Umbwe Route Overview
Umbwe is a short route, providing challenges as it is very difficult to climb due to its steepness. Due to the fast ascension, this route does not provide enough time for altitude acclimatization, so proceeding slowly is vital. Although the traffic on this route is very low, the chances of success are not as great unless an acclimatization day is added. The route is offered at a minimum of six days, and seven days is preferred. This route merges along the way with Machame route, Lemosho route and Shira route. Western Breach Approach An alternative route to the summit approaches Uhuru Peak from the west, called the Western Breach Route. The strenuous Western Breach ascends 850 m in about 1.25 miles (2 km) and requires some scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) at certain points. This path is very beautiful but also very challenging due to its rocks formations and its steep slope. The Western Breach was gaining popularity by climbers using the Umbwe, Lemosho, Shira and Machame routes until a rock fall claimed the lives of three climbers in January 2006. In response, Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) closed the Western Breach Route, but in 2007, KINAPA open it again with the condition that all clients and their supporting members who want to use this option must sign at the entrance gate that they are doing so at their own risk.
Umbwe Route 6 Day Itinerary
Elevation: 1,000 m to 1,200 m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45 Minutes
Habitat: Town
Eco Trail Expedition staff will meet and pick you up from JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight B/B.
Elevation: 1200m to 1700m to 2850m.
Distance: 10 km.
Hiking time: 4-5 hours.
Habitat: Montane forest.
Pick up with our vehicle from the hotel, drive to Umbwe gate. Here, after completing the gate registration procedures, the trek starts through the rainforest to the Umbwe Cave campsite, where you will find all tents already setup then stop for dinner and overnight. Today you will walk across ridges and valleys into a really thick forest.
Elevation: 2850m to 3950m
Distance: 9 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane forest and heather
This day after breakfast, you will trek through the remaining forest to the moorland and heath zone, and you will be enjoying some wonderful views of the Barranco valleys and ice cap on top of the mountain. Then you will arrive at Barranco Camp for dinner and overnight.
Elevation: 3950m to 3900m
Distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Today you will be having a short day walk, and in the late morning you will start climbing the Barranco wall and reach 4200 m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to the Karanga campsite for hot lunch. After lunch you will have a short rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the screed slopes towards the southern ice field, then you will return to the camp for dinner and overnight.
Elevation: 3900m to 4620m
Distance: 5 km.
Hiking time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Today’s trek up to the Barafu Ridge campsite is tough because of the altitude. The walking hours are few because it is steep, so it needs to be slowly walked to avoid fatigue as well as high altitude sickness. You will walk across alpine desert with strong cold wind blowing because there are no trees around, as well as getting closer to the Kibo glaciers. You will have lunch and an early dinner of around 1700hrs, then rest until midnight when you commence your push for the summit.
Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m
Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours
Habitat: Desert and ice
The day starts around midnight with a light breakfast, and then last preparations for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12:00am, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861m between 4 and 5am. At this point, you will have views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you and all the spectacular areas surrounding you. Then, after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows, it takes you to Kilimanjaro’s true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here you will spend some time taking photos. After your summit activities are done, descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, have lunch, rest, collect your equipment, and continue your walk down through the moorland and heath zone to the Mweka Huts campsite, then dinner and overnight at the Mweka Huts campsite.
Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km
Descending time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain, so you will descend down to Mweka Park Gate, walking across Montane Forest. This descent will take 3-4 hours. Then here at the gate, you will do sign out and get ready to board the vehicle, ready for the transfer back to the hotel in Moshi for certificate presentation and a well deserved celebration
Elevation: 1,200m to 1,000m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45 Minutes
Habitat: Town
Eco Trail Expedition Adventures staff will meet and pick you up from Moshi and transfer you back to JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) or to Safari or Zanzibar if you have an extension. Because we do organize safari too, please request this service.
Include
- Accommodation (two nights) at hotel in Moshi.
- 6 Days park Entrance fees
- 5 night camping fees
- 6 Days rescue fees
- Forest fees.
- Crater camp extra payments.
- Food 3 meals everyday on the mountain.
- Camping equipment such as tents, tables, chairs etc.
- Salaries to all porters, Cook, Assistant Guide and Chief guide
- Transfer to Lemosho gate and return to Moshi after the climb.
- Transfer from JRO to Hotel and return
- Small company first aid kit.
- Oxygen tank supply
- Oxymeter.
Exclude
- Tip for the supporting crew.
- Personal things.
- Food and drinks at your hotel.
- Any flight.
Essential Personal Equipment Checklist for Climbing.
- One sleeping bag
- One sleeping Mat
- One pair of climbing poles/sticks
- One large Duffle bag with straps / rucksack
- One head lamp / Flashlight + Batteries
- Water bottle - 2 liters x 2 bottle or camel bag bottle
- Camera / sufficient memory/film
- Purification water Tablets / Water Pump
- One pair sunglasses
- One pair of climbing hiking boots
- One pair of tennis Shoes - to begin climb/side walks
- Socks - thin and thick pairs
- One warm trousers
- Woolen Trousers and jacket with zippers
- Water proof / wind trousers & jackets
- Warm Sweater for cold nights
- Inner slacks - long Johns & Top
- Long / short sleeve T-shirt with zippers
- Pajamas and hand towel
- Shade Sun hat or cap
- Balaclava
- Gaiters
- Mitten / Gloves - poly thermal
If it happens you do not have any among from those which have mentioned, we will help
you on getting them from the hiring stores here in Moshi with reasonable price and not
Mzungu price.