7 Days Umbwe Route

Main Info

What are the advantages of the Umbwe Route?

As far as rewards go, while your calves and thighs will curse the day God paired them with somebody who would want to undertake such a climb, your heart and lungs will be thankful for the workout. Your eyes, too, will be grateful you chose Umbwe as they feast upon the scenery, particularly on the second morning as you leave the forest and find yourself walking on a narrow ridge between spindly heathers. The gobsmacking views on either side of the trail here are amongst the most dramatic the mountain has to offer, save for those on the summit itself. Your ears, too, will be glad that they’re stuck to the side of your head rather than anyone else’s for they’ll enjoy the break, this being the quietest trail of them all – at least until the second day when you find yourself joining the hordes at Barranco Camp, the busiest on the mountain.

Prices	Price for 1+3 pax US$ 2,295 per single occupancy all-inclusive in groups Price 4+8 Pax US$ 1,799 per single occupancy all-inclusive in groups
Why we’re different	Focus: Unlike most of our competitors, we focus exclusively on providing affordable tour packages and group tours to foreign, largely exotic destinations. In the travel business, it is particularly easy to get distracted by new trends and themes, but we have chosen to focus on what we do best. We are extremely deliberate in introducing new tours because we have set a standard that our loyal customers have come to rely on, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding your expectations. Phenomenal Tour Guides: If you ask anyone who has been on an escorted tour, they will tell you that the tour guides are an essential ingredient to making the trip a success. The importance of tour guides is not lost on us at Trust Tours And Safaris Company Limited, which is why we are relentless in our pursuit and retention of the very best tour guides. We are proud to say with confidence that our tour guides are phenomenal, and many of them have become celebrity-like figures within the Trust Tours And Safaris Company Limited community.
Included	Transfers .Pick-up and drop-off at Kilimanjaro International Airport; .Transfer to the trailhead -entry gate to Kilimanjaro National Park; .Pick-up at the exit from Kilimanjaro National Park and transfer to the hotel; Entry fees .All park fees collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park (conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, vehicle fee, rescue fee and all other fees collected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority). Accommodation .One night at 4* hotel ( SG Premier Resort or The Arusha Hotel) before the expedition and one night after; The hotels have everything for your comfortable stay – caring staff, nice rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool); .Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro. Please note: All accommodation is on sharing basis (i.e. you will be sharing with your travel companion a twin/double room in the hotel and a tent during the hike. If you travel alone, we will match you with a same-sex adventurer). Meals Plan .Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike; .All meals on the hike. Our Kilimanjaro diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional high-altitude cooks. A typical diet on Kilimanjaro includes different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost; .All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water). Hiking and safety equipment .4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats; .All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, crockery and cutlery); .The Helicopter rescue is free ( book with us so we can give you the helicopter pick-up point). .Oxygen cylinders and oximeters; .GPS-tracking service; .Complete medical kits. Expedition Afriedly of Stuff .Professional guides, licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. .All our guides are the holder of Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certifications. .All our guides have 11years of successful mountaineering experience; .Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).
Excluded	.Local airfares, International airfares and departure taxes. .International Travel insurance .Tanzania Visa: $50 per person on arrival. .Alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. .Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the ascent); .Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.) .Meals not listed above on those arrival and departures days .Optional Tours (short safari after your climb etc.) .Tips for guides 100$ cooks 85$ and porters 50$ per entire trip and any items of personal nature.

Itinerary

Day 1 Pick up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transfer to Arusha town

On arriving at Kilimanjaro international airport, our guide will meet you and drive you to Arusha SG Premium Hotel for an overnight stay. Arusha is a city in northern Tanzania and the capital of the Arusha Region, with a population of 416,442 plus 323,198 in the surrounding Arusha District Located below Mount Meru on the eastern edge of the eastern branch of the Great Rift Valley, Arusha has a temperate climate. The city is close to the Serengeti National Park, the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Lake Manyara National Park, Olduvai Gorge, Tarangire National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Arusha National Park on Mount Meru.

Day 2 Umbwe Cave Camp

--Elevation (m): 2940m
--Elevation (ft.) 9500ft
--Distance: 8km
--Hiking time: 6-7 hours
--Habitat: Montana Forest

The majority of the hike on this first day is through the Montana Forest. Lush vegetation with very old trees and lilts of ferns and mosses mark this is an area that gets reliable rain year around. The forest abounds with wildlife; small bushbuck and duikers as well as monkeys. There is also rich and varied birds’ life. The first three hours or so is on gently rising land before steepening for the last two hours. The camp for the night is in a small clearing on the trail.

Day 3 Umbwe Cave Camp to Barranco Camp

– Elevation (m) 3860m
– Elevation (ft.) 12800ft
– Distance 8km Hiking time: 6-7 hours

– Habitat: Alpine Desert Shortly after starting the hike the forest gradually gives away to the giant heath. The trail has been following a ridge for some time and as it ascends through the heathland 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 southern flank and across Mount Meru some 50 miles away. Wildlife changes with the vegetation, jackals may be heard barking and the huge lammergeyer is seen circling overhead. The camp is overlooking the Barranco Valley with views up towards Arrow Glacier.

Day 4 Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

– Elevation (m) 3860m to 4000m
– Elevation (ft.) 12700ft to 13800ft Distance: 7km
– hiking time: 4 hours
– Habitat: Alpine Desert

On the eastern side of the valley, across the stream, is the Barranco Wall – a 950 ft. 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 our left shoulder. We descend down into the Karanga Valley, where we rest up for the night before the tough climb up to Barafu Hut.

Day 5 Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

– Elevation (m): 4600m - Elevation (ft.) 15100ft
– Hiking time: 6hrs Distance: 7km
– Habitat: Alpine desert

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 and of the glacial valleys that snake their way down the mountain. The final stage to Barafu is quite steep, and as always it’s taken it 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.

Day 6 Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut

– Elevation (m): 4600m to 5895m (and down to 3100m)
--Elevation (ft.): 15100ft to 19300ft (and down to 10200ft)
– distance: 7km ascent/23km descent
--Hiking time: 6-8 hours ascent/7-8 hours descent
– Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit

Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Redman and Razzle 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/ 18652ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most 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 on 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. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch.

You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Day 7 Mweka Camp–Mweka gate

– Elevation (m): 3100m to 1830m
– Elevation (ft.) 10200ft to 6000ft
--Distance: 15km
– Hiking time: 5 hours
– Habitat: Forts

After breakfast, we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). To the gate where you will be met by our driver and transfer back to Arusha town for overnight.