The Umbwe route is one of the shortest routes to climb Kilimanjaro, approaching from the south. It is probably the most challenging and the hardest route to climb. It does offers steep ascents, require trekkers to scramble over rocks and tree roots at certain points. It is also the most direct route up the mountain and even features several exposed ridges that are not for the faint of heart. Because of its steep, direct approach, the success rate on Umbwe route is lower than all the other routes.
The Umbwe route is the trail for trekkers looking for a true climbing challenge. It is a quiet, seldom used path that that can be very difficult, yet very rewarding at the same time. This is the route to choose if you want to test yourself on the slopes of the mountain Kilimanjaro, far from the crowds that are found on the more common trails. Because of its reputation as a difficult climb, very few people actually walk this trail, leaving it open and relatively untouched. This helps to give trekkers the feeling that they are the only ones on the mountain until the route merges with Machame route near the Barranco camp. From there, it follows the familiar Southern Circuit through the Karanga valley before turning up towards the Summit from Barafu camp.
Umbwe route is known for its caves. The first day you sleep at the Umbwe cave camp and there are two more caves en-route.
Climbers use tents for sleeping in this route and the descent is via Mweka route.
TOTAL TREKKING DISTANCE: 58.5 KILOMETERS
TOTAL TREKKING TIME: 36 HOURS
DIFFICULTY: DIFFICULT
SUMMIT SUCCESS RATE: 78%
Upon your arrival at the Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO),if you have chosen to take a flight to (KIA),a representative from Wazi tours company will meet you, and pack your luggage in the car. Then you will travel to Arusha, to your hotel. A day before the climb, you will meet with your mountain guide in the hotel for the pre-climb briefing and gear check,to ensure that you have all the necessary and perfect climbing gear. For any missing gear, can be rented on this day.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
ALTTITUDE GAIN: 1,340m.
Umbwe cave camp is a small camp site (probably because of few visitors who normally take this route), which is next to the gate, where climbers and crew over-knighting in the first day. The camp is in the forest and there are some caves nearby.
The vehicle with your guide and supporting team will arrive at your hotel in the morning at around 07:30 ready to pick you up. You need to get up early today for organizing your gear required on the mountain and an early breakfast. Then you will join your crew in the vehicle and drive to Umbwe gate. At this point, you will do some paper work, and your passport number will be required. You will also have lunch from your lunch box here.
After registration, start walking to the camp. This is more challenging route. Huge rain forest and spectacular view of the mountain makes this route unique. After arriving to the camp, you will find everything ready, tents are ready, warm washing water and tea is also ready.
Evening meals and overnight at Umbwe cave camp
TREKKING DISTANCE: 11KM.
TREKKING TIME: 5-6HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: FOREST
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,010m.
Barranco camp is located near the foot of the great Barranco Wall. Barranco camp is probably the most spectacular camp site on this route, with excellent views of the Western Breach, Kibo and far down the forest covered with ``sea of clouds`. It is a large campsite and different groups coming from the Machame and Lemosho routes usually overnight here. From here, they all heading to the same direction.
In the morning, after breakfast continue walking to Barranco camp. Today you will be walking on heather and moorland zone. This is challenging day as you will climb though steeps and sometime using your hands. You will arrive to Barranco camp in the afternoon, where you will have your lunch. At the camp, you will meet other groups from the Lemosho and Machame routes. In the afternoon,you will just rest at the camp while having some tea and popcorns.
Evening meals and overnight at Barranco camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 6KM.
TREKKING TIME: 4-5HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE GAIN: 85m.
Karanga camp is located North Eastern side on top of the Karanga valley and southern side of Kibo, and is the fifth camp of Machame route and the sixth camp of Lemosho route. This is the last camp before reaching Barafu base camp. Some groups, especially those with six days through Machame route, break here just for lunch, then after lunch, they move on to Barafu camp. But others, spend a night here.
Morning after breakfast, start walking to Karanga camp. Soon after starting the hike, enjoy climbing the Barranco wall. This wall has a nickname from porters known as breakfast. This means, once you done with breakfast, you start with the wall. Climbing on this cliff will require you to use your hands to grab rocks at some points. So, keep your poles in your day-rucksack. Climb slowly and careful and watch every step you make. The hike to the top of the cliff takes about one hour and a half to two hours. After this wall, you will be walking up and down ridges, before finally crossing the Karanga valley to reach Karanga camp.
You will have lunch at Karanga camp and in the afternoon, you will have a short acclimatization walk and tea.
Evening meals and overnight at Karanga camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 5KM.
TREKKING TIME: 4-5HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: MOORLAND
ALTITUDE GAIN: 646m.
Then,
ALTITUDE GAIN: 1,214m.
Barafu camp is the base camp for the southern Circuit routes including the Machame, Umbwe and Lemosho routes. Is the last point before hiking to the peak or sometimes before going to the crater camp? This makes Barafu camp the busiest base camp on mount Kilimanjaro, ahead of School hut base camp (which is used only by the northern routes) and Kibo hut(the second busiest base camp) to the east. It is a large camp and situated in the alpine desert zone of Kilimanjaro.
Morning, after breakfast you will walk towards the base camp and will walk across the semi-desert area. In the afternoon, you will get to the camp. Lunch will be served here. Today dinner will be served early so that you can go to bed early. In the night you will be woken-up an hour before summit`s starting time, and you will have a short time to do the last summit`s preparation and a light breakfast in the mess tent.Then you will start trekking to the Summit. It takes about six hours to reach the crater rim, Stella point, and from here you will be able to watch the beautiful sun-rise. From Stella point, you have about an hour more to push yourself to the official Summit, Uhuru peak, through a gentle and less steep trail. At the peak, you may spend more or less fifteen minutes, depending to your condition and the weather, for taking a rest, photos and enjoying great views.
ALTITUDE LOSS: 2,795m.
From Uhuru peak, you have about three hours more descending to Barafu camp, where you will have a short rest, lunch and packing your gear, and be ready for the last push.Your destination today is Mweka camp, which takes about three hours walk. If your body allows you, then descend to Mweka camp, but if not, you can camp to a nearby camp, Mweka high camp, but you need to discuss this with your guide at Barafu camp and make decision. At the camp, there will be warm washing water for you.
Evening meals and overnight at Mweka camp.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 14KM.
TREKKING TIME: 6HRS.
VEGETATION ZONE: HEATHER
ALTITUDE LOSS: 1,460m.
After breakfast, you can have a short traditional celebration with your crew, singing Kilimanjaro songs together and taking a group photo. Then you will start to trek down through the forest to Mweka gate, where you will sign out and your guide will be collecting your summit`s certificate, hope you are going to make it! Then you will enter the vehicle and drive for few minutes to where you will break for hot lunch. After lunch, you will travel to Arusha via Moshi town, to your hotel, ready for warm shower and a comfortable sleep in bed.
Evening meals and overnight at the hotel.
TREKKING DISTANCE: 10km.
TREKKING TIME: 3hrs.
We hope that, your stay in Tanzania for your tour with us, in our hands will be safe and enjoyable, and your climb will be successful and a life time experience.
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