As compared to the Machame Route, Umbwe is steeper and shorter. Once you arrive at the Barranco Hut, you can join other fellow trekkers who arrived via the Machame route.
You then descent down the Mweka trail.Since it is a very short and direct route, it is not recommended for people with little altitude experience.
The route takes six days minimum to complete, although seven days is recommended.
The descent is down Mweka, on the south-east side of the mountain
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 30 minutes). Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route.
-- Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft
-- Distance: 11km/7mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Umbwe Cave Camp
Drive from Moshi to the Umbwe Gate (about 1 hour). Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed lunch on route.
-- Elevation: 1660m/5450ft to 2850m/9350ft
-- Distance: 11km/7mi
-- Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
-- Habitat: Montane Forest
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Barranco Camp
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail.
-- Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi
-- Hiking Time: 34 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Karanga Camp
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.
-- Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
-- Distance: 4km/2mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Alpine Desert
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Budget Accommodations: Barafu Camp
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly 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 you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit. From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.
-- Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
-- Down to 3090m/10,150ft
-- Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
-- Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
-- Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Budget Accommodations: Mweka Camp
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).
From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes). Don't forget to tip your guides and porters.
-- Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
-- Distance: 10km/6mi
-- Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
-- Habitat: Forest
Meals included: Breakfast
Witnessing the Great Migration in the Serengeti, summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, relaxing on Zanzibar’s soft-sand beaches
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