9 Days Umbwe Route

Day 1: Arrival

As you touch down at Kilimanjaro International Airport, a warm Tanzanian welcome awaits you! Your designated guide will escort you directly to your hotel, where you can unwind and immerse yourself in the vibrant African ambiance. The following day, embark on an exclusive, personalized safari adventure led by your guide, granting you the freedom to explore at your leisurely pace.

Reasons to Climb Mt. Kilimanjaro

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Day 2: Ubmwe Gate (1400 M) - Umbwe Cave Camp (3000 M)

Embark on a thrilling expedition up Mount Kilimanjaro via the challenging Umbwe Route. Commencing at Umbwe Gate (1400 m), traverse through dense rainforests, ascending to Umbwe Cave Camp (3000 m). This initial day will challenge your resilience and determination as you navigate steep trails amidst awe-inspiring natural vistas. Prepare for an exhilarating and indelible journey to Tanzania's highest peak.

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Day 3: Umbwe Cave Camp (3000 M) - Barranco Camp (3960 M)

Commencing from the serene Umbwe Cave Camp at 3000m. As you ascend, be captivated by the evolving landscapes and breathtaking panoramas. Arrive at the picturesque Barranco Camp at 3960m, enveloped by towering peaks. Embrace the excitement of this demanding trek while immersing yourself in the majesty of rugged mountains.

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Day 4: Barranco Camp (3960 m) - Karanga Camp (3950 m) via Barranco Wall (4200 m)

Experience day 3 of your Umbwe Route trek, transitioning from Barranco Camp (3960 m) to Karanga Camp (3950 m) via the spectacular Barranco Wall (4200 m). This demanding yet gratifying segment of the ascent offers breathtaking vistas and entails some scrambling. As you conquer the wall, relish a sense of achievement and immerse yourself in the raw splendor of the terrain.

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Day 5: Karanga Camp (3950 m) - Barafu Camp (4640 m)

Embark on day 4 of the Umbwe Route, journeying from Karanga Camp (3950 m) to Barafu Camp (4640 m). Delight in the awe-inspiring vistas as you ascend, traversing diverse landscapes. Prepare for the ultimate push to the summit tomorrow. Embrace the thrill and challenge of this once-in-a-lifetime adventure in Tanzania's majestic mountains.

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Day 6: Barafu Camp (4640 m) - Uhuru Peak (5895 m) - Millennium Camp (3820 m)

Conquer the formidable Uhuru Peak on day 5 of the Umbwe Route, situated at an impressive altitude of 5895m. Commencing from Barafu Camp at 4640m, embark on a challenging hike to reach the summit, admiring breathtaking vistas en route. Following this incredible achievement, descend to Millennium Camp at 3820m to rejuvenate and celebrate your successful ascent.

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Day 7: Millennium Camp (3820 m) - Mweka Gate (1650 m) - Hotel

On this, you will descend from Millennium Camp (3820 m) to Mweka Gate (1650 m) before returning to your hotel. This descent offers captivating views of the lush rainforest and diverse flora and fauna. Reunite with your driver and head back to your hotel for a well-deserved night of rest following a refreshing shower and delectable dinner.

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Day 8 - 9: Final Day and Flight Back to Home

On your final day, luxuriate a while longer at the lodge, basking in relaxation before our driver escorts you to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your homeward-bound flight, tailored to suit your departure schedule.

Gear

There are five ecological zones on Mount Kilimanjaro, each with its own climate and weather characteristics. Climbers are required to have the right gear to stay warm, dry and comfortable in a wide range of weather conditions. Typically, it is warm and humid in the rainforest, at the start of your trek. Then as you climb higher, it becomes colder and drier in the moorland and alpine desert zone. The summit can be extremely cold and windy, as being in the arctic zone would suggest. Climbing Kilimanjaro is like hiking from summer to winter in a matter of days. Your apparel will reflect this as well. You will need technical clothing such as a waterproof jacket, fleece jacket and several base layers. Cold weather gear such as hats, gloves, down jacket, and a warm sleeping bag are essential.

You are responsible for bringing personal gear and equipment while communal equipment (tents, food, cooking items, etc.) is provided. For clients who have hiking and backpacking experience, you will already have most if not all of the gear on the list. If you are starting from scratch, then it will take some time and money to assemble the items. Also consider renting gear from shops or borrowing gear from friends if possible to reduce the cost.

Training

We recommend training for at least two months prior to your departure. For those who are new to hiking, it would be smart to train longer. For those who are regular hikers, you will likely perform fine just keeping your regular routine. Doing day hikes is a great way to prepare though it’s entirely possible to train exclusively on a stair master machine if you don’t have access to trails.

Attitude Training

In fact, a person who is in phenomenal shape but can’t acclimatize will perform worse than a person who is in poor shape but acclimatizes well. There are things you can do to pre-acclimatize, or prepare for high altitude, before your climb. For instance, you can spend some time at high altitude immediately before your trip. If that is impractical due to timing, you can take a trip or two to high elevation destinations and hike – just to test your body’s response. You can also use an altitude training system and pre-acclimatize in your own home.

Medical Check

It is a good idea to be medically cleared for climbing by your doctor. Your age, fitness level, health, and pre-existing medical conditions may preclude you from high altitude trekking. Our minimum fitness requirements are that each climber must have a resting heart rate of under 100 beats per minute.

Vaccination

There are NO mandatory vaccinations, immunizations or medications to enter Tanzania. However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends many vaccines for travel to East Africa. We encourage you to discuss your travel plans with a medical professional to determine which vaccinations and medications you should get.

Insurance

Travel insurance is required to participate on our trips. Standard travel insurance provides coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, and delay; lost, stolen and damaged baggage; medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation; and luggage delay. Your travel insurance must also cover high altitude trekking up to 6,000 meters. This insurance will make you eligible for rescue by helicopter from Kilimanjaro MedAir, a private company. Clients must be able to provide proof of insurance to staff upon request or they will not be allowed to participate.