Umbwe route itinerary for 7 days Kilimanjaro climbing adventure
Follow this detailed Umbwe Route itinerary for a 7-day Kilimanjaro climb tour and experience the thrill of scaling Africa's highest peak.
Day 1: Moshi to Umbwe gate then hike to Umbwe cave campsite
The first day of your Adventure will begin in Moshi town having your breakfast from your lodging place and then you will meet your Mountain guide/guides and the driver who will pick you up from your Hotel and take a drive to Umbwe gate.
Reaching the gate, the porters will take the luggage and do the Kilogram check at the gate and they will start the climb leaving you behind with your guide. After the gate and park formalities it’s when you will start the hike with your guide, always follow the instructions from your guide.
The climb will be 4 to 5hrs which is a distance of 10 Kilometers walking through the ridge and valleys to the thick montane forest reaching the Umbwe cave campsite where you will overnight.
Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 10km distance
Elevation: 5,249 ft to 9,514 ft
Day 2: Umbwe cave camp to Baranco camp
It is the second day of your hike looking forward to reaching the highest point in Africa, the Uhuru peak of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. You will be hiking through the Moorland forest enjoying the view of the Baranco valleys and the snowcap of the mountain.
It will be a hike of 4 to 5 hours and a distance of 6 Kilometers reaching the Baranco camp for your camping and resting to collect some energy for the next day's hike.
Time and distance: 4 to 5 hrs which is 6km distance
Elevation: 9,514 ft to 13,044 ft.
Day 3: Acclimatization at the Baranco camp
Other than the 6-day climb, during the 7 days of Kilimanjaro climbing via the Umbwe route you will have an acclimatization day this is to help you have an adaptation to the altitude changes as you head up to higher altitude and this is to increase the chances for your success summit.
It will be a lazy day spent at the Baranco camp, moving here and there taking some photos just to adapt to the altitude changes. This is why the active climbers who do not get the altitude effects opt for the 6-day climb skipping this lazy day on your adventure.
Day 4: Baranco camp to Karanga camp
This is the adventurous day when climbing the Kilimanjaro via Machame route where you will be facing the climb of the Baranco wall. Considering the distance, it is a short climb because it is just a distance of 4 Kilometers
Considering the climbing challenges it will take 4 to 5 hours to climb through the Baranco wall and the alpine desert valleys where you will be enjoying the view of the Kibo peak which will be closer, to the southern glaciers, and the western bridge.
Reaching the Karanga camp you will have your rest collecting some energy for your next day's venture.
Time and distance: hiking of 4 to 5hrs a distance of 4km
Elevation: 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Day 5: Karanga camp to Barafu camp
The hike will begin after your breakfast; you will be hiking through the alpine desert enjoying the stunning view of the two Kilimanjaro cones of Kibo and Mawenzi. It will be a 4 to 5hrs hike a distance of 4 Kilometers.
You will be walking hitting the junction that connects with the Mweka trail and head up to the Barafu camp where you will complete the southern circuit of the Kilimanjaro Mountain. Here you will do the camping with an early sleep and meals ready for the next day's complete adventure which starts at midnight.
Time and distance: hiking of 4 to 5hrs a distance of 4km
Elevation: 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Day 6: Summit Day then descend to Mweka camp
This is the lifetime memory day of reaching the highest point of Africa, “the roof of Africa” of Kilimanjaro Mountain. The day will begin at midnight when you will be leaving your tents and the porters as you will be accompanied by the guides and summit porter heading to the summit point.
Heading up there, is a physically and mentally challenging hike with extreme cold and elevation. As you will start the hike at nearly midnight, you will have a dark hike as you will need your head-lump than ever, you will hike up to Gilman’s Point where you will be amazed at a stunning sunrise from the Mawenzi cone, and then you will have a short walk and finally you are there
“CONGRATULATIONS YOU HAVE REACHED THE HIGHEST PEAK IN AFRICA, THE UHURU PEAK OK Kilimanjaro MOUNTAIN” Due to the weather you will not last long here you will take some photos at the signpost of the Uhuru Point and starts your descend through the Mweka route
You will have a stop at the Barafu camp for your Lunch and trek down up to the Mweka camp for your overnight stay and dinner. On descending it is a very rocky trail and can be quite hard on the knees, trekking poles are helpful.
Time and distance: hiking of 6 to 8hrs ascending and 5 to 6hrs descending a distance of 5km up and 13km down respectively.
Elevation: 15,600ft to 19,341ft up and 19,341ft to 10,065 down
Day 7: Mweka camp to Mweka gate, then back to Moshi
Finally you will be on the last day of your lifetime memory adventure, you will have your breakfast at your camp and start your trek down up to Mweka gate, and you will be walking through a wet and muddy forestry trail that requires your walking poles.
At the gate you will meet our driver waiting for you where you will be picked up and drive back to Moshi town for your next schedule.
Time and distance: hiking of 3 to 4hrs a distance of 10km
Elevation: 10,150ft to 5500ft