8 Days Shira route
A seldom used trail called the Shira Route starts off close to Shira Ridge. It resembles the Lemosho route very closely. In actuality, Lemosho is an improved version of Shira, which was the original route. Despite being more interesting and picturesque than its successor, the Kilimanjaro-Shira Route is less favourable than it is due to Shira’s starting point’s relatively high altitude, which is easily reached by car. Climbers may feel some effects of the high altitude on the first day of camping at 11,800 feet.
The journey begins with a lengthy drive from Moshi to Shira Ridge as it makes its way toward Mount Kilimanjaro from the west. The hiking trail starts on Shira Ridge after the vehicle passes through the area of the rain forest. The Shira route is a pleasant, mostly flat hike that traverses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east. Before summiting from Barafu, the route then follows the Southern Circuit beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field. The Mweka route is used for the descent.
The Lemosho route offers panoramic views of the mountain’s various faces, making it the most picturesque trail on Kilimanjaro. Lemosho, one of the more recent routes, is a great option for your climb. It is our favorite route because it strikes the perfect balance between sparse crowds, stunning scenery, and a high summit success rate.
Itinerary
The highest point of Africa 8 Days Shira route
Day 1: Upon your arrival in Tanzania:
Upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro international airport meet our staff who will drive you to Ilboru safari lodge, located on the slopes of Mount Meru and is a perfect place to prepare you for adventure. Our guide will meet you at the lodge for trip briefing and Equipment check. Meals and overnight at Ilboru safari lodge.
Day 2: Shira One Camp
Breakfast at your Lodge thereafter drives through the rural countryside to the Londrossi Gate. For the necessary park registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations to the starting of Shira Route. We start our ascent along the shrub forests the trail climbs steadily with wide views of Kibo Icefield to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Meals and overnight at Shira one camp.
Londrossi Gate to Shira One Camp (3550 m): 4-5 hours walking.
Day 3: Shira Hut
Today we follow an easy path to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut.
As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.
Shira Camp One to Shira Hut (3,840 m): 4-5 hours walking.
Day 4: Moir Hut
In the morning we cross part of the plateau through lush of heather and moorland then into expensive high Savannah desert before reach more hut in the alpine zone. For extra acclimatization one can take walk around for the higher lands around the camp; views are superb. Lunch will be served at Fisher camp.
The afternoon will be the acclimatization walk up onto the Lent Hills, the summit of which is at 4,700 metres.
Shira Hut to Moir Hut (4,200m): 3-4 hours walking.
Day 5: Barranco Valley.
Today we walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.).
Moir Hut to Barranco valley (3,900 m.): 5-7 hours walking.
Day 6: Karanga Camp.
A steep climb up the eastern wall leads us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp
Barranco Valley to Karanga camp (4,000 m): 4-5 hours walking.
Day 7: Barafu Camp.
Today we take the Traverse Route that takes up the Barafu Ridge, we walk up quite slowly to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit.
The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,600 m): 3-4 hours walking.
Day 8: Summit to Mweka Camp.
Wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. We begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. We will rest there for few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to main peak (5,895 m), which is the highest point in Africa. After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment we descend to Barafu is amazingly fast, and we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp.
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking.
Day 9: Mweka Gate to Arusha.
A gentle walk takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch, we drive back to Arusha Ilboru safari lodge.
Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 3-5 hours walking.
Day 10: Departure day:
Breakfast at your lodge then depart from Arusha and drive to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight back home or to your next destination.
Includes
- 4×4 safari land cruiser
- Accommodation per itinerary
- Meals as per itinerary B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner.
- Services of a literate
- English driver/guide
- National park entrance fees as per itinerary.
- Excursions & activities as per itinerary
- Drinking water in the safari vehicle
- flight from Nairobi to Masai Mara
- flight from Masai Mara to Diani
Excludes
- activities in Diani
- Flights not included in the itinerary
- Visas and related costs
- Personal expenses like drinks, laundry, telephone calls and other
items of a personal nature - Optional excursions and activities not listed in the itinerary
- Covid-19 related test
- Tips and gratuities
anything else not included in the itinerary
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