7-Day Shira Route Trekking

Your journey starts at Kilimanjaro International Airport, where you receive a warm welcome. From there, it’s a short 30-40 minute drive to a hotel in Moshi, a town located at the feet of Mount Kilimanjaro. After checking in, you attend a guided trek briefing where the guide goes through the steps of the trek, safety measures, necessary equipment, and plans for acute mountain sickness (AMS) mitigation. Explore the town and immerse yourself in the vivacious culture. Sip a cup of coffee while walking around the market and interact with the locals to learn more about the Chagga people’s colorful heritage, which encompasses music, storytelling, and traditional crafts. Dinner and a night's rest at the hotel sets you up for the awaited journey to Kilimanjaro. This day prepares you for the challenge of the Shira Route and sets you up for a physically and culturally enriching trekking experience.

Activities: Cultural Exploration, Pre-Trek Briefing, Airport Transfer

Accommodation: Hotel In Moshi

Meals: Dinner

Breakfast and a 2-hour drive to Morum Barrier Gate (3,400m/11,155ft), Kilimanjaro National Park (Park) start the day. As the rest stop to park, you will need to complete the registration process. Unlike other routes, this trek starts at a high altitude, which allows access to the Shira Plateau’s expansive moorlands. Today, you will hike for 3-4 hours (7 km) through heather and moorland, and gain an altitude of 150m to Shira 1 Camp (3,550m/11,647ft). Early on the trail, you will get the western view of Kibo Peak and the Western Breach, which will be accompanied by giant groundsels and lobelias. For your safety, an armed ranger will be accompanying your team. Also, your guide will be stressing the need for a “pole pole” (slowly slowly) pace to help with energy conservation and acclimatization. Shira 1 Camp is the endpoint for the day, where scenic umwelts await you. Warm meals will be served to you and your team. In the evening, you are free to rest, but you can also wander and explore the surrounding moorland.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 7 km
Altitude Gain: 150m
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

After breakfast, set out on a 4 to 6-hour trek to Shira 2 Camp (3,840m/12,598ft), which is 7 kilometers away. You will also gain 290m of elevation. Shira Plateau, which is one of Kilimanjaro’s scenic wonders, offers uninterrupted panoramic views of Kibo Peak and the moorlands. During the expedition, you will notice that the ascent is very gentle as you pass through heather-covered hills, volcanic rocks, and the multitude of unique flora, all of which aid your acclimatization which is important for your trek to the summit. Your guide will be monitoring your altitude, and to help manage the altitude effects, he will encourage slow, but steady pacing, lots of water (3-4 liters per day), and apply regular health checks with a pulse oximeter. Shira 2 Camp is famous for the sunset and the calm Moorish sunset view it offers. You are expected to arrive by midday in time for hot lunch and then rest. You can also opt for an acclimatization walk to nearby ridges. Throughout the hike, your guide will brief you on Kilimanjaro’s volcanic geology and biodiversity, which will help you appreciate the environmentally friendly trek.

Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
Distance: 7 km
Altitude Gain: 290m
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

On this day, a critical part of your acclimatization, you currently do a 6-8 hour trek, which covers 10 km to Barranco Camp (3950m/12,959ft). Along the way, you temporarily ascend to Lava Tower (4600m/15,092ft), which adds about 110m of elevation. Starting from Barranco Camp, the path ascends through moorland to Lava Tower, a volcanic rock that gives you stunning views of the Western Breach and Kibo’s glaciers. The slow acclimatization with the “climb high, sleep low” approach used at Lava Tower helps reduce AMS risks. Post lunch and rest at Lava Tower, you descend through Barranco Valley. With its giant senecios and lobelias, Barranco Valley is stunning. The rocky terrain is quite rough, so make sure you take the trekking poles for extra balance. Barranco Camp is located in the middle of the giant Barranco Wall, which gives astonishing views at night. After reaching there, you receive a hot meal along with sleep. The guide assures you that you have been briefed for the next day’s climb, which is demanding, so that you can comfortably sleep and rest.

Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
Distance: 10 km
Altitude Gain/Loss: +760m (to Lava Tower), -650m (to Barranco Camp)
Accommodation: Barranco Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Your 5 km trek takes you to Karanga Camp (3,980m/13,058ft) with a 30m incline upwards. This trek, which lasts 3-4 hours, commences with a scramble up the remnants of the Great Barranco Wall. This wall offers non-technical climbs over rocky terrain along with beautiful views over the Heim, Kersten, and Decken glaciers. Following this, the route goes over scree slopes and into Karanga Valley, which can be described as a chilling and primitive alpine desert. This shorter trek softens the blow of the upcoming intense summit climb, allowing your body to adjust to high altitudes. Your guide will keep track of your health and will encourage you to sip water and take gentle steps to manage the altitude. The camp, which is nestled within a striking valley, serves as a shelter to powerful winds and offers stunning mountain views. You will be able to reach the camp in time to enjoy your midday meal and have the option to rest or embark on a self-directed acclimation trek to the surrounding ridges. Your guide will explain the rest of the ecosystem, which will encourage the most eco-conscious trek of your life.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 5 km
Altitude Gain: 30m
Accommodation: Karanga Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

This trek takes 3 to 4 hours, covering 4 km with a climb to Barafu Camp at 4,660m (15,288 ft), which is a 680 m elevation gain. The route takes you through barren scree slopes of the alpine desert, which are void of greenery and resemble a stark, otherworldly landscape. Your guide will promote a slow and steady pace, strict hydration, and regular health checks to counter the increasing altitude. Barafu Camp, which translates to “ice” in Swahili, is the starting point for the summit attempt and provides breathtaking views of Kibo Peak and the surrounding glaciers. You are expected to arrive by noon so you can enjoy a hot lunch and a detailed summit briefing. Your guide will discuss the final warm clothing, hydration, and mental prep for the climb to the Uhuru Peak starting at midnight.
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Distance: 4 km
Altitude Gain: 680m
Accommodation: Barafu Camp
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Remember, summit day starts just before midnight and takes 5-7 hours to ascend 5 km to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,341ft), where you will gain 1,235m in elevation. The trail is steep, temperature rocky, and requires layered clothing and a bit of trekking gear. You will get cold. The trail will take you to Stella point (5,739m/18,822ft), where you will get mind-blowing views of the crater rim alongside the Southern Glaciers. This will be followed by a final push of 1-2 hours to Uhuru Peak, the highest point of Kilimanjaro. Don’t forget to take pictures of the glacial views to celebrate your achievement. From here, you will descend for 3-4 hours to Barafu Camp, where you will stop for a brief lunch and rest. The rest of the day, you will continue your descent for 6-8 hours, covering a distance of 12 km to Mweka Camp (3,100m/10,171ft), where you will have lost a total of 2,795m in elevation. The descent is difficult and the temperature is cool, but the moorland as well as the rainforest is beautiful. You will have to wear gaiters and carry trekking poles. From Mweka camp, take a rest, then continue your journey for 3-4 hours to Mweka Gate (1,640m/5,381ft), where you will have lost 1,460m in elevation. Lastly, when you get to the gate, you will be given the summit certificates, which are a great remembrance you will treasure for the rest of your life.
Hiking Time: 14-18 hours (5-7 hours ascent, 9-11 hours descent)
Distance: 27 km (5 km ascent, 22 km descent)
Altitude Gain/Loss: +1,235m, -4,255m
Accommodation: Hotel in Moshi
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner