Certificate – for those who qualify
• Personal travel insurance with medical and mountain evacuation (required)
• Tanzania entry visa
• Tips for the support team
• Sleeping bags and other personal gear
• Rental gear – if needed
• Lunch and dinner at the Moshi hotel
• Drinks and snacks
• Additional airport or gate transfers
• Extra nights at the hotels
• Expenses of a personal nature (souvenirs, etc.)