Umbwe Route

Arrival in Tanzania and transfer to the hotel

Arrive in Tanzania via Kilimanjaro International airport fricphotography staff will pick you up and transfer to Moshi town where you will spend the first night at a hotel. For those who will arrive through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKA) in Kenya, we will get them picked up and transferred by Riverside Shuttle Bus to Moshi.

Drive to Umbwe Park Gate to Umbwe Cave camp

After Breakfast Kilimanjaro Brothers team will gather at the hotel for the introduction of the crew that will accompany clients then drive from Moshi town to Umbwe Park Gate (4,100ft) for registration process before begin hiking to the first camp which is Umbwe Cave camp. The first day is through the Montana Forest. Lush vegetation with old trees and lilts of ferns and mosses mark this area that gets reliable rain year round. The forest abounds with wildlife, small bushbucks and duikers as well as monkeys. There is also a rich and varied bird-life. The first 3 hours or so is on a gently rising land before steepening for the last 2 hours. The camp for the night is in a small clearing on the trail. Umbwe Cave Camp – Elevation 2940m or 9500ft Distance 8km Hiking Time: 6-7 hours Vegetation zone: Montane forest

Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp

Shortly after starting the hike the forest gradually gives way to the giant heath. The trail has been following a ridge for some time and as it ascends through the heath land the ridge narrows and sharpens, finally becoming knife-edge with steep drops on each side. As the height of the heath reduces there are stunning views of both Kilimanjaro’s southern flank and across the Mount Meru some of 50 miles away. Elevation 3860m or 12,800 ft Distance: 8 km. Hiking Time: 6-7 hours Vegetation zone: Alpine Desert

Barranco Camp to Karanga

On the Eastern side of the valley, across the stream is the Barranco Wall barrier of volcanic rock. Although it is tall and looks steep, it is very easy to climb. This is our first challenge of the day. The views from the wall are nothing less than magnificent. The rest of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo Peak over left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up Barafu hut. Elevation 3860m to 4000m or 12,700ft to 13,300ft Distance: 7km Hiking Time: 4 hours Vegetation: Alpine Desert

Karanga Camp to Barafu

From Karanga the tour heads up a moraine ridge taking your time and going slowly. The views here can be spectacular on the Southern glaciers .The final stage to Barafu is quite steep and as always it’s taken very slowly. As with the day before you reach camp by around lunchtime leaving lots of time to prepare and relax. In the evening your guide briefs you for the final ascent. Elevation 4600m or 15,100ft Hiking Time: 6 hours Distance: 7km Vegetation Zone : Alpine Desert

Barafu to Uhuru Peak then descend to Mweka camp

Begin hiking toward the summit at 11:30 pm and sometimes the guide can propose the time then continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a Northwestern direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m/18,652ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most important magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Camp sit, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist, Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain. Elevation 4600m to 5895m (and down 3100m) or 15,000ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft) Distance: 7km ascent/23km descent Hiking Time: 6 – 8 hours ascent 7 – 8 hours descent Vegetation Zone: Stone scree and ice-capped

Descend from Mweka camp to Mweka Gate

After breakfast, we continue to descent down the Mweka Park Gate is lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, at the gate will met by our driver and transferred back to Park View Inn for summit Ceremony and overnight stay. Elevation: 3100m to 1830m or 10,200ft to 6000ft Distance: 15 km Hiking Time: 5 hours Vegetation: Forest

Departure

Transfer to airport for the flight back home

Trip concludes