WHY THIS ITINERARY?
Generally, we recommend the Umbwe Route 7 Days version of this route as it affords more time to acclimatize. This route is for very fit people who want a challenge ONLY. The advantage of this route over the Umbwe 6 Day or Rongai 6 Day Routes is crossing the Shira Plateau and still seeing a large portion of the national park. Also, it is easier to access and so actually a better value trip as well.
DESCRIPTION
This is a 6 day Kilimanjaro hike starting at Machame Gate, ascending through Afromontane forest and then into the heath zone and onto the edge of the remnants of the Shira volcano. The route then circumnavigates the main peak, Kibo, anticlockwise passing some spectacular features such as giant steps and glacial valleys. The key difference between the 7 and 6-day versions of this route is that the 6-day hike misses a night camping at Karanga Camp. This means the hiking section from Barranco to Base Camp is long and the time to rest before your summit bid is short. This means if you do not acclimatize well or are unfit, this is very tough. The final ascent is from the Barafu camp. It is a nighttime ascent to Uhuru Peak via Stella Point. The descent is via the Mweka route.
HIGHLIGHTS
Kilimanjaro: Afromontane forest, Shira plateau, glacial valleys and alpine desert, views of Mawenzi, the ascent of Kibo, and possible views of Kibo caldera and ash pit. Glaciers and the roof of Africa!
ITINERARY IN BRIEF
Hike Distance – 45 miles / 72 km
Vertical Gain – 15,440ft / 4706m
Drop – 16,950ft / 5166m
Trekking Time – 53 hours
IN DETAIL
DAY 1 – LEMOSHO FOREST
START – 6,890FT / 2100M
END – 8,695FT / 2650M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today’s hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.
DAY 2 – SHIRA 1
START – 8,695FT / 2650M
END – 11,844FT / 3610M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira 1 Camp and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising to the new environment.
DAY 3 – MOIR CAMP
START – 11,844FT / 3610M
END – 13,780FT / 4200M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Crossing the Shira plateau can be one of the most scenic parts of the trip and this morning we hike for around 4-5 hours to Moir Camp, where lunch is taken. The afternoon is spent acclimatising and for those with the energy a hike in the late afternoon up to a viewpoint is highly recommended to keep the blood flowing.
DAY 4 – BARRANCO CAMP
START – 13,780FT / 4200M
END – 12,796FT / 3900M
DISTANCE – 7 MILES / 11KM
TIME – 7-9 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
From Moir we traverse across the slopes of Kibo. Here relatively little flora or fauna can survive the extreme temperature ranges and conditions that typify this zone. Today is a “walk high sleep low” day. You ascend into alpine desert to Lava Tower (Alt: 15,092ft, 4600m) where lunch is taken before descending to Barranco Camp. This is a long day but note that the next time you head to this altitude is in two days time at base camp – a great acclimatisation day!
DAY 5 – KARANGA CAMP
START – 12,796FT / 3900M
END – 13,108FT / 3995M
DISTANCE – 3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
From Barranco Camp, famous for its giant groundsels (Senecio species), you ascend the Barranco Wall and hike glacial valleys to Karanga Camp. Today is a relatively short day’s hike and lunch is taken at Karanga camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising. In the evening a practice walk for the summit is taken to make sure you are completely comfortable with the kit you are going to summit in.
DAY 6 – BARAFU CAMP
START – 13,108 / 3,995M
END – 15,332FT / 4673M
DISTANCE – 2.5 MILES / 4KM
TIME – 4-5 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ALPINE DESERT
Today is another half day ascending to Barafu Camp. Once again lunch is taken in camp allowing plenty of time to relax before the summit bid. Desolate alpine desert and, at times, strong winds rip over this camp; yet in the evening splendid views of Mawenzi are the norm. A relatively early dinner is taken before heading to rest for the rest of the evening.
DAY 7 – KIBO CRATER CAMP
START – 15,332FT / 4673M
END – 18,865FT / 5750M
DISTANCE – 3.3 MILES / 5KM
TIME – 7-9 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – ARCTIC
Unlike other routes with a night time ascent, your hike selection affords you a day time ascent to Kibo Crater. The going is slow but with constant encouragement from your climb team the rim of Kibo is reached before descending a little way into the caldera to Crater Camp. The afternoon is spent relaxing and exploring the area with your guide.
DAY 8 – MWEKA CAMP
START – 18,865FT / 5750M
END – 10,171FT / 3100M
DISTANCE – 8 MILES / 13KM
TIME – 8-10 HRS
CLIMATE ZONES – ARCTIC, ALPINE DESERT, HEATH
After a night in the crater you now have the shortest final summit bid of any route. With such a short distance to the summit from the crater (around 1 hour) means that timing arrival with the sunrise is much easier and quite spectacular. The summit of Kilimanjaro is the top of the highest freestanding mountain in the world. After your summit bid you then descend for a final night on the mountain at Mweka Camp passing back through the heath zone. Endemic proteas, pollinated by Malachite Sunbirds are plentiful.
DAY 9 – ARUSHA
START – 10,171FT / 3100M
END – 5,381FT / 1640M
DISTANCE – 6 MILES / 10KM
TIME – 3-4 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you descend once again through afromontane forest and around midday, after lunch, diplomats collection and saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Golden Peaks Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
END OF YOUR Umbwe Route 7 Days
7 Days Umbwe route Includes:
- Park fees, (entry fee camping/hut fees & rescue fees crew fees)
- 18% VAT on tour fees & services
- Three health and fresh meals
- Professional and experienced mountain Guide
- Professional and experienced cooks.
- Transportation to & from the airport
- Transportation to & from the mountain gates
- Enough number of porters for your luggage, food, water, and camping equipment.
- Food, shelters, and fair wages for the porters, cooks, and guides
- Camping gears (sleeping tents, dining tents, tables, chairs, and cooking gear)
- Radio and cell phone communication that help us to stay in contact within and outside the group therefore we can respond almost instantaneously to whatever issue that may arise
- We provide our guides with professional first aids kits and pulse oximeters for daily updates of acclimatization progress
- Assistance with climbing permit procedure
- Tracking of the expedition is available online in our Instagram, WhatsUp, and Facebook accounts
7 Days Umbwe route Excludes:
- Personal porters
- All international and domestic flights
- Tourist Visas
- Medical and Travel insurance
- Tips to mountain crew
- Mountain trekking gears e.g. walking poles (available for hire upon request)
- Sleeping Bag (available for hire upon request)
- A portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is extra (US$200 per toilet + toilet tent)
- Others; Extra expenses as food or drinks separate from those described in the itinerary, satellite phone calls, transference fees, and other services not specified as included.
- Any other alterations to our itineraries
- Emergency Oxygen