Others

Arrival and departure transfers. Park entry fees. Camping fees. Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees. Four-season mountain tents with double-layered sleeping mats. Cook and porters throughout tour. Portable oxygen tanks, ox meter and emergency first-aid kit. All camping equipment (except sleeping bag).

Accommodation

2 Nights Hotel Accommodation in Moshi Before & After Trek 5 nights in twin-share tents at campsites.

Meals

3 meals per day while on the mountain and on safari. Treated and filtered drinking water throughout tour. Daily hot water for washing.

Guide

Our guides are friendly and professional for the mountain and safari with wilderness first aid certificates along with many years of experience.

Transport

Arrival and departure transfer.

Not included:

Others

Toilet tent (during the trek) - $70. Sleeping bag - These are available for rent for $15. Pre and post-tour accommodation. Tipping. Other meals, snacks and drinks. Single supplement (Optional) - This can be purchased on the ‘Book Now’ page.

Insurance

Insurance is not included. Travel insurance is required for this tour. Please make sure you are adequately covered. If you require travel insurance, TourRadar has partnered up with World Nomads to provide a hassle-free experience. More information can be found here (http://www.tourradar.com/travel-insurance).

Flights

As we have travellers from all over the world, flights before and after the tour are not included in the tour price and you need to arrange these separately by yourself once your tour is guaranteed. As we specialise in organising the best tours around the world for you, we are unable to advise on flight prices or book flights on your behalf. We recommend that you do not book your flights until your place on the tour has been confirmed. Check out the following link which is powered by Skyscanner to book your flight - https://flights.tourradar.com

Optional

Optional experiences are available on this tour for an additional cost and will be provided to you with your finalised travel documents.

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Day 1 Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1614M) – Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1614M) – Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M)

Hiking time: 6 Hours

Distance: Approximately 10.3 km

Habitat: Forest (Montane)

After breakfast you will be driven to the Machame gate where registration formalities will be completed. From the Machame gate you will be transferred to the Umbwe Gate (1641m), passing through villages with coffee and banana plantations. The air is thick with moisture and the path is usually muddy. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers, with huge trees surrounding you. The path offers some spectacular views of deep gorges and if you are lucky, glimpses of Kilimanjaro towering above you in the distance. The camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the Umbwe Cave Camp (2 850m).
Day 2 Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M) – Barranco Camp (3985M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M) – Barranco Camp (3985M)

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 6.3 km

Habitat: Moorland

Shortly after leaving the camp the forest starts thinning and is replaced by rockier terrain, sparser undergrowth and straggly, moss-covered trees. The path continues along a narrow, but spectacular ridge. As you gain higher altitude, catch glimpses of Kilimanjaro rising majestically ahead of you – etched against the blue sky. The path flattens as you approach Barranco Valley.

From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco camp. The camp is situated in the valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while your dinner is being prepared.
Day 3 Day 3: Barranco Camp (3985M) – Karanga Camp (4040M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Barranco Camp (3985M) – Karanga Camp (4040M)

Hiking time: 6 hours

Distance: Approximately 6 km

Habitat: Moorland / Semi desert

After spending a night at the great Barranco Wall (a very imposing sight at first), you make your way up this awesome looking obstacle, which in the end normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. The route then heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. This is the preferred route down from the summit, so remember it. The last water stop on the route is the Karanga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Enjoy dinner and overnight at the Karanga camp
Day 4 Day 4: Karanga Camp (4040M) – Barafu Camp (4681M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Karanga Camp (4040M) – Barafu Camp (4681M)

Hiking time: 4 hours

Distance: Approximately 3.4km

Habitat: Alpine desert

Breakfast at Karanga camp and after breakfast turn left up the ridge and the route ascends 640m towards Barafu Camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night.

Totally exposed to the ever-present gales, the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge.

Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents.

The summit is now a further 1214m higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Prepare your equipment, hiking poles and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed as early as possible and try to get some precious rest and sleep.
Day 5 Day 5: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4681M)-Uhuru Peak (5895M)-Mweka (3090M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4681M)-Uhuru Peak (5895M)-Mweka (3090M)

Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Camp

Distance: Approximately 4.5 km ascent and 10.8 km descent

Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night.

You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim.

For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging on the route.

At Stella Point (5739m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting).

From Stella Point you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak.

The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions.

Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to get going again due to cold and fatigue.

Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life!

The walk back to Barafu from the summit, takes about 3 hours.

Here you will have a well earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear,

before heading down to Mweka hut (3090m).

The route is not difficult and will take you down the rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest.

The camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.

Dinner and washing water will be prepared.
Day 6 Day 6: Mweka Camp (3090M) – Mweka Gate (1641M)
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3090M) – Mweka Gate (1641M)

Hiking time: 4 to 6 hours

Habitat: Forest

Distance: Approximately 8.5 km

After an early and well-deserved breakfast, it is a short 4 to 6 hour and scenic hike back to the Park gate. Some hikers do experience knee problems which could make the descend longer than planned.

It is strongly recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely. Visit the tips page for more info.

At Mweka gate you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5739m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.

From the Mweka Gate you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy 3 km (1 hour) hike. In the Mweka village you will be served a delicious hot lunch!! After lunch you drive back to Moshi for a long overdue hot shower, dinner and celebrations!!

6 days tour

Umbwe Route - 6 Days

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Umbwe Route - 6 Days

Day 1: Umbwe Gate (1614M) – Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M)

Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp (2850M) – Barranco Camp (3985M)

Day 3: Barranco Camp (3985M) – Karanga Camp (4040M)

Day 4: Karanga Camp (4040M) – Barafu Camp (4681M)

Day 5: Summit Attempt, Barafu Camp (4681M)-Uhuru Peak (5895M)-Mweka (3090M)

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3090M) – Mweka Gate (1641M)

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