6 Days Conquering Mt Kilimanjaro Hiking via Umbwe Route

Habitat: Montane forest Hiking time: 5 hours After an early breakfast at your hotel, you'll be driven from Moshi to Umbwe Gate. There, you can purchase mineral water and get a packed lunch. The porters will organize your belongings while you register with Tanzania National Park (TANAPA). The hike starts through the rainforest with rain, mud, and fog. Keep an eye out for Colobus monkeys! You'll have a lunch break halfway and reach Umbwe Cave Camp (2940m) in the late afternoon. The porters will have your tents set up, provide drinking water, and prepare snacks. Expect freezing temperatures overnight.

Destination: Umbwe Gate To Umbwe Cave Camp

Accommodation: Umbwe Cave Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Hiking time: 6 hours Habitat: Moorland After an early breakfast, you'll leave the rainforest and enter heathland moorland. Enjoy the exotic plants like giant lobelia and groundsel. The trail offers a stunning view of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Descend into Barranco Valley and reach Barranco Camp. Tents will be ready, and the porters will provide water. Evening snacks and dinner will be served. Be prepared for freezing temperatures at this exposed camp.

Destination: Umbwe Cave Camp To Barranco Camp

Accommodation: Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Habitat: Moorland/Semi desert Start your day with an early breakfast, leaving the moorland behind and entering the semi-desert and rocky terrain. After a 5-hour hike to the east, you'll reach Lava Tower (4630m). Enjoy packed lunches there and, weather permitting; you can hike the massive Lava Tower. Be aware that altitude effects might start to kick in, like headaches and shortness of breath. After lunch at Lava Tower, hike up the steep Class 2 trail to Karanga Camp (4800m). Vegetation here is sparse, and you'll be surrounded by stone scree. Snacks, dinner, and washing water will be provided as you stay warm in your tents.

Destination: Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Accommodation: Karanga Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Hiking time: 5 hours Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped glacier Start your day with an early breakfast and continue to scramble up the Class 2 trail on rocks. If it's the rainy season, you'll need an ice ax and crampons for icy conditions. Slowly ascend up the Western Breach to Barafu Camp (5700m). Once at the top, you'll be amazed by the Northern Icefields of Kilimanjaro, with the Furtwangler Glacier right in front of you. At the campsite, you have the option of a day hike to the infamous Ash Pit (1.5 hours) of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The ash pit is 340m across and 120m deep. After the hike, enjoy a warm dinner and be one of the few fortunate hikers to stay at the inner, snow-covered crater of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Destination: Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Accommodation: Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Hiking time: 2 hours to Uhuru, 7-8 hours to Mweka. Distance: 7km ascent, 23km descent. Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit. Wake at 0400, begin summit attempt. 2-hour snowy hike to Uhuru Peak, take photos, then 3-hour descent to Barafu Camp for lunch. Continue to Mweka Camp (3100m) through scree, rocks, moorland, and rainforest. Rest and dine at camp.

Destination: Barafu Camp To Uhuru Peak To Mweka Camp

Accommodation: Mweka Campsite

  public camp site

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Meals & Drinks: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Drinking water

Hiking time: 3 hours Distance: 15 kilometers Habitat: Forest After breakfast, celebrate with staff, tip them, and descend for 3 hours to Mweka Gate. Get certificates of completion, gold for Uhuru Peak and green for Stella Point. Descend to Mweka village for an hour (3 kilometers), have lunch, then drive back to Moshi for showers and celebrations.