Umbwe Route - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )

Umbwe Route: Africa Natural Tours

AFRICA NATURAL TOURS (The best tour company in Tanzania)

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Umbwe Route

Day 1
Umbwe Gate (1800m) to Umbwe Camp (2800m) Hiking Time: 5-6 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest
Drive from Moshi to Umbwe Gate. Commence the climb through the rain forest with packed/picnic lunch on route. Dinner and overnight at Umbwe Cave at 2800 meters (9186 ft).

Day 2 Umbwe Camp (2800m) to Barranco Camp (3860m) Walking Time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Heather and Moorland.After breakfast, we leave the glades of the forest and follow an ascending path on the open moorland to the Barranco Hut located at 3900 meters (12,795 ft). Dinner and overnight at the campsite.

Day 3 Barranco Camp (3860m) to Karanga Camp (4200m) Hiking Time: 4 hoursabitat: Alpine Desertfter breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall, to the Karanga Valley campsite. Here we will have an evening walk to higher altitude acclimatization, towards Barafu and come back to Karanga camp for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 Karanga Camp (4200m) to Barafu Camp (4645m) Distance: 13km Hiking Time: 8 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we continue to the Barafu Hut at an altitude of 4600m. You will have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here you will rest and get the last briefing from your professional guide before the summit night also you will have early dinner to give you enough time to rest. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 5 Barafu Camp (4645m) to Summit (5895m) to Mweka Hut (3100m) Distance: 7km ascent / 21km descent Hiking Time:6-8 hours ascent / 7-8 hours descent

Habitat: Highland desert and ice-capped summit
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2am), we continue our way to the summit. 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 (5685m / 18,652 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will encounter snow all they way on your 2-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, we have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

 Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. It can be very cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch.

 You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep. Soda may be available for purchase at the Mweka Hut the only location on this route.

Day 6 Mweka Camp (3100m) to Moshi (1830m) Distance: 15 km Hiking Time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Forest

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 gate to drive you back in hotel Moshi. Don't forget to tip your guides and porters. It is time for celebration!

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