Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide

Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide- Difficulty, Climb Tips: A steep slope called Barranco Wall can be found at the southern base of Mount Kilimanjaro’s lesser summit, Kibo, around halfway up the mountain. Barranco Wall is frequently thought of as providing climbers with the challenges appropriate for an exciting ascent on Africa’s highest mountain.

Barranco Wall appears to be a difficult cliff that requires specialized gear or climbing techniques from a distance, but as you go closer, you’ll find that there is really a trail that zigzags up the steep wall and looks like stairs.

From the Barranco Valley, the Barranco Wall climbs 257 meters (843 feet) high. A few spots on the walk demand hikers “climb” on all fours or be a little more cautious when placing their feet because the path is small and cuts between big stones or rocks. Climbers on the Machame, Umbwe, or Lemosho Treks encounter the Barranco Wall on days three or four, depending on how many days they have left in their journey.

FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE THE CLIMB

For whatever reason, the Barranco Wall is known for being one of the most hazardous sections of hikes up Kilimanjaro. One can even find references to it as the “Terrifying Barranco Wall” on the internet.

We would like to warn all Kilimanjaro climbers that Barranco Wall is also known as the “Breakfast Wall” (now, that’s not terrifying at all, is it?). We believe that word choice matters and that a possible climber may become terrified due to such stories.

We like to refer to Barranco Wall as a difficulty. The Barranco Wall needs perseverance and concentration. Barranco Wall can be climbed without the need for specific knowledge or even for very fit climbers; instead, it must be done slowly and steadily. Like with any endeavor, there is a unique sense of elation and satisfaction when climbers succeed and are rewarded with an absolutely breathtaking vista.

LOCATION

It is located on Mount Kilimanjaro’s southern face. When ascending Mount Kilimanjaro by the Lemosho, Machame, or Umbwe routes, you will come up against the Barranco Wall. It can be found between Barranco Camp and Karanga Camp.

Is it possible to navigate to this location? We understand that climbing Barranco Wall may be an additional emotional or mental difficulty for anyone who has a fear of heights, and we urge trekkers to speak with their guide if they are feeling particularly anxious.

This section of the route is distinctive in that numerous climbing teams congregate here and ascend Barranco Wall simultaneously. Often, as a team faces Barranco Wall together, a sense of camaraderie develops, and climbers may discover complete strangers yelling support or their team unites in a unique way. Occasionally, teams may take a massive multi-group picture to remember the new friends they met while scaling Barranco Wall.

 Choose an alternate ascent route up Kilimanjaro if Barranco Wall’s prospect makes you nervous. You don’t have to abandon your goal of climbing Kilimanjaro because of Barranco Wall. If it were a really risky operation, another path would be selected to avoid “such a terrible endeavor,” as there are other ways to reach the Kilimanjaro Summit that do not pass the Barranco Wall. Currently, for many climbers of Kilimanjaro, the Barranco Wall ranks right up there with the summit as one of the highlights of the ascent, Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide

 Barranco Wall is not particularly dangerous overall. There are, however, some stretches of the ascent where caution is advised. We advise climbers to move gently, taking their time to set their feet and find their balance, rather than pushing themselves to the summit.

Additionally, the Wall is traversed by the routes Lemosho and Machame, which have the best acclimatization profiles. It is not as difficult as it may appear at first glance, and none of our climbers has ever been prevented from making it to the summit camp. We wholeheartedly advise everyone to visit this famous location on Mount Kilimanjaro!

Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide
Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide

ALTITUDE

Barranco Wall is 847 feet or 257 meters tall (from the base to the final point). Although it appears rocky and daunting from a distance, it is actually both manageable and exciting when one approaches closer because it is evident that a well-trodden road leads to its top. It can be climbed without any additional tools, and the panoramic view from the top is breathtaking! Difficulty Barranco Wall appears intimidating, but, as we have mentioned, it is not very demanding.

Nevertheless, it is strenuous, just like any other part of your Kilimanjaro hike. Kilimanjaro climbers occasionally have to scramble over rocks, but our guide staff is always on hand to offer assistance. We haven’t had a single instance when a climber—and the majority of our travelers are regular people with no background in athletics—turned away due to the Wall, Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide

WHICH ROUTES CLIMB BARRANCO WALL?

On either day three or day four of the journey, the Lemosho, Machame, and the strenuous Umbwe routes climb Barranco Wall. The Lemosho Road and the Machame Routes are suggested by Focus East Africa Tours; the former is a tranquil, picturesque route, and the latter is known as the “Whiskey Route.”

WHICH ROUTES DO NOT CLIMB THE BARRANCO WALL?

The Northern Circuit, Marangu, or Rongai Routes are your options if you want to completely avoid the Barranco Wall. While Focus East Africa Tours highly recommends the Northern Circuit and Rongai, one of the busiest routes is the Marangu Route.

WHICH ROUTES DESCEND VIA BARRANCO WALL?

There is no Kilimanjaro path that uses Barranco Wall to descend the peak. Nearly every way up Kilimanjaro descends through a different trail than it did to ascend (except in the case of the Marangu Route, which uses the same trail to descend). As a result, there is no route that passes past Barranco Wall, and teams must climb up instead of down.

WHAT IS THE KISSING WALL, AND DO CLIMBERS HAVE TO REALLY KISS IT?

The Barranco Wall trip includes a short section known as the “Kissing Wall,” where hikers must proceed gently while remaining extremely close to the wall. Because climbers must be physically, even intimately, near the wall in order to get through it safely, some refer to it as “hugging” or “kissing” the wall. As a result, the moniker “Kissing Wall” has persisted, and some climbers actually kiss the wall as they go, either out of pure fun or as a fantastic photo opportunity when scaling Barranco Wall.

 TIPS FOR CLIMBING THE BARRANCO WALL

  • You should have the following advice in mind when you scale the Barranco Wall:
  • Don’t rush or try to exhaust yourself excessively. The greatest strategy is to move slowly and steadily, or “pole-pole,” as they say in Swahili.
  • Pay attention to your guide. Your experienced Focus East Africa Tour guide has scaled Barranco Wall numerous times and can offer guidance on balance, when it’s best to place a hand on a rock, and other matters.
  • Do not use your trekking poles; instead, secure them to your pack so that you can use your hands as necessary.
  • Using your hands, knees, and even your head to climb a steep incline is known as “scrambling.” There are even several levels of scrambling, although Barranco Wall is a low-level activity that doesn’t call for any specialized gear or safety precautions.
  • The climb could feel “packed” during busier times as you wait for a team in front to negotiate a tight passage. Maintaining a positive attitude while climbing Barranco Wall is important for both you and the other climbers, Barranco Wall Mt Kilimanjaro Guide
  • Spend some time admiring the scenery; the vistas all along Barranco Wall are breathtaking!
  • Be proud of yourself for completing this task successfully. When you reach the top, take a picture of yourself (or your squad, or perhaps a few new acquaintances).
  • Do not be anxious about this climb; although it appears to be much more difficult from a distance, many climbers say that it was one of the most enjoyable experiences of their entire Kilimanjaro ascent.

FAQ ABOUT BARRANCO WALL

What time of day is ideal for climbing the Barranco Wall? The path between Lemosho, Machame, and Umbwe includes the Barranco Wall. Typically, we advise planning your vacation during the dry seasons (late December to early March and early June to late September). If you intend to climb Kilimanjaro in April, May, October, or November, take into account the Marangu route or Rongai route.

 How long will the wall-crossing process take? Most hikers need one to two hours to ascend Barranco Wall, where they are rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view.

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