Price: Dependent on number of pax
Local Payment/Park Entrance Fees: Dependent on number of pax

Areas of Interest: Kilimanjaro National Park, Forest Caves, Barranco Hut, Barranco Wall, Heim Glacier, Kibo Rim, Arrow Glacier, Uhuru Peak, Western Breach, Lava Tower, Arusha/Moshi 

Activity: Game Viewing, Camping, Scenery, Trekking, Photography, Culture and Bird Watching

Country: Tanzania

Tanzania offers some of the best trekking in Africa.  The biggest attraction being the highest mountain in Africa and o­ne of the highest volcanoes in the world - Mount Kilimanjaro.  It is also the highest mountain anywhere that can be climbed by a regular tourist, and thousands of guests attempt to make it to the summit every year.  The hike is even more attractive because you can walk all the way to the summit without the need of ropes or technical climbing experience, but you still need the right preparation.  “Kili” as it is also known, has a huge oval base of about 50 – 60 km across and ascends almost 5000m above the surrounding plains.  The two main peaks are Kibo, the dome at the centre and Mawenzi, a group of toothed pinnacles o­n the eastern side.  A third peak called Shira is o­n the west and is less distinctive than the other two.  The highest point is o­n Kibo; at 5896m/19,340ft and is the goal for most walkers.  There are 10 hiking paths that commence o­n the lower slopes but o­nly three continue to the summit.  These include Marangu, Machame and Umbwe routes.

The best time to go trekking is in the dry season, from late June to October when the rains have ended and from late December to February or early March, just after the short rains.  It is essential to note that there is a high possibility of rain even in the dry season but it generally falls for a few hours a day; usually in the afternoon or at night so it doesn’t affect hiking much.
 
The Umbwe route is very direct to Uhuru peak and is suitable for more experienced trekkers as it is the hardest.  It has become popular in the last few years as other routes have become too popular.  When followed sensibly, it offers a pleasant walk through the lower slopes and an exhilarating final approach to the summit via the Western Breach. Although the paths are steep, the distances walked are shorter except for the summit section when you walk up to 15 hours of strenuous trudge, made even harder by the altitude and cold.

Day 1 - Umbwe Campsite
13km, 4-5 hours, 1450m climb.Transfer from Moshi to Umbwe Park Gate with porters and guides where you start your climb with a picnic lunch. Dinner and overnight stay at Umbwe campsite (9500ft/2900m). There is a pool here which you can access fresh drinking water. 
From the gate we follow the track up through the forest, which then becomes a path and continues o­n a ridge between two valleys.  In some places you may have to scramble up sharp sections of the path until you reach Forest Caves at 9350ft/2850m. 

Day 2 - Barranco Hut
5km, 3-4 hours, 1100m climb.After breakfast, we ascend to Barranco hut at an altitude of 12,960ft/3950m.  Dinner and overnight stay at the campsite.
 
From the caves the path leaves the forest and passes through heather and after, open moor land where the peaks come into clear view.  You soon reach the Upper Caves and just after, the Great Barranco Valley drops steeply down o­n the right.  Barranco Hut is in poor condition but there is ample space for pitching tents around it with water available from the stream.

From the campsites near Barranco Hut the Barranco Wall can be clearly seen as a huge dark cliff o­n the opposite side of the Great Barranco Valley. If you plan to stay another night here the route up the Barranco Wall and then up to the base of the Heim Glacier is a good detour.  The route up the wall is steep and exposed but the views at the top of the wall of the glaciers and lava fields are spectacular.  From Barranco Hut to the top of Barranco Wall takes about an hour and a half then another two and a half hours to get below the glacier and another two hours to get back to the hut.

Day 3 - Lava Tower Campsite
4km, 4-5 hours, 800m climb.A full day spent trekking up to the base of Kibo Peak and o¬n the Shira Plateau acclimatizing to the altitude. Dinner and overnight at the Lava Tower. (15,090ft/4600m)
 
From the Barranco hut the path ascends steeply o­nto the main ridge of the west side of the Great Barranco Valley.  The path leads North West along the top of the ridge going towards the Western Breach, a segment of the main wall of Kibo where a giant chunk has been eroded away so that the gradient is slightly less steep than the sheer cliff o­n either side.  The most unique trait of the western breach is the series of high cliffs that form the breach wall o­n the right side. The vegetation thins out completely o­n the ridge and the path crosses bare rock and scree and you continue towards the east up steep scree with the high orange cliffs of the Lava tower across to the left where we set up camp.

Day 4 -Western Breach Campsite
1km, 1 hour, 200m climb.After breakfast, we continue slowly up the mountain to the Western Breach Campsite (15,750ft/4800m) to help with acclimatisation.  At the base of the Western Breach is the site of Arrow Glacier Hut where we spend the rest of the day and night in preparation for the next day’s climb. 
                                                                                                                             
Day 5 - Uhuru Peak
3km, 6-7.5 hours, 1100m climb and 12km, 4-7 hours, 2800m descent to Mweka. Early in the morning climb to the summit Uhuru Peak (5896m/19,340ft). Then descend to the Mweka Campsite at 3100m/10,170ft for dinner and overnight.
 
This stage involves 10 – 15 hours of walking so an early rise is normal so as to be at the summit for sunrise.  It is a very exhausting walk because of the steepness, altitude and cold.  Unlike the Marangu route, you don’t have the choice of bailing out as there are no short cuts so you must go all the way unless you’re planning to come back down the Western Breach after reaching the summit.  If you don’t feel up to this section, you can go from Arrow Glacier direct to Mweka or Horombo Hut but this is also a very long hard walk. 

This part is the steepest non-technical route o­n the mountain and should not be taken carelessly; great care should be exercised, as the rock is very loose in places.  A head torch, walking pole or even a long shaft ice axe is highly recommended.  There is no water supply o­n this route so take all you need.  At Uhuru peak – 5896m/19,340ft you will have reached the highest point in Africa and if the weather is good you will certainly want to celebrate your triumph and take in the breathtaking views.

From the summit, follow the path eastwards around the rim to reach Stella point after about an hour, and then continue down to Barafu hut and lastly down to Mweka Hut –3100m/10,170ft.  There are places to camp and water is available from a nearby stream.

Day 6 - Moshi / Arusha
After breakfast, we descend to Mweka Park Gate and board a vehicle for Moshi or Arusha.