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Umbwe route

Umbwe Route
Mountain climbing and hiking are the main tourist activities conducted at Kilimanjaro National Park, attracting thousands of tourists to trek Africa’s highest mountain annually. The Tanzania National Park Authority has established seven trails that trekkers can use to reach the summit, and one of these routes is the spectacular Umbwe Route.
Umbwe Route
The Umbwe Route is the most direct route for reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro. It is also the shortest and most challenging route but very rewarding because it is the most scenic, and you don’t encounter much traffic on the Umbwe Route compared to other routes in Kilimanjaro.
The Umbwe Route was featured in the dramatic IMAX film “Kilimanjaro – To the Roof of Africa.” The overall distance of the Umbwe Route is 53 kilometers.
The disadvantage of the Umbwe Route is that it does not provide necessary acclimatization stages, and climbers using this route are prone to altitude sickness if their bodies can’t adapt to high altitudes.
A good level of fitness is required if you’re planning to use the Umbwe Route. The trekking distance is only 52 kilometers of steep ascents, requiring climbers to scramble over trees and rocks.
The Umbwe Route is for people looking for an extremely adventurous challenge on Mount Kilimanjaro because it offers the most outstanding views of all Kilimanjaro routes until it merges with the Machame Route.
The climb on the Umbwe Route starts from the Umbwe Gate in Kilimanjaro, from an elevation of 1,600 meters to 2,900 meters in Umbwe Cave, where you will spend the first night. The time spent on the first day of the hike is about 6 hours, covering 11 kilometers. The trail is scenic, passing through Umbwe River and rainforests where you’re likely to spot various wildlife species, especially primates, and lots of bird species.
On the second day of the Umbwe Route climb, you start the ascent through the remaining part of the rainforests, climbing the western breach chee wall, accompanied by superb views of the Great Barranco. The hike on the second day takes about 4 to 5 hours to reach Barranco Camp, where you will spend the night.
On the third day, you will conquer the Great Barranco Wall, which takes about 4 hours, covering a distance of 7 kilometers. You will stop at Karanga Valley at 3,930 meters, underneath the icefalls of the Heim, Decken, and Kersten glaciers. On the third day, you will camp at Baranga for the night.
On the fifth day, you will hike for about 3 hours through the Alpine desert, covering a distance of 6 kilometers to Barafu Camp, where you will spend the night. You will get clear views of Mawenzi and Kibo summit from Barafu Camp. Here, you need to hydrate as much as possible and rest early to prepare for summit night.
Day 5 will be the hardest day of the climb to Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit. You will be woken up at 11 pm to prepare and set off at midnight for the summit hike. The hike to the summit takes between 6 to 8 hours, covering a distance of 7 kilometers. The hike through Ratzel and Rebmann glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the journey. The aim is to reach Stella Point at sunrise for the most spectacular sunrise you will ever see. You will then walk to Uhuru Peak for some outstanding views and photographs before starting to descend on a 23-kilometer descent for about 7 to 8 hours. As you descend, you will stop over at Barafu Camp for a lunch break and then continue to sleep at Mweka Camp for a night.
Day 6 is the last day of your descent on Mount Kilimanjaro, covering 8 kilometers, which should take about 3 to 4 hours. You will descend from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, where you will celebrate and be awarded summit certificates. The guides will sing and dance to the Kilimanjaro song, and it’s time to depart to your hotel or airport.



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