About Shira Route
Shira route approaches from the West of Kilimanjaro and is nearly identical to the Lemosho Route. In fact, Shira was the original Lemosho Route on this western side of the mountain. While Lemosho Route 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. On the first day on the mountain, climbers begin their hike from (3,400 m) and end at Shira One Campsite, (3,500m). The remainder of the route follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the Southern ice fields before summiting from Barafu or Western Breach Route.
You will be picked up from airport. From there you will go to the hotel in Moshi for an orientation on your trek.
Your guides will be there to provide you with details on your trek and will also check your trekking
gears.
Elevation: 1200m to 1830m to 3500m,
Distance: 18km,
Hiking Time: 3 hours,
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation
Drive from Moshi to the trail head takes about 3 hours. We hike through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Shira Camp.
Distance: 18km,
Hiking Time: 3 hours,
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation
Drive from Moshi to the trail head takes about 3 hours. We hike through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Shira Camp.
Elevation: 3500m to 3800m,
Distance: 7km,
Hiking time: 5-6 hours,
Habitat: Moorland and rock.
This day you will trek to east across Shira plateau visiting Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak, you would also encounter many spectacular special features before continuing walk to Shira Two camp where meal and overnight will take place.
Distance: 7km,
Hiking time: 5-6 hours,
Habitat: Moorland and rock.
This day you will trek to east across Shira plateau visiting Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak, you would also encounter many spectacular special features before continuing walk to Shira Two camp where meal and overnight will take place.
Elevation: 3800m to 3950m,
Distance: 13km,
Hiking time: 7-8 hours,
Habitat: Moorland This is long but important acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m) for acclimatization after you will continue to Barranco hut camp for supper and overnight.
Distance: 13km,
Hiking time: 7-8 hours,
Habitat: Moorland This is long but important acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m) for acclimatization after you will continue to Barranco hut camp for supper and overnight.
Elevation: 3950m to 3900m,
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking time: 4-5 hours,
Habitat: Moorland
Today is short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for a hot lunch. Rest for a while and get prepared for another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the Southern ice field. Explore till the night falls and then come back to the camp for dinner and the overnight.
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking time: 4-5 hours,
Habitat: Moorland
Today is short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for a hot lunch. Rest for a while and get prepared for another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the Southern ice field. Explore till the night falls and then come back to the camp for dinner and the overnight.
Elevation: 3900m to 4620m,
Distance: 8 km,
Hiking time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Today you would have to trek to the Barafu ridge campsite. It is undoubtedly a tougher task. It is a short distance and the walk would take few hours, yet you are required to walk slowly to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across alpine desert with strong and cold winds blows from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hours then rest until midnight when we you commence your push for the summit.
Distance: 8 km,
Hiking time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Today you would have to trek to the Barafu ridge campsite. It is undoubtedly a tougher task. It is a short distance and the walk would take few hours, yet you are required to walk slowly to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across alpine desert with strong and cold winds blows from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hours then rest until midnight when we you commence your push for the summit.
Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m,
Distance: 15km,
Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours,
Habitat: Desert and ice.
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. This is the most difficult and the important ascend of the trek. Leave for the peak at 12 am. Keep in the mind that you have to reach at Stella Point-the crater rim at 5,861m-between 4 and 5 am. At this point you can have the best view of the crater and its icecap. Another 1-hour trek would take you to the Kibo crater rim and after that you would slowly hike up to the true Kilimanjaro summit “Uhuru”. There would be too cold. So finish your photo session as soon as possible and start descending back to the Barafu huts campsite, for lunch and rest. Now it is the time to collect your belongings and walk down through moorland and heath zone to Mweka huts campsite where you would have your dinner and overnight.
Distance: 15km,
Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours,
Habitat: Desert and ice.
Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. This is the most difficult and the important ascend of the trek. Leave for the peak at 12 am. Keep in the mind that you have to reach at Stella Point-the crater rim at 5,861m-between 4 and 5 am. At this point you can have the best view of the crater and its icecap. Another 1-hour trek would take you to the Kibo crater rim and after that you would slowly hike up to the true Kilimanjaro summit “Uhuru”. There would be too cold. So finish your photo session as soon as possible and start descending back to the Barafu huts campsite, for lunch and rest. Now it is the time to collect your belongings and walk down through moorland and heath zone to Mweka huts campsite where you would have your dinner and overnight.
Elevation: 3100m to 1700m,
Distance: 9km,
Descending time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Montane forest.
After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain so you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across 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.
Distance: 9km,
Descending time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Montane forest.
After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain so you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across 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.
- Private transport from the hotel to the Park s gate (starting point for the climb), and transport back to the hotel after the climb.
- All National Park entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- 2 night's hotel the night before and the night after the climb, with breakfast included.
- Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt.
- Qualified medical guides.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain.
- Salaries for Guides, cook and porters..
- Rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Park rescue team fees).
- Government taxes.
- Pickup and drop off to Airport.
- Evacuation services.
- Hut fees [ Marangu route }.
- Friendly and competent Trained Mountain Guides, assistant guides, porters and professional cooks.
- 3 full fresh meals daily. We provide fresh food on the mountain in plentiful and well prepared by skilled professional cooks(we also consider your choice of food that you would prefer -Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian). Menu especially designed for climbers.
- Hot drinks on the mountain and Hot water for washing will be provide everyday on the mountain.
- Quality specious tents, sleeping mats, camping tables ,camping chairs and Mess/Dining Tent.(Not applicable on the Marangu route as accommodation is in A-frame huts).
- Supplementary Portable Oxygen and Complete First Aid Kit (used in case of emergency only).
- Pulse oxy-meter carried by all chief guides.
- 3-4 liters of mineral/treated water (per Climber) provided daily during the climb..
***Portable toilet available at an additional cost (There are public toilets on the mountain)**
NOT INCLUDED IN OUR PACKAGES PRICES.
• Items of a personal nature.
• Tips for guides, porters and cook (Recommended $20 per guides, $15 per cook, $10 per porter all per day).
• Personal Hiking/Trekking gears (Some Gears are available for Rent).
• Extra days in hotel.
- All National Park entry fees.
- All camping fees.
- 2 night's hotel the night before and the night after the climb, with breakfast included.
- Kilimanjaro National Park certificate for your successful summit attempt.
- Qualified medical guides.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as hot drinks on the mountain.
- Salaries for Guides, cook and porters..
- Rescue fees (Kilimanjaro Park rescue team fees).
- Government taxes.
- Pickup and drop off to Airport.
- Evacuation services.
- Hut fees [ Marangu route }.
- Friendly and competent Trained Mountain Guides, assistant guides, porters and professional cooks.
- 3 full fresh meals daily. We provide fresh food on the mountain in plentiful and well prepared by skilled professional cooks(we also consider your choice of food that you would prefer -Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian). Menu especially designed for climbers.
- Hot drinks on the mountain and Hot water for washing will be provide everyday on the mountain.
- Quality specious tents, sleeping mats, camping tables ,camping chairs and Mess/Dining Tent.(Not applicable on the Marangu route as accommodation is in A-frame huts).
- Supplementary Portable Oxygen and Complete First Aid Kit (used in case of emergency only).
- Pulse oxy-meter carried by all chief guides.
- 3-4 liters of mineral/treated water (per Climber) provided daily during the climb..
***Portable toilet available at an additional cost (There are public toilets on the mountain)**
NOT INCLUDED IN OUR PACKAGES PRICES.
• Items of a personal nature.
• Tips for guides, porters and cook (Recommended $20 per guides, $15 per cook, $10 per porter all per day).
• Personal Hiking/Trekking gears (Some Gears are available for Rent).
• Extra days in hotel.
