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sales@viglaciers.comKilimanjaro Climb via Umbwe Route – 8 Days
Trip Itinerary
The Kilimanjaro hike via Umbwe Route is the steepest and shortest path that has a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route on Mount Kilimanjaro. The Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route is for those who are seasoned high-altitude trekkers who are looking for a very challenging climb. The first two days on the Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route itinerary are extremely steep, muddy and generally making it suitable for well-trained hikers. The rapid climb on the first day with little time for acclimatization is compensated by the breathtaking panoramic views. After reaching Barranco Camp, the trail turns east and traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s southern circuit before summiting from Barafu. The Umbwe route is the least popular among all other routes because of its difficulty therefore it is not very busy. Our 8-day trip is open for climbers with high-altitude mountaineering experience.
- Scale the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro on a route having a well-deserved reputation of being the most challenging route among all
- The Umbwe route is short, steep and a direct climb – meant for strong hikers with an ability to acclimatize quickly
- Umbwe is the least crowded route, perfect for those who seek for a secluded hike
- Experience the raw, primitive beauty of sun bleached rocky outcrops and water-carved ravines
- Clamber upon gnarled tree roots of ancient rainforest trails, travel shimmering ice fields and sleep under sweeping star-filled skies
- Although known as the toughest trek, the Umbwe route is still a non-technical climb
Overview
Arrival City
Moshi, Tanzania
Departure City
Moshi, Tanzania
Lodging Level
Hotel (Aishi Machame Hotel)
Meals
7 dinner, 7 breakfast, 6 lunch
Trip Grade
Demanding
Maximum Altitude
5,895m/19,341ft
Activity
Trekking and Hiking
Styles
Active Adventures
Outline Itinerary
| Itinerary | Maximum Altitude | Walking/Hiking |
|---|---|---|
| Day 01 Arrival in Kilimanjaro, drive to Moshi | 950m/3,117ft | - |
| Day 02 Trekking from Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp | 2,930m/9,613ft | 5-7 hrs |
| Day 03 Trekking from Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp | 3,960m/12,993ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 04 Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp | 4,270m/14,010ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 05 Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp | 4,800m/15,749ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 06 Climb Uhuru Peak and Descent to Millennium Camp | 5,895m/19,341ft | 9-12 hrs |
| Day 07 Descent from Millenium Camp to Mweka Gate | 1,640m/5,381ft | 4-5 hrs |
| Day 08 Final Departure | - | - |
- Accommodation in Standard Hotels on Twin Sharing Basis
Kilimanjaro climb is a camping-style climb where you cannot expect a hotel or guesthouse unlike expecting warm lodges during the trek to Everest Base Camp Trek in the Himalayas. Our camping crew will carry all the logistics that we need on the mountain for sleeping. Usually, we have a tent sharing basis for two people which is comfortable and enough space to keep your stuff inside the tent. If you want a single tent, it is possible for you to get, but will be charged a single supplement for USD 499 that includes two nights in Moshi hotel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on the research published by the Climb Kilimanjaro Guide, the average summit success rate across all the routes is 65%. The Machame route is considered to be the easiest one amongst all different routes to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro. While all different routes on Kilimanjaro climb have their own difficulties and own experiences, Mt. Kilimanjaro is seriously a high-altitude mountain. Even though the normal routes of Kilimanjaro climb are not technically difficult, the altitude has hit hard and taken its toll on climbers annually thereby bringing the success rate down to 65%. Different operators have different success rates based on numerous factors and Vi Glaciers has an impressive success rate of over 85% on its Kilimanjaro trips.
Climbing a mountain 5,895 m (19,341 ft.) high is definitely a dangerous thing to do. An estimated 50,000 people climb Kilimanjaro every year from which around 1,000 people are evacuated from the mountain and approximately 10 fatalities are reported. It means that the chance of death on the mountain is only 0.0002% which is practically zero. In other words, there is just one death per 5,000 climbers and the main cause of death is altitude sickness.
Yes and no! You may want to climb Kilimanjaro alone without other hikers or crowd – it is possible. But even then, you will be assisted by guides and porters. Although you will be the only trekker, you will not be alone in the truest sense as the Tanzanian Tourism Board does not permit trekking without a guide, porter and other crew members. The ratio of trekkers to support crew is 1:4 meaning that if you are the only climber, you will be assisted by 4 other members of your trekking company.
When you look at the difference between Kilimanjaro Climb and Everest Base Camp Trek, you are going to higher altitude much quicker on Kilimanjaro than Everest base camp. From Moshi (2,932 ft.) to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro (19,341 ft.) it takes 4 to 6 days depending on the route, which is more than 16,000 ft. gain in altitude. From Kathmandu (4,600 ft.) to the base camp of Everest (17,599 ft.) it takes 8 to 9 days, which is almost 13,000 ft. gain in altitude but trekkers need to walk longer daily distance on the Everest Base Camp trek. In the Everest region, trekkers will sleep at teahouses or luxury lodges throughout the entire trip whereas on Kilimanjaro, except for the Marangu route, trekkers will have to sleep inside tents. While there are lots of ups and downs on the Everest trekking route, the summit night on Kilimanjaro is harder than anything on the entire Everest trail. The overall summit success rate on Kilimanjaro, as per the statistics is 65% while the success rate of Everest Base Camp is over 90%. So, Kilimanjaro climb is harder than Everest Base Camp trek especially because of the quick ascent and rapid altitude gain on Kilimanjaro.
The summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, also known as Uhuru Point, lies in the glacial zone with an average temperature hovering around -6°C (21°F) during day time. However, all summiting attempts begin around midnight in order to reach the Uhuru peak at dawn. So, you will be trekking during the night time when the temperatures range between -7 to -29°C (19 to -20°F).
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