The Shira route is one of the older Kilimanjaro routes, and is very similar to the Lemosho route. The only differences between them is the trail walked on first couple of days, and that the starting point of the Shira is higher.
The Shira route approaches the summit of Kilimanjaro from the west, starting at Morum Barrier. It starts relatively high above sea level.
The route takes six days minimum to complete, although seven days is recommended. The descent is down Mweka, in the south-east. Because the starting point is far from Moshi and Arusha, it is more expensive to climb this route due to the added transportation cost of getting climbers to the gate. Scenicaly, Shira is beautiful because it crosses the spectacular Shira Plateau, and then combines with the Machame route to share its viewpoints around the southern circuit. Shira has low traffic until it combines with Machame.
WHY SHIRA ROUTE
• Scenery view
• Low traffic
• Higher starting point
ITINERARY OF 7 DAYS OF CLIMBING SHIRA ROUTE
9 DAYS SHIRA ROUTE (7 DAYS CLIMBING+ 2DAYS HOTEL)
DAY 1: ARRIVAL TO TANZANIA.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in Moshi town; you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
DAY 2: Moshi to Londorosi Gate to Shira One Campsite
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 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.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 3: Shira One campsite to Shira Two campsite
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.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 4: Shira Two campsite to Barranco campsite
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.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 5: Barranco Campsite to Karanga Campsite
Elevation: 3950m to 3900m,
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking time: 4-5 hours,
Habitat: Moorland
This is short day walk. In the morning, you will start climbing Barranco wall, 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 until the night falls and then come back to the camp for dinner and the overnight.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 6:Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite
Elevation: 3900m to 4620m,
Distance: 8 km,
Hiking time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
This day 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.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 7: Barafu Hut Campsite to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Hut Campsite
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. Therefore, 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.
. MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 8: Mweka Hut campsite to Mweka Gate
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.
MEALS: BREAKFAST, LUNCH & DINNER INCLUDED.
DAY 9: Hotel to Kilimanjaro International Airport
After breakfast, you continue with your travel plans or take a transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport.
Health & Safety is our first priority :
✔ We Climb Kilimanjaro Company we are a local owned company that we
are high consider health and safety of our customer before, during and
after climbing, these are:-
Before climbing:
✔ We book to the hotel that they provide high standard of safety in
terms of human health that is (food and shelter ) and considering
safety costumer’s properties
✔ We make sure that you are health worth for climbing. We check if
there is any medical recommendation from you're doctor so if any
can take special care of you.
During climbing :
✔ Constantly monitor your health: You can be fit and healthy at the
start of your climb, but altitude can affect your health as you
progress up the mountain. That’s why we constantly monitor your
health as you climb. Our expert guides can detect any problems
and take the necessary actions. Always health checks are conducted three times a day to measure
pulse, temperature, blood pressure and oxygen saturation
✔ We provide Nutritious food and safe water: we always follow good
food safety practices — from packing to plating
Good food and plenty of drinking water are essential ingredients,
both physically and psychologically, to make your climb
rewarding. At high altitudes, drinking a lot of water is essential
for your health and helps preventing altitude sicknesses. It goes
without saying that your body will also need plenty of food to
compensate for the unusual physical effort in climbing.
After climbing:
✔ If you will need any assistant after climbing, we are ready to
assist you.
✔ Return transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to accommodation in Moshi;
✔ Return transfer from accommodation in Moshi to the entry gate into Kilimanjaro National Park.
Accommodation:
✔ Accommodation at 3* hotel (Around Moshi) one night before and one night after the Climbing. You will have all for a
comfortable stay - friendly staff, clean rooms, Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool;
✔ Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern comfortable 4-season North Face VE-25 tents);
Please note: by default, you will share a room and a tent with your travel companion. If you travel solo on a group expedition,
we will room you with a same-sex participant. Single supplement is available upon request.
Meals:
✔ Breakfast in the hotel before and after the hike;
✔ All meals on the hike. You will find delicious energy-rich meals on our mountain menus.
Our professional chefs will prepare assorted soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables.
Vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost;
✔ All drinks on the hike (coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water).
Hiking and safety equipment:
✔ 4-inch (10-cm) thick and comfortable sleeping mats;
✔ All group equipment (dining tent, table, chairs, crockery and cutlery);
✔ Oxygen cylinders and oximeters;
✔ Complete medical kits.
Climbing crew:
✔ Professional guides licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All guides are holder of Wilderness First Responder
certification.
All of them have 7+years of successful experience;
✔ 18% VAT, 1% TDL and 0.3% Service Levy. We Climb Kilimanjaro is an honest and responsible tour operator working in
full compliance with the tax law of the
United Republic of Tanzania.
:
✘ International flights;
✘ Tips (200-300 USD per climber for the whole mountain crew);
✘ Visa fee (100 USD for American citizens and 50 USD for all others);
✘ Personal gear rentals;
✘ Lunch and dinner at the hotel (before and after the climb);
✘ Portable toilets (if required - 250 USD per unit, one can be shared between 3 people);
✘ Mountaineering insurance. You'll need special insurance for climbing Kilimanjaro that covers
high-altitude trekking up to 6000 m.
