7- Days Shira Route Overview
This route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west 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 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, (3,5OO m). The remainder of the route follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the southern icefields before summitting from Barafu or Western Breach Route.
Detailed Itinerary for the 7-Day Shira Route
Elevation: 1,000 m to 1,200 m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45 Minutes
Habitat: Town
Eco Trail Expedition staff will meet and pick you up from JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) and transfer you to your hotel in Moshi for overnight B/B.
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 trailhead to the Londorosi gate for registration. Following this, you will board a vehicle again and drive further up to Moram Gate. You trek through the mooland and heather vegetation heading to the east, crossing ridges and valleys as well as a long, flat distance to Shira One campsite.
Elevation: 3500m to 3800m.
Distance: 7km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours.
Habitat: Moorland and rock.
This day you will trek east across the Shira plateau, visiting Cathedral Peak (3850 m) for acclimatization. At this peak you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak and other many spectacular special features, then continue walking to Shira Two Camp, where meals and overnights will take place.
Elevation: 3800m to 3950m
Distance: 13km
Hiking time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
This is a long but important acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast, then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava Tower Rock (4600 m) 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 a short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing the Barranco wall and reach 4200 m 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: 3900m to 4620m.
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking time: 3-4 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Today’s trek up to the Barafu Ridge campsite is tough because of the altitude. The walk takes a few hours because of the short distance but is steep, which need a slow walk 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 1700 hrs, then rest until midnight when 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. 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 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 the 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, it takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak. Here you will spend some time taking photo’s. After your summit activities are done, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through moorland and heath zone to the Mweka Huts campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite.
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.
Elevation: 1,200m to 1,000m.
Distance: 36 km
Driving Time: 45 Minutes
Habitat: Town
Eco Trail Expedition staff will meet and pick you up from Moshi and transfer you back to JRO (Kilimanjaro International Airport) or to Safari or Zanzibar if you have extension because we do organize safari too Please request for this service
Include
- Accommodation (two nights) at hotel in Moshi.
- 7 Days park Entrance fees
- 6 night camping fees
- 7 Days rescue fees
- Forest fees.
- Crater camp extra payments.
- Food 3 meals everyday on the mountain.
- Camping equipment such as tents, tables, chairs etc.
- Salaries to all porters, Cook, Assistant Guide and Chief guide
- Transfer to Lemosho gate and return to Moshi after the climb.
- Transfer from JRO to Hotel and return
- Small company first aid kit.
- Oxygen tank supply
- Oxymeter.
Exclude
- Tip for the supporting crew.
- Personal things.
- Food and drinks at your hotel.
- Any flight.
Essential Personal Equipment Checklist for Climbing.
- One sleeping bag
- One sleeping Mat
- One pair of climbing poles/sticks
- One large Duffle bag with straps / rucksack
- One head lamp / Flashlight + Batteries
- Water bottle - 2 liters x 2 bottle or camel bag bottle
- Camera / sufficient memory/film
- Purification water Tablets / Water Pump
- One pair sunglasses
- One pair of climbing hiking boots
- One pair of tennis Shoes - to begin climb/side walks
- Socks - thin and thick pairs
- One warm trousers
- Woolen Trousers and jacket with zippers
- Water proof / wind trousers & jackets
- Warm Sweater for cold nights
- Inner slacks - long Johns & Top
- Long / short sleeve T-shirt with zippers
- Pajamas and hand towel
- Shade Sun hat or cap
- Balaclava
- Gaiters
- Mitten / Gloves - poly thermal
If it happens you do not have any among from those which have mentioned, we will help
you on getting them from the hiring stores here in Moshi with reasonable price and not
Mzungu price.