Mount Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a real challenge due to the altitude, rate of ascent and different temperatures. During an average climbing day you will walk 6-7 hours per day. If you are healthy and fit it is absolutely within reach. There are many things you can do to increase your chances to reach the summit and to make sure you enjoy the trek. It’s important you take your time. Don’t hike too fast so your body has time to adapt and acclimatize. Being in good shape also makes the climb much easier. Go hiking a few months before the climb, especially multiple day hikes are excellent training. But also running and aerobic exercise are a good preparation. It is always difficult to predict who will be affected by altitude sickness. Due to its rapid ascend the success rate of this route is much lower. We advise only experienced mountain climbers, who are used to high altitudes, to climb Umbwe route.
Payment Terms
Deposit Payment
- Deposit is 10% of the total booking amount.
- Deposit can be paid either via a bank transfer or an online card payment.
- A 5% fee is applicable on all card payments (payment gateway charges), this is non-refundable.
- We offer bank accounts in 10 different currencies for bank transfer.
- Once you make the advance payment you will receive a booking confirmation.
Balance Payment
- Balance can be paid via bank transfer, online card payment, or with cash.
- Bank payment can be done 15 days prior to the tour date (recommended 30 days prior).
- Card Payment can be done 1 day prior to the tour date (recommended 7 days prior).
- A 5% fee is applicable on all card payments (payment gateway charge), this is non-refundable.
- Cash can be paid on arrival (USD printed in or after the year 2009).
Cancellation Policy
8 days and above departure
0 to 7 days before departure
- 50% of the total tour price will be charged as cancellation fees.
- Trek can be postponed to any new date without any extra cost at any point in time.
- The 5% surcharge paid for either or both advance and balance payments is non-refundable in case of cancellation of the trek.
| Included |
- All transfers from airport to hotel to the mountain and back to your hotel
- Professional, experienced, mountain guides
- Guides, Porters, Cook salaries and park fees
- Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
- Sleeping Mattress
- Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
- All meals while on the Mountain
- Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
- Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
- Clean, purified drinking water
- Conservation fees (part of park fees)
- Camping or Hut fees (part of park fees)
- Rescue fees (part of park fees)
- VAT (18% charged by the Government)
- Kilimanjaro summit certificate
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| Excluded |
- International and domestic flights
- Hotel (available as an optional addon)
- Personal trekking equipment such as sleepings bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
- Tips and gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
- Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance (5% on each payment)
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Details
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport, our guide will take you to the hotel. Here you can recover from the flight and get used to the African environment. An acclimatization day in the hotel on day two is recommended, but you can also start the climb the next day.
You will stay in hotel:
Today your driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to the Umbwe Gate to complete the registration formalities. Your Kilimajaro climb begins through a dense rainforest with huge fig trees. You can hear and see different types of animals, such as the rare black and white colobus monkey. Near the Umbwe River the route becomes steeper and you will need more energy. As you climb, you can already see the Kibo peak in the distance and admire the deep valleys around you. The climb ends after 5-7 hours in Umbwe Cave Camp.
Elevation gain: 1600 m/ 5,249 ft | Distance: 11 km | Walking time: 5-7 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
Today you leave the rainforest and enter the heather with rocks and valleys around you. You will pass trees entwined with moss, also known as goatee lichen. The ascent becomes steeper at the Umbwe Route Ridge and flattens out again near the Barranco Valley. Every now and then you can see the Kibo peak in the distance. After a hike of 4 to 5 hours you will have dinner and overnight at the Barranco Camp in the valley below the Barranco wall.
Elevation gain: 850 m/ 2,787 ft | Distance: 6 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
After breakfast you hike from Barranco Camp to the Barranco wall. For many people, this is the most popular part of the climb, largely due to the beautiful views. When you reach the top of the Barranco wall for example, you have a spectacular view of the Kibo volcano to the left and of Mount Meru to the right. Then a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp begins. This route has many ascents and descents. Our guides are experts in choosing the right route and pace. When camp is reached, it is time for lunch. After a couple of hours break, you can go on an acclimatization hike towards Barafu Camp. There you can do a 300 meter climb and then descend back to Karanga Camp.
Note: The acclimatization hike is an easy hike with a slight increase in altitude. This speeds up the acclimatization process in your body. The acclimatization walks are very important because they increase your chances of successfully summiting Kilimanjaro and they reduce the risk of altitude sickness.
Elevation gain: 240 m/ 787 ft | Elevation loss: 250 m/ 820 ft | Distance: 5 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: heather
After breakfast the hike to Barafu Camp begins. This is the starting point for your summit push to Uhuru Peak which begins around midnight – to the Uhuru Peak! You will arrive at the camp around noon. Tents are set up in advance so you can relax here on arrival. After you regain your strength, you can take another acclimatization walk to Kosovo Summit Camp (4800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp. A hot meal will be served there on your return and you can relax for the rest of the day before starting the climb to the top of Kilimanjaro!
Elevation gain: 690 m/ 2,133 ft | Distance: 6 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: alpine desert
You start your summit push to Uhuru Peak around midnight. It’s an ascent on good trails, the most difficult factor is the altitude. There is 1 guide for every 2 climbers so that he can keep a close eye on the physical and mental state of the climbers. If the climb is successful, you can enjoy a beautiful sunrise at the top. Rejoice that you made it – you are standing on the roof of Africa! After partying at the summit, you can descend to the next glacier. You will then return to Barafu Camp to continue the descent to High Camp after a two hour break. When descending, be careful where you put your feet to avoid injury.
Elevation gain: 1255 m/ 4,117 ft | Elevation loss: 2075 m/ 6,808 ft | Distance: 15 km | Walking time: 8-12 hours | Difficulty: difficult | Environment: arctic
Elevation loss: 2170 m/ 7,119 ft | Distance: 12 km | Walking time: 4-5 hours | Difficulty: medium | Environment: rainforest
The camp is located in a tropical rainforest. After you have slept, you will feel pleasant due to the low altitude and you will certainly still be euphoric because of yesterday’s summit success. After breakfast, you walk to the exit of the national park. After the descent, the whole group comes together to congratulate each other and your driver will take you back to the hotel, where you can recover from the rigors of the climb.
Today you can relax at the lodge or explore the surrounding area. You can choose to extend your journey with a beautiful Tanzania Safari. Another option is to unwind on the tropical Zanzibar Island or one of the other exotic beach destinations Pemba Island and Mafia Island. If you choose to go home after your Kilimanjaro trek, you fly back home
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