Enjoy the Adventure
Daring experienced climbers seeking adventure and challenge will find just what they want on Umbwe. A short steep climb traversing all the climate zones - from tropical rainforest to eternal ice - will put your strength and endurance to the test. Like no other route on Kilimanjaro Umbwe gives a sense of achievement to those who reach the summit.
Your first day on the mountain will start from Umbwe Gate and continue with a lengthy trek to the first camp on your way - Umbwe camp. Despite the challenge that Umbwe poses to hikers, well thought-out location of camps will contribute to proper acclimatization.
Included / Excluded
To help you plan your trip, we have put together a list of what's included and what's not included in your tour package. This will give you a clear understanding of what to expect and help you make any necessary arrangements before your journey begins.
- Park fees (For non-residents)
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
- plugs to charge mobile, and camera
- Accommodation as per itineraly
- A professional driver/guide
- Soft drink. Refreshments during safari in Safari vehicle
- All Taxes/VAT
- Transfers between destinations
- Unlimited drinking water
- International flights (From/to home)
- Tips (Tipping guideline US$10.00 pp per day)
- Personal items (Souvenirs, travel insurance, Visa entry fees upon arrival at the airport, etc.
- Government-imposed increase of taxes and/or park fees
- Medical/luggage Insurance.
Mount Kilimanjro
The trek through the Umbwe trail is available only as a 6-day program. Recommended only to experienced hikers in good physical shape, as the Umbwe route difficulty is quite high for inexperienced trekkers.
Itinerary
The trek through the Umbwe trail is available only as a 6-day program. Recommended only to experienced hikers in good physical shape, as the Umbwe route difficulty is quite high for inexperienced trekkers. Arrive in Tanzania Meal: Breakfast and dinner included Pickup at Kilimanjaro international airport and transfer to your hotel, thereafter our experienced guide will come to brief you about the trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. Then you will spend overnight in your hotel.
Distance covered:Â 7 km
Approximate time taken:Â 3-4 hours
Habitat:Â Rainforest
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
You will enjoy an enticing breakfast at the hotel before proceeding from Moshi to Londorossi Gate (1,800m). The three-hour drive travels on an unpaved stretch of bumpy road through the town of Boma N’gombe and the Sanya Juu village offers motorists an intimate encounter with the natives. After completing the necessary park registration, you will be transported to the initial point of your trek at 2,350m. The glory of the forest is revealed in the illuminating radiance of the sun. Almond-brown trees stand serenely, brimming with a tender glow. Gems of amber encrust the bark exterior. Green canopies deliver shelter for the exotic blue monkeys. The short trek through the rainforest leads to the Mti Mkubwa Camp (2750m).
Distance covered:Â 17 km
Approximate time taken:Â 8-10 hours
Habitat:Â Heath and Moorland
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
Today is a long day because we will skip Shira I Camp and go directly to Shira II Camp. Around 7:00 am you will start to hike from Mti Mkubwa to the second camp through heath and Moorland zone, following the Shira ridge we enter vast high-altitude desert plateau where we get the first clear view of Mount Kilimanjaro. Overnight at Shira II Camp (3900 m).
Distance covered:Â 10 km
Approximate time taken:Â 6 hours
Habitat:Â Alpine desert
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The Lemosho Route connects with the Machame Route before approaching the molten Lava Tower. The gentle incline leading to the Barranco Camp is encompassed in beautiful scenery and encrusted in vivid desert shrubberies (6-7-hour hike). Shark’s Tooth is an enormous, serrated rock that a volcano discharged thousands of years ago; it is also an indication that we must travel south and cross the light valleys to the immense Lava Tower (4,600m).
Specks of snow will gradually scatter themselves on the scenery, and as we descend to Barranco Camp, the frosted landscapes of the Western Breach will begin to sprout. The ashen Barranco Wall is engraved with extraordinary indents, and olive foliage is strewn across the ‘Breakfast Wall.’
Distance covered:Â 6 km
Approximate time taken:Â 4 hours
Habitat:Â Alpine desert
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The day commences with a simple trek up the astonishing Barranco (200m high). For a short period, you will need to use your hands and feet to scramble up the wall and upon reaching the surface you will have an opportunity to marvel at the scenic splendour of the vistas of Kibo. The trail traverses up and down with various shallow streams leading to the flickering, glittery streams of the Karanga River. An appetising lunch will be served at the Karanga campsite (3,930m). The short trekking will assist your acclimatisation.
Distance covered:Â 4 km
Approximate time taken:Â 3 hours
Habitat:Â Alpine desert
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
The rocky zone provides an uphill path that features landscapes battered in the crystal glow of the Southern Glaciers. Intersecting with the Mweka route allows us to witness the splendid vistas. A sixty-minute climb up a steep, rock-strewn Lava Ridge is your ticket to the Barafu Camp (4,681m).
Reaching the camp signifies that you have dominated the Southern Circuit of the mountain, and the enchanting, sky-piercing view of the summit is submerged in an ocean of clouds. The terrain at the campsite resembles an unfinished painting. The landscape is blanketed in a thin layer of snow with sparse vegetation.
A substantial, warm meal will be served, and we suggest that you jump into your sleeping bag as soon as possible. We will embark on our journey to the summit at midnight.
Distance covered:Â 20 km
Approximate time taken:Â 14 hours
Habitat:Â Glacier/Moorland/Rainforest
Meal:Â Breakfast, lunch and dinner included
You will be awoken at 11:00 pm, and we will provide you with a light snack and a steaming cup of tea before you begin your 5km trek to the summit. This is an extended hike that lasts approximately 16 hours, making this the most challenging day on the 8-day Kilimanjaro Lemosho Route. Temperatures typically range between -5°C and -10°C.
The gradually increasing incline of the valley, located near the eerily tranquil scree fields, traverses among the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers—the view is so astounding that the freezing temperatures will be forgotten. At Stella’s Point (5,672m), brilliant gold and orange hues bleed like fire over the rocks. The first slither of the sun peeks over the skyline in a radiant, white form, and the snow turns liquid gold and silver.
After sixty minutes, you will reach the highest point in Africa, Uhuru Peak (5,895m). You will have an opportunity to take some photos and marvel at the surrounding scenery, glinting ice cliffs, and the jagged Mawenzi Peak. Our descent requires us to turn around and embark on the trail to Barafu Camp, where we will have a brief resting period.
The spectacular, vast plains of Kilimanjaro are so enchanting that the 9km route to Mweka Camp (3,100m) feels rapid. The route is moderate and lasts four to five hours. As you venture on the declining rocky scree trail, the scenery will start to sprout, and the ice will melt away.
The barren landscapes of the moorland will be the first milestone; dense vegetation and exotic wildlife will begin to radiate as we approach the forest habitat. We will proceed to the campsite, where you can scoff down a scrumptious, piping-hot dinner while seizing the last opportunity to observe the Milky Way.