Description

This is probably the hardest route up Kilimanjaro. A thoroughly tough uphill struggle liked by most mountaineers. As a reward for your Endeavour's, however a clear day will provide you with views that many guides and porters insists are the best there are at Kilimanjaro.

Day 1: From Umbwe Gate you ascend through forestry track before it narrows and steepness to climb a ridge between Lonzo and Umbwe Rivers. This is the steepest part of the entire trek. Eventually after hours of this exhausting exercise, and again in altitude of 1050 approximately, you reach a rocky overhang. This is Umbwe Cave (2940m) a popular first night Campsite with plenty of water sources available.

Day 2: Roughly after 45 minutes after breaking camp, you emerge from the forest gloom onto the heather, to be presented with two awesome sights. The breathtaking Breach Wall – all 1000m of it – and the glory of the Kibo summit. Finally the gradient eases and the day is spent ambling through moorland vegetation to the Barranco Hut Campsite nestling on your right time to enjoy your dinner and camp overnight.

Day 3: After Breakfast, you leave Barranco Camp and continue on a steep ridge passing the Barranco Wall to Karanga Valle Camp for overnight.

Day 4: After Breakfast, you leave Karanga Valley Camp and scrabble up cliff to leave the valley. You continue to the Barafu Hut, which is located at an altitude of 4600 meters. You have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here you camp, rest enjoy, dinner and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.

Day 5: Early morning, you continue your way to the summit of Uhuru Peak at 5895 meters. It can be bitterly cold at night at these elevations, but it will be quite warm by the end of the hiking day. You will want clothing for both extremes with you. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit. You now make your descend continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut Campsite at 3100 meters. This part of the descent takes about 5hours. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Later in the evening you enjoy your last dinner on the mountain and a well earned sleep.

Day 6: After breakfast, you continue to descend down to the Mweka Park Gate. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to the Hotel in Moshi / Arusha.