Kilimanjaro Trekking Shira Route
About 7 Days Shira Route
The Shira Route is a difficult route that begins in the west, at Shira Gate. What is unque about Shira is that the first section of the trail is not hiked, but rather driven. Therefore, climbers using Shira will miss out on hiking up one of Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones, the rain forest.
An off road vehicle transports climbers to the Shira gate, located at 11,500 feet, where the hike begins to Simba Camp. This is a sizable altitude gain for someone who slept at Moshi on their previous night. Complications from altitude can occur due to failed acclimatization.
ITINERARY:
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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 and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day.
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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 trailhead to Londorosi Gate for registration. Following this you will board a vehicle again and drive further up to Moram Gate. You trek through the moorland and heather vegetation heading to the east crossing ridges and valley as well as a long flat distance to Shira One Campsite. -
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 and other many spectacular special features then continue 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. 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 -
DAY 5: Karanga Campsite to Barafu Campsite
Elevation: 3900m to 4620m.
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking time: 3-4 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
Today trek up to the Barafu Ridge Campsite is tough because of altitude. Although the distance is short, the walk will take some time due to the steepness and the increasing altitude. You will walk across a alpine desert with strong and icy winds blowing from Kibo Peak. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs 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. 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; 00AM, switchback 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’s crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak where you will get a chance to stop for photos and taking in the reality of achieving your goal. After your summit activities 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 Mweka Huts Campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka Hut Campsite -
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 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.
PRICE INCLUDES
Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.2 nights of accommodation in Moshi.
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate.
Park entry fees.
Camping fees.
Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees.
18% VAT on tour fees & services.
4 Season mountain tents.
Double layered Sleeping Mats.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters. 3 hot meals daily while on the mountain.
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek.
Hot water for washing.
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO).
Government taxes.
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter. Emergency first-aid kit.
PRICE EXCLUDES
Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.Travel insurance.
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 170 for the entire trek(Can be shared up to 3 people).
Flights.
Laundry (Available at hotel).
Personal items and toiletries.
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain).
Price:
- GROUP SIZE
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PRICE
- Solo Trekker
- $ 2200
- 2 - 4People
- $ 2000
- 5 - 7 People
- $ 1850
- 8 - 10 People
- $ 1700
- 10++
- $ 1650
