6 DAYS + 2 NIGHTS UMBWE ITINERARY

DAY 1 – Arrival 

Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO), a member of Summit Savannah Team will be there to greet you and transfer you to your hotel or lodge in Arusha. 

On the next day the climb manager and lead guide from Summit savanna will come to meet for kilimanjaro briefing and equipment checkup.

DAY 2 – Umbwe Cave (Hiking Time: 6-8 hours / Altitude: 3000 m)

Overview

• Hours Of Driving – 3 Hours Of Driving To Umbwe Route. The Name Of The Camp Is Umbwe Cave Camp.
• Elevation Of The Starting Point (Gate)- 1657m.
• Name Of The Camp- Umbwe Camp.
• Elevation Of The Next Destination – 2950m.
• Total Elevation Gain Of The Day-1293m.
• Ecological Zone/Habitat – Rain Forest.
• Hiking Time -4 To 6 Hours.
• Distance -10km.
• Water-Minimum 2 Liters Maximum 3liters.
• Lunch – Saved At The Gate.
• Attractions Of The Day- Big Trees Like East Africa Yellow Wood, Flowers Like Fire Ball Lily, Primates Like Black And White Colobus Monkeys, Blue Monkeys, Animals Like Tree Hyrax And Genet Cat, Birds Like Turaco, White Eyes, Robin Chat.

The climb begins at Umbwe Gate (1657 m), leading you along a ridge between two deep valleys through the dense Montane Forest. On clear days, especially during the dry season, this section offers lush and picturesque scenery, albeit potentially muddy if recent rains occurred. The ascent to Umbwe Cave, our initial camp, is steep and rugged.

DAY 3 – Barranco Valley (Hiking Time: 4-6 hours / Altitude: 3950 m)

Overview

• Hiking From Umbwe Cave To Baranco Camp.
• The Elevation Of Starting Point 2950m.
• The Elevation Of The Next Camp 3940m.
• Hiking Time- 5 To 6 Hours.
• Distance – 6km.
• Lunch -Saved At The Camp.
• Evening Hiking Or Acclimatization – Absent Or Present – The Expedition Leader Is Always There To Decide Based On How Someone Feeling.
• Water- Minimum 3 Liters And Maximum 5 Liters. For Whole Day.
• Habitat – Heather Zone/ Moorland.
• Attractions – Erica Trees, White Nape Raven, Kibo Peak And The View Of Second Highest Peak In Tanzania – Mount Meru.

The path becomes steeper as you exit the forest, requiring some climbing and scrambling past a 10-meter rock. As the landscape opens up, the vegetation transitions to typical moorland with towering Senecios. Baranco Camp, situated in the Barranco Valley at 3940 m, provides breathtaking views of both Kibo and the plains below.

DAY 4 – Karanga Campsite (Hiking Time: 4-5 hours / Altitude: 4000 m)

Overview

• Hiking From Baranco To Karanga Camp.
• The Elevation Of The Starting Point Is 3940.
• The Elevation Of The Next Camp Is 3995m.
• The Elevation Gain Of The Day Is 260m.
• Hiking Time Is 4 To 5 Hours.
• Distance Is 6km.
• Ecological Zone Is Alpine Desert.
• Acclimatization Hike – Present.
• How To Pack In Your Backpack –Rain Gear, Water, Wallet, Passport, Few Energy Bars, Small First Aid Kit, Wallet And Passport.
• Actractions Of The Day Are –Greate Baranco Wall, Southen Ice Field, Glacial Valleys, Meru View, Ocean Of Clouds, Giant Senecion And Lebelia Plants.

A challenging climb up the Barranco Wall leads to an undulating trail on Kibo’s South Eastern flank, offering magnificent views of the Southern Ice Fields. Karanga, the last water point before Barafu, is a short distance away, providing an opportunity for rest or a brief acclimatization walk.

DAY 5 – Barafu Camp (Hiking Time: 4-5 hours / Altitude: 4600 m)

Overview

• Hiking From Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp.
• The Elevation Of The Starting Point Is 3995m.
• The Elevation Of The Next Camp Is 4673m.
• The Elevation Gain Of The Day Is 678m.
• Hiking Time 3 To 4 Hours,
• Distance -4km.
• Ecological Zone/ Habitat – Alpine Desert.
• Acclimatization Hike – Absent .
• How To Pack In Your Backpack –Rain Gear, Water, Wallet, Passport, Few Energy Bars, Small First Aid Kit.

DAY 6 – Mweka Forest Camp (Hiking Time: 13-15 hours / Altitude: 3100 m)

Overview

• Please Please Note That Is Gonna Be The Long Day, Think About 14 To 18 Hours.
• Hiking From Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak (The Summit Of Mount Kilimanjaro).
• The Elevation Of The Starting Point -4673m.
• The Elevation Of Uhuru Peak (The Summit Of Kilimanjaro) – 5895m.
• The Elevation Gain To Uhuru Peak -1222m.
• Hiking Time To The Summit- 6 To 8 Hours, Sometimes Can Be More Than 8 Hours Based On The Pace Of Someone .
• Hiking Time To Back Barafu Camp -3 To 4 Hours.
• Hiking Time To Millennium Camp Or Mweka Camp- 4 To 5 Hours.
• Distance To Uhuru Peak From Barafu To Uhuru Peak -5km.
• Distance From Uhuru Peak To Barafu Camp – 5km.
• Distance To Millennium Camp- 3.5km.
• Distance To Mweka Camp -7km.
• Ecological Zone- Arctic Zone To The Top, Below 5000m – Alpine Desert Zone And Moor Land.
• How To Pack In Your Backpack –Rain Gear, Water, Wallet, Passport, Few Energy Bars, Small First Aid Kit, Extra Fleece, Sun Hat, Sun Screen And Cameras, Any Identity To Take Pictures With It Like National Of Your Country, T-Shirt From Where You Are Working, The Flag From Your Company, Pictures From Your Love’s One Etc.

The ascent begins by torchlight around midnight, reaching the Crater Rim for a breathtaking sunrise. The climb to Stella Point at 5756 m takes about five to six hours, followed by a two- hour round trip to Uhuru Peak for those feeling strong. After enjoying the accomplishment at Uhuru Peak, the descent to Barafu begins swiftly, continuing to the final campsite, Mweka Forest Camp, where you’ll spend the night.

Day 7 – Mweka Forest Camp to Mweka Gate (Hiking Time: 3-5 hours / Altitude: 1650 m)

Overview

• Hiking Down From Mweka Camp To Mweka Gate, Then Get Certificate Then Drive Back To The Hotel.
• Hiking Time-3 To 4 Hours.
• Distance -10km.
• What To Pack In Your Backpack-Mainly Rain Gear, Wallet, Passport And Water.
• Ecological Zone –Rain Forest Zone.
• Say Farewell To The Porters At The Gate.
• Certificate- Please Note That For Those Who Do Not Get To Gilmas Point/ Stella Pont/ Uhuru Peak Will Not Be Awarded Certificate.

A gradual descent through a lovely forest with lush undergrowth brings you to Mweka National Park Gate. Here, you’ll receive your certificate for conquering Mount Kilimanjaro and bid an emotional farewell to the porters, cooks, and guides from Summit Savannah, who have become your friends during the Umbwe Route 6 Days trek.

Day 8 – Moshi to Kilimanjaro International Airport or Further Tanzanian Adventures