The Umbwe Route is one of the shortest and steepest routes to the Roof of Africa, but it is non-technical, and suitable for experienced trekkers who appreciate the challenge of a more taxing route. This fantastic itinerary includes 6-nights on the mountain, with an extra night for acclimatization at the critical elevation level of 12,800 feet.

 

As with all our Kilimanjaro climbs, our Umbwe Route tour is fully escorted by registered KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project) approved Tanzanian-climbing crew, so you can be confident your trip is safe, secure, and supportive of the local community.

 

This fully inclusive Kilimanjaro climb includes guest tents with mats, a mess tent with tables, chairs, cutlery and crockery, a toilet tent, fully qualified mountain guide(s), assistant guide, cook(s), and an entire team of porters that will carry everything from your rucksack and tent to the food & water supplies for the entire trip. All national park entry fees, portage of 2 bags (max 15 kilos), mountain rescue fees / flying doctors medical evacuation, and safety equipment such as a hyperbaric chamber and oxygen bottles come as standard. 

 

Private tours are available for groups of two adults and more; single private tours are available at a supplement. We guarantee departure on any day of the year, and flight inclusive packages are available from any international airport.

 

Detailed Itinerary

 

Day 1: Moshi

Upon arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi.  After a few hours to rest, you will have an afternoon briefing with your Mountain Guide to discuss the following day’s departure time and itinerary. The rest of the day is at leisure to prepare your luggage and shop for any last-minute items.

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel 

 

Day 2: Moshi – Mount Kilimanjaro – Umbwe Cave Camp

After breakfast, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the Umbwe Gate entrance to Kilimanjaro National Park (5,440 ft). After registration and handing your luggage over to the crew, you will set off on the most beautiful and unspoilt forest route on Kilimanjaro to Umbwe Cave Camp.

Altitude: 6,760ft

Trekking Time: 5-6 Hours

Overnight: Umbwe Camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 3: Umbwe Cave Camp – Barranco Camp

After a hot cooked breakfast in the mess tent, you will begin your climb alongside steep forest gorges towards the timberline of Kilimanjaro. Lunch will be served on route, before reaching

Barranco Camp at the base of Kibo’s spectacular breach wall.

Altitude: 12,800ft

Trekking Time: 5-6 Hours

Overnight: Barranco Camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 4: Barranco Camp – Arrow Glacier – Barranco Camp

Today is an important day for acclimatisation, and after breakfast, you will set out on a conditioning hike to the Lava Tower at 15,000ft with just a daypack. Weather and time permitting, you will continue to the Arrow Glacier or the Natural Bridge feature called “The Window”, before returning to Barranco Camp for a second night.

Altitude: 12,800ft

Trekking Time: 5-6 Hours

Overnight: Barranco Camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 5: Barranco Camp – Karanga Camp

After breakfast today, you will hike up and over the Great Barranco Wall to Karanga Camp at 13,100 ft. The massive Heim Glacier beneath Karanga Camp allows for more acclimatization and puts you in perfect position for your ascent to the highest reaches of Kibo.

Altitude 13,100ft

Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours

Overnight: Karanga Camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 6: Karanga Camp – Kosovo Camp

Today you will climb through the morning to a lunch stop at the busy Barafu Camp. After lunch you will continue upward another 800 vertical feet to the clean, open expanse of Kosovo. After an early supper in the mess tent, the team will settle down for 8 hours of rest before beginning the summit attempt.

Altitude: 13,900ft (4235m)

Trekking Time: 3-4 Hours

Overnight at Kosovo special use camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 7: Kosovo Camp – Summit – Mweka Camp 

Today is the day you have been dreaming about! After your midnight departure from Kosovo and 6-7 hours hiking you will reach the welcoming green sign of Stella Point. As the sun starts to rise, you will be exposed to the sheer beauty of Mount Kilimanjaro, and despite being exhausted and cold, you have just another 40 minutes to go along a relatively flat path to reach you final destination – Uhuru Peak.

What goes up must come down, and after taking those cherished photos from the Roof of Africa, you will begin your descent back to Kosovo Camp for a well-deserved warm lunch. Your guide will then decide whether you trek down to Millennium or Mweka Camp for your final evening on the mountain.

Altitude: 16,000ft (4876m) - 19,339ft (5894m)

Vertical Gain: 3,339ft (1018m)

Trekking Time: 10-13 Hours

Overnight Camping Millennium or Mweka Camp 

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

 

Day 8: Mweka Camp - Moshi

After your final breakfast on Mount Kilimanjaro, you will continue your descent through the forest to the park gate, where your Land Cruisers will be waiting to take you back to Moshi.

After a festive and relaxing celebration with your mountain staff at the gate, you will return to the hotel in Moshi for hot showers and comfortable beds with clean sheets (the best night’s sleep you have ever had!)

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

  

Day 9: Departure

At the agreed time, your driver will collect you from the hotel for your return transfer to the airport for your international flight.  Those extending their stay with a Serengeti or Ngorongoro Crater Safar, Zanzibar Beach Break of Gorilla Trekking in Rwanda will be transferred accordingly.

 

Prices from: £1995.00 per person

Please complete the contact form to receive a no-obligation tailor-made quote for this spectacular expedition.

 

Do you know?

 

• The Equatours Team have climbed Kilimanjaro several times to ensure we can offer our guests the very best in terms of service and support in the lead up to, and during, their expedition.  Our Kilimanjaro climbs are recommended in Henry Stedman’s Kilimanjaro Guidebook for offering good value.

 

• We are proud members of KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project), and every member of our Mountain Crew receives a fair wage, plenty of food, and adequate clothing for each expedition. This is one of the things that makes us stand out against budget operators. You can read more about it here in our newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bCXomn

 

• All our climbs include Flying Doctors Medical Evacuation and our Mountain Guides carry safety equipment such as hyperbaric chamber / oxygen bottle.

 

• To date, all of our routes have a success rate of over 95%.

 

• For groups of 20 and more, at least one member of the Equatours Team will personally escort you on the mountain (along with our Tanzanian mountain crew).  We will be onsite when you arrive in Tanzania to make sure everything runs smoothly, and we will be with you every step of the way on the Mountain to make sure you get the most out of your expedition. Approximately 12 weeks prior to your departure, we can, upon request, come to a location of your choice to provide a Q&A evening.

 

• We will provide you with packing guides and training recommendations, based on our own experiences on the mountain.