Umbwe route is regarded as the most challenging and hardest route on Kilimanjaro. Due to the fast ascent to high altitude, this route does not provide the necessary stages for acclimatization. Although the number of people on this trail is very low, the chances of success are also low. Well prepared and fit climbers, this route is their best choice, even experienced climbers who want to experience more climbing challenges would prefer also to choose this route.
Approaching from the south, the Umbwe route is a short, steep and direct climb. After reaching the Barranco camp, it joins with the Machame and Lemosho routes, then the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro southern Ice Field on a path known as the southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu base camp. Descent is made via the Mweka route. Climbers sleep in tents.
TOTAL TREKKING DISTANCE: 58.5 KILOMETERS
TOTAL TREKKING TIME: 36 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: VERY DIFFICULT
SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE: 76%
Upon your arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (if you have chosen to take a flight to KIA),you will be met with the representative from Wazi tours company, and you will travel together to your hotel in Arusha. One day before your climb,your mountain guide will give you a climb briefing at the hotel and he will inspect your climbing gear, to make sure that you have all the necessary and proper climbing gear. For any missing gear, can be rented on this day.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,340m.
Today you wake up early for the last climb preparation, organizing your climbing gear and having an early breakfast, as you will be picked up at around 07:30.You will travel together with your guide and supporting team to Umbwe gate, a journey that takes about two hours. Make sure you have your passport numbers for the registration at the gate. At the gate you will eat from your lunch box, and start your hike through the huge forest towards the camp. The trail today is steep and long. You will reach the camp in the late afternoon, and will have warm washing water and tea.
Evening meals and overnight at Umbwe cave camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 11KM.
TREKKING TIME: 5-6HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: FOREST
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,010m.
The second day of the trek follows rockier terrain with sparse undergrowth and straggly,moss-covered trees.The path flattens as we approach Barranco Valley.From Umbwe ridge,the route descends to Barranco camp through the strange but beautiful Senesio forest.You will find here other groups coming from the Lemosho and Machame routes.You will have lunch at the camp and spending the rest of evening by relaxing at the camp. Evening meals and overnight at Barranco camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6KM.
TREKKING TIME: 4-5HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE GAIN: 731m.
Then,
From Barafu camp(4,681m) To Uhuru peak (5,895m) 6.5km/7hrs.
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,214m.
After breakfast, we leave early around 07:00,and we take a short scramble to the top of the great Barranco wall and then a traverse over scree and ridges to the Karanga valley, beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers. After a short and well deserved break of hot lunch, we leave Karanga and cross the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail, used for descends from the mountain later. From here, we continue up to the Barafu camp. Here, we will rest, have early dinner and prepare for the summit. From Barafu, you can enjoy the view of two volcanic cones Mawenzi (the second highest peak after Kibo) and Kibo peaks, and that view is quite spectacular and you should not miss it. Note that, Barafu camp is quite high, so make sure all the movements you are doing here are slow, otherwise you can get strong headache. After dinner and a Summit`s briefing, you will go back to your sleeping tent and do some Summit`s preparations before going to your sleeping bag.
You will be woken up later about an hour before summit`s starting time, and you will have just few moment to do the last summit`s preparation, then you will have some light breakfast in the mess-tent. You will leave for the summit probably at 24:00.You will start with the steep rocky trail for a while then you will be walking now through a better but still steep trail. It takes about six hours to reach Stella point, which is located on the crater rim,from Barafu camp. A trail to Stella point,is quite steep full of sand and volcanic lose-scree, but the switch-backs help to reduce much bodies’ energy and effort to be used. From Stella point,you have one hour more to conquer the roof of Africa and the trail is less steep and gradual.
At the Summit, you will spend more or less fifteen minutes, depending on your condition and the weather, for taking a short rest, photos and enjoying the views.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 17.5KM.
TREKKING TIME: 16HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: ICE CAPED
ALTITUDE LOSS: 2,795m.
From the peak, you will turn back and walking down to Stella point. From there,you will be descending through loose volcanic scree to Barafu camp, where you will have a short rest and lunch. After packing your gear, will start your trek down. Our destination today is at Mweka camp. But before leaving the base camp, check your condition first,if you think that you have no energy left for walking all the way down to Mweka camp, just tell your guide early, so he will be able to arrange your camping at the nearer camp, Mweka high camp. But if you are still fit, you can walk down to Mweka camp. But remember, Mweka high camp is still high(almost 3,850m.),so it is not very good idea to sleep here!
At Mweka camp, you will have warm washing water then late afternoon tea.
Evening meals and overnight at Mweka camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 14KM.
TREKKING TIME: 6HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: HEATHER
ALTITUDE LOSS: 1,460m.
After breakfast and packing, you will have an opportunity to sing Kilimanjaro songs together with your crew and taking a group photo. Then you will start your way down, through the jungle. In the forest, you will enjoy the peace of the forest and nice sounds of birds and monkeys. You will see different interesting trees and wild flowers like impatient Kilimanjaro (the Elephant trunk flower), begonias, gladiolas, and blood-lili flowers among many others. If you are lucky, you will be able to sport some monkeys like black and white colobus monkeys and blue monkeys.
At the gate after signing out, your guide will collect your summit`s certificate, hopefully you are going to make it! Then you will drive down for few minutes and will break to where you will have a hot lunch. After lunch, you will travel to your hotel in Arusha via Moshi town.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 10KM.
TREKKING TIME: 3HRS.
We hope that your stay in Tanzania in your tour with us, in our hands will be safe and enjoyable, and your climb will be successful and a life time experience.
WISHING YOU A GREAT CLIMB!
©Copyrights 2021. All rights reserved by WAZI TOURS. Developed By Jbtech Solution