Umbwe Route Review

by John Watson-Jones
(Kenya)

Going to bed in the crater after a sunlit day, and emerging the next morning in fresh snow was amazing. The Umbwe Route was marvelous, and overall the hiking was more interesting and scenic than I'd expected.

John's Kili Trek Details: Rating: 9.5/10 Kilimanjaro operator used: Marangu Hotel (make an enquiry) Route climbed: Umbwe up, Mweka down Date of climb: 10 February 2009 for 8 days More Mt Kilimanjaro reviews » Free Safari Photography e-Book Get your copy of the "Better Safari Photography" e-book at no charge, which pinpoints exactly what you need to know and do before, during and after your safari trip to improve your safari photography results whether you are a novice, intermediate or advanced photographer.

Operator Performance

We used Marangu Hotel for the trek; heard of them in two guidebooks.

They were excellent: gave great advice, arranged everything perfectly, and provided a welcoming, historic, and attractive base.

While we provided most of our own gear, they knew just what else we needed, and provided it (gloves) free.

The guide and porters were friendly, competent, and uncomplaining, and NOT obnoxious about tips or giving them gear afterward as we'd heard tales of.

Food

The food was good, both in the hotel and on the trail.

All trail meals were served in style, always in a sheltering tent if we wanted: early tea with warm water wash basin, breakfast of fruit, juice, cocoa, cereal, bread, egg, etc.

Lunch would be soup and warm entree; tea and biscuits; supper of soup, spaghetti, etc, fruit.

Route

We took the Umbwe Route up and Mweka Route down to avoid crowds, see more of the mountain, and get better scenery than the Coca-Cola route.

Preparation

One of us ran regularly while living at 2100m; the other was on a long safari and was unable to train.

Facilities

Excellent, especially because we had our own portable toilet to use in the crater; though one morning the wind blew the tent off the throne just after one of us had used it!

Challenges

Both of us, who are in our 60s, experienced significant but short-lived tiredness the morning we summited, but that was the worst, so no real problems!

No disappointments; we just wish we'd had time to explore the crater, Mawenzi, and more of the mountain.

It would have been nice to be able to pay by credit card; Tanzania seems difficult that way.

Other Activities/Safari

One of us went on a safari, before and after Kili, and it went great.

We coordinated hiking Kili with rock climbing at Hell's Gate and Lukenya in Kenya (possible because we had our own vehicle).

Tips and Advice

Be prepared for bad weather and high prices, and try to avoid blisters by having footwear that's already proven comfortable.

Our binoculars were most useful (though the Lammergeier we saw at Barranco Camp was too quick for us to use them).

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