Umbwe Route – Climb Kilimanjaro – 6 days

Day 1 – Start of Machame Route at Lemosho Glades (2100m) – Big Tree Camp (2780m)

A member of Lifetime Travel hospitality team greets you upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). He will drive you to your hotel, which provides all the amenities necessary for your comfort: pleasant rooms with hot showers, swimming pool, ever-helpful staff and access to the Internet.
Your briefing, in the course of which your travel manager will provide all the details of the forthcoming climb, takes place in the evening. A final check of your readiness to tackle Kilimanjaro is the final part of your preparations.

Day 2 – TREKKING FROM UMBWE GATE TO UMBWE CAMP

Your guide and climb support crew arrive at your hotel in the morning. Introductions and a last brief equipment check precede your drive to the Umbwe Gate of Kilimanjaro National Park. This entrance, situated at 1,640 m above sea level, is where your trek starts. The head-guide will finalize the permits and registration for search and rescue services.
Your first day trekking is meant to bring you to Umbwe Camp for your first mountain overnight. Climbing up to 2,930 m is a long haul with a significant increase in altitude, so find the right pace for the whole group and stick with it. As this part of Umbwe route goes through rainforest with its probability of rain showers- do not forget your raincoat. Your support crew will have prepared the camp and dinner by the time you get there.
This being the group’s first night at this elevation, we recommend that you follow the below rules from here on:

Do not consume any alcohol and minimize your caffeine intake
Drinking no less than 4 liters of water per day is a good way to keep yourself hydrated. Take it in small amounts but frequently
We encourage our clients to use Diamox in the mornings prior to the day’s climb. This reduces altitude sickness symptoms. Consult your doctor on the use of Diamox before leaving home on this trip.
Nightly discomfort often accompanies acclimatization. However, while such symptoms as headaches and nausea are common, make sure you inform your guide of them immediately.

Day 4 – Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4250m)

Behind the wall a barren and rocky plateau is waiting for you. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Kibo and the three southern glaciers. The path then continues on gravel and sand through the rocky moors. Again and again you will pass streams, pastures and giant stone cross herbs.

Walking distance: approximately 6 km

Duration: approximately 3-4 hours

Altitudes Barranco Camp (3960m) – Karanga Camp (4250m)

Vegetation zone: Ascend in the Alpine desert

After breakfast the first big challenge is waiting for you. You have to climb over the Great Barranco Wall. Therefore it is a good idea to start early to avoid a traffic jam at the wall. You will need about 1 to 1,5 hours to climb the Great Barranco Wall. Behind the wall a barren and rocky plateau is waiting for you. Enjoy the breathtaking views of Kibo and the three southern glaciers.

The path then continues on gravel and sand through the rocky moors. Again and again you will pass streams, pastures and giant stone cross herbs. After 2-3hours you reach the Karanga Camp at an altitude of 4250 meters. As you climb up hill after hill, you have a good outlook at the upcoming route. At the camp enjoy your lunch. Use the rest of the day to rest.

Day 5 – Karanga Camp (4250m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

The Barafu camp is a challenge for the entire crew. There are only a few flat areas to put the tents. The rest of the day you spend with a snack and the dinner. Then you should go to bed as early as possible to get enough sleep for the upcoming summit climb.

Walking distance: approximately 3-4km

Duration: approximately 6 hours

Altitudes Karanga Camp (4250m) – Barafu Camp (4640m)

Vegetation zone: Ascend in the Alpine desert

After breakfast start ascending to Barafu Camp (4640m). The first still existing moorland slowly disappears and the landscape becomes rocky. Stones and boulders dominate the landscape. The Barafu camp is a challenge for the entire crew. There are only a few flat areas to put the tents. The rest of the day you spend with a snack and the dinner. Then you should go to bed as early as possible to get enough sleep for the upcoming summit climb.

Day 6 – Summit Day: Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Accompanied by the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations.

Walking distance: approximately 19 km

Duration: approximately 14-16 hours

Altitudes Barafu Camp (4640m) – Uhuru Peak (5895m) – Mweka Camp (3080m)

Night ascend to the summit and then descend to Mweka Camp.

After a short night wake up at midnight and take a small snack and then start for the final part of your ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. Together with your guide you will step into the freezing cold and silent night. Step by step the path leads steeply up and over boulders to reach the crater rim after 5-6 hours, and thus the Stella Point, at an altitude of 5740m. From here there are only 150 meters left to reach your goal.

Accompanied by the first rays of the day you pass the Rebmann Glacier and move to the Hans Meyer Point. During sunrise occurs an amazing play of light across the ice formations. Soon you can see the summit sign of Mount Kilimanjaro and then you have actually done it. Congratulations you have reached the highest point of Africa. At an altitude of 5895 meters, you will be rewarded with a fabulous view of the hardships and you can proudly make the typical summit picture. After a short break, the descent is made along the crater rim back to Stella Point and further down to the Rebmann Glacier. The descent is via the same route as the ascent back to Barafu Camp.

There, a hot lunch is waiting for you. After that you will go further down to Mweka Camp. The vegetation is of increasing interest and in the late afternoon you will reach your camp. The rest of the day is to relax and gather strength.

Day 7 – Descend: Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka-Gate (1680m)

Your last day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues.

Walking distance: approximately 10 km

Duration: approximately 3-4 hours

Altitudes Mweka Camp (3080m) – Mweka-Gate (1680m)

Vegetation zone: Descent through moorland and rain forest

Walking time: 3-4 hours for 10 kilometers with an altitude difference of 1400m

Your last day of the Kilimanjaro climb begins with a good breakfast. There is one last souvenir photo of the whole team before your way towards Mweka Gate continues. The route is a well-developed forest road and in the second half it is mainly characterized by rain forest. After 10 kilometers you will reach the Mweka Gate. Your driver is already there waiting for you and transfers you back to your hotel.

At the end of the tour your guide will present to you a more than earned certificate for your Kilimanjaro climb. Transfer back to Arusha. Dinner and overnight at Pamoja Expeditions Lodge.