Kilimanjaro Umbwe route is a short route, providing challenges as it is very difficult to climb due to its steepness. It is arguably the least frequented route on Kilimanjaro passes through the tropical rainforest and runs long the Machame Route, joining it at Barranco Camp. The traffic in this route is very low and unless a day is added to the climb. The route is offered at a minimum of six days, but seven days is preferred. This route also merges along with Machame, Lemosho, and Shira Route. If one wants more adventure, then one can approach the Western Breach route -risky and dangerous.
It requires some scrambling (climbing on hands and feet) at certain points. This path is very beautiful but also very challenging due to its rocks formations and its steep slope. The Western Beach was gaining popularity by climbers using the Umbwe route, Lemosho, Shira and Machame routes until a rock fall claimed the lives of three climbers in January 2006. In response, Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) closed the Western Breach Route, but in 2007 KINAPA opened it again with the conditions that all clients and their supporting members who want to use this option must sign at the entrance gate that they are doing for their own risk.
Kilimanjaro International Airport (Google Map)
The climb twitches from Umbwe Gate, the path follows a wedge amid two deep valleys up through the dense montane rain forest. The base camp is perched between huge trees and thick undergrowth. There is no water available at this campsite, so we must carry from the gate entirely the water needed for intake, diet preparation, and cleaning.
The path gets sharper on this section, as you get out of the forest along the Umbwe ridge the route descends somewhat to the Barranco camp positioned in the valley.
A steep climb up the eastern wall clues us just beneath the Heim Glacier, where we may have some remarkable views of Kilimanjaro. The steep hike to the Karanga Camp includes the route along the Great Barranco Wall with the south-eastern slopes of Kibo which will continue down into the alpine desert of the Karanga valley. This would provide you an opportunity to view the vast scenic vista of Kilimanjaro.
A steep climb out of Karanga, and an easy path on compacted scree with wide views through this empty and dry scenery up to Barafu Camp. It is the difference of experience to climb Kilimanjaro. The two peaks the Kibo and the Mawenzi can be detected from Barafu Camp. Here you would have a hot lunch and a splendid rest before preparing for the final ascent in an early night summit walk.
Wake up earlier midnight in the shelter of darkness. We begin a steep climb over slack volcanic scree has some well-classified zigzags and a slow but the firm pace will take us to the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. We will break there for few minutes to appreciate the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue gradually to make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m), which is the highest point in Africa. After a few minutes to appreciate your achievement we descend to Barafu, is amazingly fast, and we stop at Barafu Camp for some nourishment, then we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp.
A mild walk takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate, successful climbers will receive their summit certificates award. Then we drive back to Moshi at your Hotel.
