Tour Title:6 Days Mount Kilimanjaro ClimbingUmbwe Route
Tour Start:Arusha
Tour End:Arusha
Tour Duration: Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Umbwe Route
Accommodations: As Per itenerary
Group Size: Guaranteed Daily Departure
The
Umbwe Route
is the most challenging and strenuous route up Kilimanjaro due
to the steepness of ascent through rainforest and the rapid
altitude gain over the first two days. Both these factors lead
to the Umbwe route having the highest incidence of altitude
mountain sickness and therefore the lowest summit success rate
Day 1: Arusha-First Cave.
Before the climb starts there is an hour's drive to the start of
the trek at 1650 m. This is an opportunity to be introduced to
the assistant guide, the cook and porters, who will do their
best to assist you to get to the summit. From here we walk
thorough farms and montane forest to Umbwe cave camp (2850 m -
1200 m of ascent). Now a National Park, Kilimanjaro's lush
rainforest lower slopes are home to many beautiful birds and
animals and by walking quietly, we have good chances of spotting
black andwhite colobus monkeys as well. Climbing slowly and
steadily, we eventually reach Umbwe cave, where the tents are
pitched amongst the lichen covered trees.
Day 2: rst Cave Barranco Camp
Continue the climb through the forest and then emerge into the
giant heather zone. You then climb through a rocky area to the
camp site near the Barranco hut (3950 m).
Day 3: Barranco Camp Karanga Valley Camp
The trail climbs up the formidable looking Barranco wall - but
like many such trails it looks worse from a distance. Once on
the wall care is needed in a few exposed places and here the
guides will assist. Mostly however it is a good track, although
steep, and you should reach the top of the wall in just over an
hour. The trail then undulates towards the south east before
dropping steeply to the Karanga valley camp site at 4100 m.
Day 4: Karanga Valley Camp Barrafu Camp
An undulating route goes from the Karanga valley to the junction
of the Mweka route. From here there is a final pull up to the
Barafu hut. (Barafu - ice is Swahili) total ascent 600 m. There
is little vegetation here at 4600 m, and the tents are pitched
between rocky outcrops. There are however magnificent views of
the peak and of Mawenzi in the east. Bird life is restricted to
thewhite necked ravens with their echoing croak as they wheel
about scavenging for food.
Day 5: Barrafu Camp Uhuru Peak Mweka Camp.
This is the toughest day of the whole trek - 10 -15 hours
walking at high altitude over steep ground total ascent 1300 m.
We set off from Barafu hut at 1.00am with head torches to climb
the steep scree slope to Stella Point on the crater rim - 5700
m. We should reach the rim just in time to enjoy the incredible
spectacle of sunrise. From Stella Point it is another 1-1 and a
half hours along the rim to Uhuru Peak - 5895 m. Snow may be
encountered on the scree slope and walking poles are useful for
ascent and descent. After the exhilaration of the summit you
descend slowly to your overnight camp for a late breakfast and 2
hour rest in your tent. All too soon the guide will be urging
you to start the long descent to Mweka hut, via the heather
moorland. You reach Mweka hut camping area in late afternoon for
a deserved rest.
Day 6: Mweka Camp - Mweka Gate Moshi or Arusha
Descent to the gate and return to the hotel.
Above price include: 2 nights accommodations in a mid-class hotel (Bed and
Breakfast), before and after the climb. Accommodation in mountain tents/huts. Meals (3 meals a day), All park fees, including mountain rescue fees, and government
taxes. Services of our own trained English-speaking mountain guide, and
a skilled cook, and enough numbers of porters for your luggage, Transport from your hotel to the mountain, and back to your
hotel.
The price does not include: -Item of personal nature. -Tips to guide and porters
Kilimanjaro is the world's highest free standing with its
three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant
volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest
mountain in Africa at 5,895 metres or 19,341 feet above sea
level