Main Info
Kilimanjaro Umbwe Route Down Mweka Route, 7Days, 6Nights. We advise that the Kilimanjaro Umbwe route should only be climbed by strong climbers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize quickly to altitude.
This Kilimanjaro Umbwe route (also known as the “Vodka Route”) is often considered the hardest but most spectacular and direct way to reach Uhuru Peak.
The Umbwe route has been said for being the hardest route compared to other Mount Kilimanjaro. Moreover, it is the shortest and steepest of the Kilimanjaro Routes therefore with a poor acclimatization profile. For this reason, you find most climbers do not choose this route because the success rates are low.
Trip cost per person:-
- 2pax = $2,033 per person
- 3pax = $1,999 per person
- 4pax = $1,793 per person
- 5pax = $1,750 per person
- 6pax = $1,708 per person
- 7pax = $1,699 per person
- 8pax = $1,674 per person
- 9pax = $1,671 per person
- 10pax = $1,654 per person
Services Included:-
1.Airport transfers 2.Kilimanjaro transfers 3.Kilimanjaro entrance fees 4.Kilimanjaro camping fees 5.Kilimanjaro rescue fees 6.Kilimanjaro guide 7.Kilimanjaro porters 8.Kilimanjaro meals 3 times daily + Cook 9.Kilimanjaro camping gears(tents, mattresses, chairs) 10.Drinking water on Kilimanjaro + Safari 11.Private tour Services not included:- 1.Tipping to your Kilimanjaro guides, porters and a cook 2.Tanzania Visa 3.Laundry service 4.International flight 5.Items of a personal nature 6.Beverages/Drinks 7.Kilimanjaro climbing gears(boots, rain suit, warm trousers, warm coats/jackets, sleeping bag, warm socks, sun and wind glasses, gloves,warm hat, cotton t-shirts 8.Any other extras not detailed in the above safari itinerary
Itinerary
Arrival Arusha or Moshi for overnight BB.
Day 2:Drive to the Umbwe Roadhead at 1800 m. The route initially follows a forestry track winding up through the natural rain forest. It then narrows and steepens to climb the ridge between the Lonzo and Umbwe rivers. The first campsite is in the forest by some rock overhangs at 2940 m, (5–6 hours walking).
Shortly after leaving the camp the forest ends and the path continues along a narrow spectacular ridge. Above, the sheer 1000 m of the Breach Wall appears and disappears as the afternoon mists roll up the Great Barranco. From the Umbwe ridge the route descends slightly to the Barranco Hut and our camp in the valley floor at 3900 m, (5–6 hours walking).
Day 4:
A short scramble to the top of the Great Barranco and then a traverse over scree and ridges to the Karanga Valley (4000 m, 3 hours), beneath the icefalls of the Heim, Kersten and Decken Glaciers.
After climbing out of the Karanga Valley the trail ascends a ridge to the Barafu Hut, a bleak location with little vegetation at 4600 m, (3 hours walking).
An early start for the ascent to the rim of the Kibo Crater between the Rebmann and Ratzel Glaciers, (4 hours); the last section before the rim can sometimes be snow-covered and an ice-axe or ski stick is useful for balance. From here a further hour leads to Uhuru Peak, from where there are often fine views of Meru to the west and the jagged peak of Mawenzi to the east. After a short time on the summit you descend to the Barafu Hut for a rest and lunch before continuing on down to camp at Mweka Camp in the giant heather zone on the Mweka route.
A 3-4 hour descent through beautiful forest brings you to the Mweka route Park gate to meet your car for transfer to the hotel in Moshi or Arusha.
