Kilimanjaro Budget Climb 6 Days Umbwe Route

Kilimanjaro Budget Climb 6 Days Umbwe Route for US$1570/Person Based on 2-3 Persons Booking

The Umbwe Route is widely regarded as the hardest trail, a tough vertical slog through the jungle, in places using the tree roots as makeshift rungs on a ladder. Having reached the Southern Circular Route, trekkers can continue North-West to tackle Kibo from the West and the difficult Arrow Glacier Route; or you can follow the Southern Circular Route east round to Barafu and approach the summit from there. The entire walk up and down takes a minimum of five days.

Day 1: Drive to Umbwe Park Gate to Umbwe Cave camp
After breakfast, drive from Moshi town to Umbwe Park Gate (4,100ft) for registration process before begin hiking to the first camp which is Umbwe Cave camp.
The first day is through the Montana Forest. Lush vegetation with old trees and lilts of ferns and mosses mark this area that gets reliable rain year round. The forest abounds with wildlife, small bushbucks and duikers as well as monkeys. There is also a rich and varied bird-life. The first 3 hours or so is on a gently rising land before steepening for the last 2 hours. The camp for the night is in a small clearing on the trail.
Umbwe Cave Camp – Elevation 2940m or 9500ft
Distance 8km
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Vegetation zone: Montane forest
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 2: Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp
Shortly after starting the hike the forest gradually gives way to the giant heath. The trail has been following a ridge for some time and as it ascends through the heath land the ridge narrows and sharpens, finally becoming knife-edge with steep drops on each side. As the height of the heath reduces there are stunning views of both Kilimanjaro’s southern flank and across the Mount Meru some of 50 miles away.
Elevation 3860m or 12,800 ft
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking Time: 6-7 hours
Vegetation zone: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 3: Barranco Camp to Karanga
On the Eastern side of the valley, across the stream is the Barranco Wall barrier of volcanic rock. Although it is tall and looks steep, it is very easy to climb. This is our first challenge of the day. The views from the wall are nothing less than magnificent. The rest of the day is spent skirting the base of Kibo Peak over left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up Barafu hut.
Elevation 3860m to 4000m or 12,700ft to 13,300ft
Distance: 7km
Hiking Time: 4 hours
Vegetation: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 4: Karanga Camp to Barafu
From Karanga the tour heads up a moraine ridge taking your time and going slowly. The views here can be spectacular on the Southern glaciers .The final stage to Barafu is quite steep and as always it’s taken very slowly. As with the day before you reach camp by around lunchtime leaving lots of time to prepare and relax. In the evening your guide briefs you for the final ascent.
Elevation 4600m or 15,100ft
Hiking Time: 6 hours
Distance: 7km
Vegetation Zone: Alpine Desert
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5: Barafu to Uhuru Peak then descend to Mweka camp
Begin hiking toward the summit at 11:30 pm and sometimes the guide can propose the time then continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a Northwestern direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point (5685m/18,652ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most important magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Camp sit, stopping at Barafu for lunch. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist, Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain.
Elevation 4600m to 5895m (and down 3100m) or 15,000ft to 19,300ft (and down to 10,200ft)
Distance: 7km
ascent/23km descent
Hiking Time: 6 – 8 hours ascent
7 – 8 hours descent
Vegetation Zone: Stone scree and ice-capped
Accommodation: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Descend from Mweka camp to Mweka Gate
After breakfast, we continue to descent down the Mweka Park Gate is lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, at the gate will met by our driver and transferred back to BnB Hotel in Moshi town for summit Ceremony and overnight stay.
Elevation: 3100m to 1830m or 10,200ft to 6000ft
Distance: 15 km
Hiking Time: 5 hours
Vegetation: Forest
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast at BnB Hotel in Moshi town

What’s included:

• Kilimanjaro International Aport (JRO) Transfers, 2-Way

• All park entrance, camping and rescue fees

• All meals, boiled and filtered drinking water while on the mountain.

• Warm water for washing to be provided every morning and evening.

• Oxygen Cylinder – only for emergency

• English Speaking Guides (Wilderness First Responder certified), cook and porters

• Staff salaries and fees

• Transport to/from national park gates

• First aid kit and pulse oximeter

• Emergency telephone between the guides and our office in Moshi town

• 3 delicious meals daily on the mountain

• 3 litres of bottled drinking water to be provided on the first day your hike, on the mountain porters will fetch water from the streams to be boiled and filtered for you

• 2 nights lodging at BnB Hotel in Moshi town

What’s excluded:

• Prices do not include sleeping bags

• Gratuities

• Soda/alcohol unless otherwise noted

• Health insurance

• Visa fees

• International airfare

• Laundry

• Meals not noted on the itinerary