The Shira Route is a demanding route that starts in the west. Different to other routes on the mountain, it starts with a long drive from Moshi to Shira Ridge, bypassing the rainforest zone at the base of Kilimanjaro, and begins at 11,500ft or 3,505m above sea level.

 

Due to its elevated starting point, altitude-related symptoms are not uncommon on the Shira Route, and so it is best reserved for experienced climbers who are confident in their ability to acclimatize, or those who have hiked Mt Meru on a warm-up expedition.

 

While very similar to the Lemosho Route, the Shira Route showcases parts of the mountain that many hikers do not see, and crosses the entire Shira Plateau before meeting up with the Southern Circuit and summiting via Barafu Camp and Stella Point. Descent is via the Mweka Route.

 

It takes 7-days to hike the Shira Route, although more days can be added for acclimatization upon request. When you hike with Kilimanjaro Company, pre-and-post climb accommodations and airport transfers are included in the cost of your trip, and so the only extras you need to budget for are dinner/drinks at the hotel in Moshi and tips for your mountain crew. Please read our Kilimanjaro Essential Information Guide for more information.

 

SHIRA ROUTE ITINERARY

 

DAY 1: ARRIVE KILIMANJARO

At Kilimanjaro International Airport, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in Moshi. After hotel check-in, you will have a few hours to relax before meeting with your guide for a briefing.

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)

 

DAY 2: SHIRA GATE – SIMBA CAMP

After breakfast and storing any unnecessary luggage at the hotel reception, your driver will transfer you to Londorossi Gate, where you will complete registration. From here, you will drive up a steep track to the Shira road barrier, unload your backpacks, begin your expedition to the Roof of Africa. Today is a relatively short day of hiking with excellent views of the summit.

DAILY INFORMATION

Shira Gate to Simba Camp
Elevation (ft): 11,500ft to 11,800ft
Elevation (m): 3,505m to 3,595m
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Hiking Time: 1-2 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Overnight: Camping Simba Camp                                                                                    

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 3: SIMBA CAMP – SHIRA TWO CAMP

Today is a relatively easy day for hiking and great for acclimatisation. After enjoying a leisurely breakfast, you will set off across the Shira Plateau, exploring the volcanic rock formations and grassy moorlands along the way. You’ll arrive at Shira 2 Camp in the early afternoon, with plenty of time to relax before dinner.

DAILY INFORMATION

Simba Camp to Shira Two Camp
Elevation (ft): 11,800ft to 12,500ft
Elevation (m): 3,595m to 3,810m
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
Habitat: Heath

Overnight: Camping Shira Two Camp                                                                                             

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 4: SHIRA TWO CAMP – LAVA TOWER – BARRANCO CAMP

Today you will ‘hike high and sleep low’ as you make your way to the impressive Lave Tower formation at 15,090ft or 4,600m above sea level. From here, you will make your way down through the magnificent Senecio Forest to Barranco Camp, where you will dinner and overnight.

DAILY INFORMATION

Shira Two Camp to Barranco Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,800ft to 15,090ft to 13,000ft
Elevation (m): 3,810m to 4,600m to 3,962m
Distance: 10 km / 6 miles
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Barranco Camp                                                                                              

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 5: BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA VALLEY CAMP

After breakfast today, it’s time to tackle the mighty Barranco Wall as you make your way to Karanga Valley Camp. It will take you approximately two hours to reach the top of the wall, and from the top you will enjoy spectacular vistas of the Shira Plateau below. From here, it’s a relatively short walk to Karanga Camp, where you will rest and recuperate for the rest of the day.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barranco Camp to Karanga Valley Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Elevation (m): 3,962m to 3,992m
Distance: 5km / 3.1 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Karanga Valley Camp                                                                                                   

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 6: KARANGA VALLEY CAMP – BARAFU CAMP – MIDNIGHT SUMMIT ATTEMPT

After breakfast this morning, you will push for Base Camp where you will prepare for your summit attempt. The journey to Barafu Camp will take approximately 4 hours, and so you’ll have plenty of time to relax in your tent or take a short acclimatization walk with your guide. Dinner will be served early today, and afterwards, you’ll return to your tent for a few hours of sleep. At midnight, you will depart for Uhuru Peak.

DAILY INFORMATION

Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Elevation (m): 3,992m to 4,663m
Distance: 4 km / 2.4 miles
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert

Overnight: Camping Barafu Camp                                                                                                   

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 8: BARAFU CAMP – UHURU PEAK SUMMIT – MWEKA CAMP

Summit day has finally arrived, and after a warm drink at Barafu base camp, you will begin the final part of your journey to Uhuru Peak at 19,340ft or 5,895m above sea level – the highest peak in Africa. It will be a long, cold night, and your endurance will be pushed to the max, but success is just 6 – 7 hours away. As soon as the sun begins to rise over Mother Africa, you’ll end goal will be in sight, with the Stella Point sign welcoming you. After a brief break at Stella Point, you’ll continue along the final stretch to Uhuru Peak where you can take those all-important photo’s before descending back to Barafu Camp for lunch. After lunch, you’ll descend along the Mweka Route to Mweka Camp for your final night on the mountain.

DAILY INFORMATION

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp
Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Elevation (m): 4.663m to 5,895m (and down to 3,048m)
Distance: 5 km / 3.1 miles ascent / 12 km / 7.4 miles descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic

Overnight: Camping Mweka Camp                                                                                                  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

 

DAY 9: MWEKA CAMP - MOSHI

After a final mountainside breakfast, you’ll descend to Mweka Gate where you’ll receive your certificate and spend some quality team with your mountain crew. This is the perfect time to give them their tips. Afterwards, you will transfer to your hotel in Moshi for a welcome hot shower and a celebratory Kilimanjaro Beer!

DAILY INFORMATION

Mweka Camp to Moshi
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Elevation (m): 3,048m to 1,645m
Distance: 10 km / 6.2 miles
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rainforest

Overnight: Kilimanjaro Wonders Hotel (or similar)                                                                                                

Meals Included: Breakfast

 

DAY 10: DEPARTURE

At the agreed time, your driver will collect you and transfer you to the airport for your return flight home, or you will connect with your beach or safari extension.

Meals Included: Breakfast 

 

From £2195.00 per person sharing