Day 0: ARRIVAL

Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport / Other Pickup Destination, where you will meet a Majali guide, and be transferred to the hotel. In the evening there will be a briefing with our managers, who will also make sure you are prepared to trek Kilimanjaro on the Umbwe Route for 6 days by checking your gear and giving you a brief breakdown of the trip.

Day 1: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Cave Camp

A guide and support crew will arrive at the hotel in the morning in order to meet you and hold another briefing. Then you will travel by vehicle from Moshi to Umbwe Gate ( 1800 m ). The group will stop for a light snack then start the 5-7 hour hike towards the Umbwe Cave Camp (2,930 m). Raincoats are necessary on this day in particular, as you will be walking through the rainforest foothills. By the time you reach the camp, our professional mountain crew will have prepared everything necessary, put tents up and cook dinner for you.

At night you may experience discomfort associated with acclimatization to the high altitude: because of a reduction in your waking breathing pattern, your body gets less oxygen than during the day. Taking altitude into account, you may therefore start feeling sick and have a headache. Pay attention to your own body and tell your guide if you start feeling any symptoms of altitude sickness.

Trekking from Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp:

Change in Elevation: Umbwe Gate (1,800 m) — Umbwe Cave Camp (2,930 m)

Hiking distance: 11 km

Hiking time: 5-7 hour

Day 2 TREKKING FROM UMBWE CAMP TO BARRANCO CAMP

After breakfast we will follow the Umbwe Ridge into the Barranco Valley. The landscape will change from rainforest to brush with large rock. We will descend to Barranco Camp (3,960 m) around lunch time. Here you can see the famous Barranco Wall, and get to rest and enjoy a warm dinner.

Change in Elevation: Umbwe Camp (2,930 m) — Barranco Camp(3,960 m)

Hiking distance: 6.5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Day 3 TREKKING FROM BARRANCO CAMP TO KARANGA

Early wakeup, breakfast and the start of summiting Barranco Wall. The climb is on a steep ridge, hiking up the gorge wall is not difficult and only takes around an hour. After the climb you can have a rest and take photos in front of the Kibo volcano.

Then you start a more difficult hike to Karanga Camp (4,035 m) , which features numerous ascents and descents during the route. After reaching the camp you will enjoy a warm lunch. Then, after a couple of hours you will begin a short 1 hour acclimatization hike and return to camp where you will enjoy a hot dinner.

Trekking from Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

Change in Elevation: Barranco Camp (3,960 m)) — Karanga Camp (4,035 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m) — Chosen Point (4,200 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

Day 4 TREKKING FROM KARANGA CAMP TO BARAFU CAMP

After Breakfast, you will begin the trek to Barafu Summit Camp (4,640 m), the starting point for a night summiting Uhuru Peak (5,895 m). Our team will set up a camp for you ahead of time, including tents and sleeping bags, so you can relax. We will begin by going through the junction that connects with the Mweka Trail. After we reach the Barafu Hut, we will have completed the southern circuit. After regaining strength, you have to complete an acclimatization hike towards the intermediate Kosovo Summit Camp (4,800 m) and then back to Barafu Camp, where you will be served a hot dinner and be prepared for the climb to the summit. It is better to spend the remainder of the day resting and sleeping.

Trekking from Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Change in Elevation: Karanga Camp (4,035 m)) — Barafu Camp (4,640 m)

Hiking distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Acclimatization hike:

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Kosovo Camp (4,800 m)

Hiking distance: 2 km

Hiking time: 1 hour

Day 5 ASCENT TO UHURU PEAK & DESCENT TO MWEKA HUT

Very Early wakeup ( midnight – 2am), We depart from Barafu Camp ( 4,640 m) and begin the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. Each pair of climbers will get a personal guide for the entire ascent to monitor your physical and mental conditions. After your successful ascent to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) – the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and the last point of the climb on the Umbwe Route, you will have reached the highest point in all of Africa — CONGRATULATIONS!

From the Summit, we will begin our descent to Mweka Hut. We will stop at Barafu Camp to rest, and enjoy a warm lunch. You will want to wear gaiters and bring a trekking pole for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is located in the upper forest and mist or rain is to be expected. Later in the evening we will enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well earned sleep.

Change in Elevation: Barafu Camp (4,640 m) — Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) / Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) — Mweka Hut(3,048 m)

Hiking distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent

Hiking time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent

Day 6 MWEKA CAMP TO MOSHI

When you wake up, you will feel relief from the reduction of the height and the satisfaction of reaching the summit. After a warm breakfast, you will head for the park’s exit: Mweka Gate (1,650 m). From the gate it is an hour drive to Mweka village. After your descent the whole group will gather at the hotel where we will present you with your commemorative certificates.

Change in Elevation: Mweka Camp (3,048 m) — Moshi ( 1,524 m )

Hiking distance: 10 km

Hiking time: 3-4 hours HOTEL CHECKOUT & DEPARTURE FLIGHT Hotel checkout is at 11am. From there a Majali guide will transfer you to the airport for your flight.