6 DAYS UMBWE TREK

Trekking Overview

This route is the steepest with the shortest and most direct routes to the Southern Glaciers, Western Breach and Uhuru Peak. It is probably the most scenic, non-technical route on Kilimanjaro. However it is quite taxing, primarily due to the relatively fast ascent to higher altitude, but the rewards are plentiful. Very steep route best suited to experienced trekkers.

Duration: 6 days.
Difficulty: Very High
Scenery: Very good
Traffic: Very low

This route is not used much. The Umbwe route is only suitable for people with extensive mountain climbing experience.

DAY 1 – UMBWE CAVES

START – 5,906FT / 1800M
END – 9,351FT / 2850M
DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS

After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. Your first stop is at Machame Gate to collect your permits before getting back in your vehicle and driving to Umbwe Gate. After checking in you set off up through the forest zone. The first day hiking is not overly difficult but certainly steepens towards the latter end of the day. In the late afternoon you arrive in the first camp in time for dinner.

DAY 2 – BARRANCO CAMP

START – 9,351FT / 2850M
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 6KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

The second day ascends from the forest zone into the heath zone and there are some very steep sections here. Taking it easy is essential to allow your body to acclimatise. A picnic lunch is taken on route. Later that afternoon you arrive into Barranco Camp in time to relax for a while before dinner. The views of the Barranco wall and Western breach pertain to events some 60,000 years ago when this whole part of the mountain collapsed.

DAY 3 – LAVA TOWER

START – 12,796FT / 3900M
END – 15,093FT / 4600M
DISTANCE – 2 MILES / 3KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH

The ascent today is very steep and into alpine desert. The air is generally very dry here. As you ascend, the guides will be carefully assessing your progress. Note that if your body is not acclimatising well then the routing may well be switched to an ascent via Stella Point instead. Lunch is taken at Lava Tower with the afternoon to rest.

DAY 4 – ARROW GLACIER

START – 15,093FT / 4600M
END – 16,087FT / 4903M
DISTANCE – 0.6 MILES / 1KM
TIME – 1-2 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ARCTIC

The ascent to Arrow Glacier is relatively short and leaves plenty of time to rest for a large part of the day. Short walks are possible with the guides to enjoy views of the Great Barranco Wall and remnants of the once mighty glaciers that filled the breach before having dinner and an early night.

DAY 5 – KILIMANJARO SUMMIT / MILLENIUM

START – 16,087FT / 4903M
END – 12,960FT / 3,950M
DISTANCE – 8 MILES / 13KM
TIME – 12-14 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ARCTIC, ALPINE DESERT, HEATH

There is a very early ascent up the breach at 1am. It takes around 4 hours to reach the crater. Here there is time for a quick rest and refuel before the final push, for about an hour, to the summit (Uhuru Peak: 19341ft, 5895m). The aim here is to arrive just after dawn to enjoy the most incredible sunrise from the roof of Africa. The hike then heads down via Stella Point to Barafu Camp. Here there is another short rest before continuing to Millennium Camp for the final evening on the mountain.

DAY 6 – ARUSHA

START – 12,960FT / 3950M
END – 5,381FT / 1640M
DISTANCE – 8 MILES / 14KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST

After breakfast you descend once again through afromontane forest and around midday, after lunch, diplomats collection and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Our Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.