Mount Kilimanjaro - Itinerary
Umbwe Route - 6 Days / 5 Nights
Day 1
We start day 1 with the 1 hour drive to Umbwe Gate at 1800m. Trekking today will involve uphill struggles on steep parts of the mountain, getting steeper until we reach Umbwe Cave Camp at 2950m. This exhausting walk will take between 4 and 6 hours, gaining an altitude of 1150m. We will camp overnight at Umbwe Cave Camp site.
Day 2
After breaking the camp in the morning, we will start the uphill climb to Barranco High Camp site at 3950m. The path is still very steep initially. We will then come to a short scramble over rocks before finally, the gradient eases for the trek to Barranco Valley. Today's walk will take 3 to 4 hours to Barranco High Camp where we will camp and overnight.
Day 3
Today's trek will start by scrambling up Barranco Valley or Breakfast Wall which we will climb after breakfast. We will then proceed across the ridges and valleys to Karanga High Camp where we will stop for lunch and camp overnight. Today the trek will take 4 hours to the camp. After lunch we will have an optional acclimitisation walk to the scree slopes towards the Southern Ice Fields in Vital. This will increase our chance of reaching Freedom Point Uhuru Peak.
Day 4
Today we will start trekking between the boulders, then over the sheltered rocks and stones before a short scramble up the cliff which will bring us to Barafu Base Camp at 4600m. The trek will take about 4 hours. We will camp and overnight at Barafu Base Camp. In the afternoon We'll have a short acclimatisation trek and then return to the camp for an early dinner. We will wake at midnight for hot drinks and start ascending to the summit.
Day 5
The trek today begins at around midnight. We will trek up the scree slopes to Stella Point at 5732m on the rim of crater. We will then trek for an hour to the highest point Uhuru Peak or Freedom Point. After having amazing view and pictures on top of the Roof of Africa, we will start to descend down via Stella Point, then down the scree slopes before finally arriving at Barrafu Camp for a short rest of 1 hour, or 45 minutes if we feel strong enough. This day will take 11 to 15 hours depending on our pace.
Day 6
We break camp early in the morning and trek through a dusty path then into the beautiful rainforest which will lead us to Mweka Gate. The walk today will take us 5 to 6 hours. At the gate we will have a picnic lunch and certificate presentation before driving back to the hotel, lodge or campsite where you will be welcomed with a hot shower and soft drinks.