6 Days Umbwe Route Trekking Scaling the Roof of Africa

The trek starts after a hearty breakfast and a comprehensive trek briefing; you’ll be transferred to the Umbwe Gate (5,900 ft.) to begin your trek. Stemming from Umbwe village on the south side of the mountain, the rugged path leads through thick forest of roots and rocks, this 6irst trekking day is through dense rainforest, under the tangled canopy of moss-coated vines which are home to the black & white colobus monkey, blue monkey. Overnight is at the forested Umbwe Caves camp set in the lower heather belt. A hot dinner awaits you in your mess tent. • Trekking: 6-7 Hours • Overnight: Umbwe Caves Camp (9,500 ft.)

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

You will be woken with a steaming cup of tea or coffee at around 6am, before continuing up through the forest. Soon the taller trees will give way to Giant Erica and Giant Heather, and the air will become drier. The ridge line forms steeply on this day and on either side of the trail the ground drops away. At some point the forest and the clouds will part to give you a fabulous view of Uhuru Peak, seemingly ‘overhead’. After lunch, you will encounter giant groundsels and giant lobelia as you continue your journey into the Moorland zone. • Trekking: 6-7 Hours • Overnight: Barranco Camp (13,004 ft.)

Destination: Umbwe Cave Camp To Barranco Camp

Accommodation: Barranco Campsite

  public camp site

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

Day begins with a scramble up the steep ‘Barranco Wall’ exposing you to altitudes upwards of 14,000 feet in the Alpine Desert zone. You then traverse up and down the slopes of valleys that have carved their way into the mountain’s southern face where Kibo’s glaciers loom above to your left and the jagged peak of Mawenzi appears just over the southern slope of Kibo. Stop in the Karanga Valley at the end of this day. • Trekking: 4-5 Hours • Overnight: Karanga Camp (13,231 ft.)

Destination: Barranco Camp To Karanga Camp

Accommodation: Karanga Campsite

  public camp site

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

Begin this morning with the trail turning steadily uphill. The temperature will grow colder and the landscape more sparse as we near Barafu Camp. Barafu Camp is set on an exposed ridge, acting a base camp from which you will make your summit attempt at midnight tonight. • Trekking: 5-6 Hours • Overnight: Barafu Camp (15,331 ft.)

Destination: Karanga Camp To Barafu Camp

Accommodation: Barafu Campsite

  public camp site

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

Summit Mount Kilimanjaro you’re awoken before midnight and after a hot cup of tea, you set out up the steep screed covered slopes for the summit. As you near Stella Point on summit rim, at 19,000 ft., the sun will begin to rise over the jagged spires of Mawenzi (the second biggest volcano of Kili’s three volcanoes) at your back, and as dawn comes the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers will begin to take form. At Stella Point, you’ll have a rest and a cup of tea, and then you’ll summon your strength for the relatively 6lat path to Uhuru Peak (19,340 ft.). Descend the Mweka Route to Barafu Camp for lunch before continuing to your camp nestled in thick heather on the southern slopes • Trekking: 6-8 Hours to Summit / 5-7 Hours to Reach Mweka Camp • Overnight: Mweka Camp (10,065 ft.)

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

Complete your descent through the rainforest to the Mweka Gate, where you will be met and transferred back to your lodge for a much-needed shower and some merry convalescence