Cliff Africa Adventure |7 Days Shira Kilimanjaro Climbing

7 DAYS KILIMANJARO CLIMBING (SHIRA ROUTE)

Shira Route

About Kilimanjaro Climbing via Shira Route (7 Days)

The Shira route is a path that approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, and is nearly identical to the Lemosho route. In fact, Shira was the original route and Lemosho is the improved variation.
While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this walk 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 11,800 feet (3,600 m) and spend their first night at the same elevation at Simba Camp. Then, the route merges with Lemosho at Shira 2 and follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the Southern Ice fields before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made on the Mweka route.

Arrival

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

DAY 1: 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 trail head 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.

DAY 2: 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.

DAY 3: 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.

DAY 4: Barranco Campsite to Karanga Campsite

Elevation: 3950m to 3900m,
Distance: 6 km,
Hiking time: 4-5 hours,
Habitat: Moorland

Today is short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing Barranco wall and 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 till the night falls and then come back to the camp for dinner and the overnight.

DAY 5: Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite

Elevation: 3900m to 4620m,
Distance: 8 km,
Hiking time: 3-4 hours,
Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Today 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.

DAY 6: 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. So 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.

DAY 7: 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.

PRICE PER PERSON (US DOLLAR):

GROUP SIZE

PRICE

1 Person

$ 2450

2 People

$ 2400

3 - 6 People

$ 2350

6 - 10 People

$ 2300

10++

$ 2250

Price Included:

All accommodations per itinerary
All meals per itinerary (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
All tours and entrance fees per itinerary (unless listed as excluded)
All transportation and transfers per itinerary
2 nights accommodations in Moshi
Round-trip transfers for the Kilimanjaro Airport
National Park gate fees
Transport from Moshi to trail head and return to Moshi
Hut fees
Certified, experienced, English-speaking guides for all routes
Salaries for all crew members
Rescue fees (as required by national park)
Tents, foam sleeping pads, cooking equipment, and eating utensils
Oximeters & Emergency Oxygen (2L canister)

Price Exclude:

International and domestic flights
Meals not listed, Beverages and alcohol
Tips for guides, porters, and cooks($20per guide/day, $15 cook/day, $10 per porter/day is reccomended)
Optional tours
Personal expenses (visas, airport taxes, Internet, etc.)
Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and personal gear
Optional tours
Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and personal gear