7 Days Umbwe Route via Western breach
7 Days Umbwe Route via Western breach
- 7 Days
DESCRIPTION
This is a 7-day Kilimanjaro hike starting at Umbwe Gate and ascending via The Western Breach. Due to the relatively extreme nature of this trip there are generally less people than on other routes and if guests have altitude sickness they will not be allowed to ascend the breach. This is the 7-day version with a night in the crater – pre-acclimatisation on Mt Meru is strongly recommended, indeed pre-acclimatisation on a trip as short as this is considered MANDATORY.
Please note: This route is inherently more dangerous than other routes for 2 reasons. Firstly, the amount of time spent at high altitude and accessing the western breach. This route should only be undertaken by fit individuals with experience of altitude and adventurous training.
HIGHLIGHTS
Kilimanjaro: Afromontane forest, Barranco valley, Lava Tower, glaciers and the Western breach. Unusual ascent of Kibo, walking in the Kibo Caldera and option to visit the ash pit. The Roof of Africa!
DAY 1 – UMBWE CAVES
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. Your first stop is at Machame Gate to collect your permits before getting back in your vehicle and driving to Umbwe Gate. After checking in you set off up through the forest zone. The first day hiking is not overly difficult but certainly steepens towards the latter end of the day. In the late afternoon you arrive in the first camp in time for dinner.
DAY 2 – BARRANCO CAMP
The second day ascends from the forest zone into the heath zone and there are some very steep sections here. Taking it easy is essential to allow your body to acclimatise. A picnic lunch is taken on route. Later that afternoon you arrive into Barranco Camp in time to relax for a while before dinner. The views of the Barranco wall and Western breach pertain to events some 60,000 years ago when this whole part of the mountain collapsed.
DAY 3 – LAVA TOWER
The ascent today is very steep and into alpine desert. The air is generally very dry here. As you ascend, the guides will be carefully assessing your progress. Note that if your body is not acclimatising well then, the routing may well be switched to an ascent via Stella Point instead. Lunch is taken at Lava Tower with the afternoon to rest.
DAY 4 – ARROW GLACIER
The ascent to Arrow Glacier is relatively short and leaves plenty of time to rest for a large part of the day. Short walks are possible with the guides to enjoy views of the Great Barranco Wall and remnants of the once mighty glaciers that filled the breach before having dinner and an early night.
DAY 5 – CRATER CAMP
The starting time this morning will be dependent on the previous day’s guides assessment of the weather, temperature, ice and snowfall conditions. All ascents are relatively early to avoid the part of the day when significant thawing occurs. Ascent to the crater floor takes around 4 to 6 hours and a picnic refuel stop is taken near the top of the breach wall. Once on the crater floor there is time to rest and for those that are feeling strong a hike to the ash pit is a superb option.
DAY 6 – KILIMANJARO SUMMIT / MWEKA CAMP
Unlike other routes with a night time ascent, your hike selection affords you a day time ascent to the summit. Leaving an hour before dawn you ascend to the Roof of Africa! From here you descend to Mweka Camp for the evening. Dinner and overnight Mweka Camp. Alt 3,100m,10,171ft (full board).
DAY 7 – ARUSHA
After breakfast you descend once again through Afromontane forest and around midday, after saying farewell to your crew, you are picked up and transferred back to your lodge for a well-deserved shower! Later that evening you will be visited by a Summits Africa Representative to congratulate you, to find out how the trip went and to answer any final questions you may have about your onward journey.
Kilimanjaro Package includes:
- Transfers to/from Kilimanjaro airport (JRO) to Arusha on a private vehicle
- Transfers to/from the mountain trail heads
- Kilimanjaro Park entrance fees, camping fees, rescue fees
- Services of trained professional English-speaking Mountain guides, cooks and porters.
- All food for the duration of the climb, top quality food specially considered for maximum nutrition needs.
- Complimentary fruits and juice while hiking
- Portage of 1 bag (maximum 15 kgs) per person
- Safety equipment e.g. Oxygen cylinder or Gamow Bag
- Oximeter for checking blood levels of clients daily
- Camping equipment including mountain Hardware tents, mess tent, chairs etc.
- Services of hot water bottle while sleeping for comfort
- Portable flashing toilet
- Solar light in every accommodation tent
- CPR Machine when needed on complimentary basis (let us know in advance because we have only one).
- Public Liability Insurance Cover Note
Kilimanjaro Package does not include:
- Tips to the guides, cook and porters
- Bottled Mineral water
- Visas
- Laundry
- Telephone calls
- Day rooms on the last day after the climb
- Other items of personal nature
- All other expenses resulting from early descend before the completion of the climb such as extra nights in Arusha etc.
GALLERY / PHOTOS
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