7 Days Kilimanjaro Climbing via Shira route
Overview
On this hike, you approach Kilimanjaro from the west almost similar to the Lemosho Route. In fact, Shira was the original Lemosho route on this western side of the mountain.
While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this segment by using a vehicle to transport climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge.
Trip Highlights
- Crossing the Barranco wall
Included/Excluded
- 2 nights’ hotel accommodation in Moshi/Arusha (before & after the climb)
- Kilimanjaro National Park permits, camping/hut fees, rescue fees, and Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Expert guide, assistant guides, cook, and porters
- Bottled oxygen, for emergency rescue only
- mountain tents, double occupancy
- Sleeping pad, foam, sleeping bag & trekking poles
- Mess tents, tables, chairs, lanterns
- Fresh, nutritious meals on the mountain
- Pick up and drop off at Kilimanjaro or Arusha Airport
- Tips
- Flights
- Visa fee
- Mountains gear
Tour Plan
Day 1: To Londorosi gate to Shira one campsite.
You will drive from Moshi to the trailhead to the Londorosi gate for registration. Following this, you will then board a vehicle again and drive further up to the Moram gate. You will trek through the moorland and heather vegetation heading to the east crossing ridges and valley as well as a long flat distance to Shira One campsite.
Elevation : 1200m to 1830m to 3500m
Distance: 18 km.
Hiking Time : 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation.
Details
Day 1: To Londorosi gate to Shira one campsite.
You will drive from Moshi to the trailhead to the Londorosi gate for registration. Following this, you will then board a vehicle again and drive further up to the Moram gate. You will trek through the moorland and heather vegetation heading to the east crossing ridges and valley as well as a long flat distance to Shira One campsite.
Elevation : 1200m to 1830m to 3500m
Distance: 18 km.
Hiking Time : 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation.
Day 2: Shira one campsite to Shira two campsite.
On this day, you will trek to east across Shira plateau. You will visit Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak, you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak and scenic views. Then continue to walk to Shira Two campsite where you will have your dinner and overnight.
Elevation : 3500m to 3800m.
Distance: 7 km.
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland and Rock
Day 3: Shira two campsite to Baranco campsite.
This is a long but important as it will help you to well acclimatize the mountain and increase a chance to success summit. After your breakfast, continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m). Then you will continue to Barranco hut camp for where you will have dinner and overnight.
Elevation : 3800m to 3950m
Distance: 13km.
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Barranco campsite to Karanga Campsite.
After your breakfast, you will start climbing the Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for a hot lunch.
After lunch, you will have a bit of rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the Southern ice field then after, you will return to the camp for supper and overnight.
Elevation : 3950m to 3900m
Distance: 6km.
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland.
Day 5 : Karanga campsite to Barafu Campsite.
Today’s walk will take a few hours because the route is steep which needs slowly walk so to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across an alpine desert with strong and cold winds blowing from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs then rest until midnight when we, you commence your push for the summit.
Elevation : 3900m to 4620m.
Distance: 8km.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6 : Barafu Hut Campsite to Uhuru peak to Mweka Hut Campsite.
Wake at midnight to a simple and lite breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise.
Leave to the peak at 12; 00 AM, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point, you will be having views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you.
Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak, where you will spend some time taking photos and celebrating.
After celebrating and making memories, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through the moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite.
Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite
Day 7 : Mweka hut campsite to Mweka gate.
Today is your last day on the mountain, so after your breakfast, you will descend down to Mweka gate walking across the Montane forest, this descent will take 3-4 hours.
Then here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel in Moshi for your certificate presentation celebration.
Elevation : 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat : Montane Forest.
Day 2: Shira one campsite to Shira two campsite.
On this day, you will trek to east across Shira plateau. You will visit Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak, you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak and scenic views. Then continue to walk to Shira Two campsite where you will have your dinner and overnight.
Elevation : 3500m to 3800m.
Distance: 7 km.
Hiking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Moorland and Rock
Day 3: Shira two campsite to Baranco campsite.
This is a long but important as it will help you to well acclimatize the mountain and increase a chance to success summit. After your breakfast, continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m). Then you will continue to Barranco hut camp for where you will have dinner and overnight.
Elevation : 3800m to 3950m
Distance: 13km.
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Day 4: Barranco campsite to Karanga Campsite.
After your breakfast, you will start climbing the Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for a hot lunch.
After lunch, you will have a bit of rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the Southern ice field then after, you will return to the camp for supper and overnight.
Elevation : 3950m to 3900m
Distance: 6km.
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland.
Day 5 : Karanga campsite to Barafu Campsite.
Today’s walk will take a few hours because the route is steep which needs slowly walk so to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across an alpine desert with strong and cold winds blowing from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs then rest until midnight when we, you commence your push for the summit.
Elevation : 3900m to 4620m.
Distance: 8km.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
Day 6 : Barafu Hut Campsite to Uhuru peak to Mweka Hut Campsite.
Wake at midnight to a simple and lite breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise.
Leave to the peak at 12; 00 AM, switch back up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point, you will be having views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you.
Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak, where you will spend some time taking photos and celebrating.
After celebrating and making memories, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through the moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite.
Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite
Day 7 : Mweka hut campsite to Mweka gate.
Today is your last day on the mountain, so after your breakfast, you will descend down to Mweka gate walking across the Montane forest, this descent will take 3-4 hours.
Then here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel in Moshi for your certificate presentation celebration.
Elevation : 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat : Montane Forest.
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