7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Shira Route

You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to your arranged 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. Gear which is missing can be rented on this day.

• Driving distance: 55 km/miles,
• Driving Time: 1hour
• Habitat: Cultivated zone
• Hotel: Bed and Breakfast

We begin our journey from Moshi to Londorosi gate where will complete formalities and pack our belongs, then keep driving to Shira ridge where will start our hike. Today the drive will involve a long from Moshi to the park and short walk to reach the first camp. The trail starts through shrubs and giant heather until we reach Shira Camp one.

• Distance: 4km/2miles,
• Hiking Time: 1-2 hours,
• Eleven: 11,800 ft to 11,800 ft
• Vegetation: Heath.

Today you will get the chance to view the Northern Ice fields from the western side of the mountain with some unusual views of Kibo. Our steady climb across the moorland of the Shira Plateau will help with acclimatization and we enjoy great panoramic views. Our destination today is the Shira 2 Camp. In the afternoon you will take an acclimatization walk then head back to camp for dinner and overnight.

• Distance: 8km/5miles,
• Hiking Time: 6-8hours,
• Eleven:11,500ft to 12,631ft
• Vegetation: Heath

Your trek starts with an ascent with far-reaching panoramic views, walking into the climatic zone of the upland desert and on the lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. You will reach the distinct pinnacle of the Lava Tower (4640 m), our high point for the day and a great place to enjoy your lunch. In the afternoon we make a steep descent to our camp for the night, located in the base of the Great Barranco Valley (3960 m), sheltered by towering cliffs but with extensive views of the plains below.

• Distance: 10km/6miles,
• Hiking Time: 6-8hours,
• Eleven:12,500ft to 15,190ft to 13,044
• Vegetation: Alpine Desert

Our day starts by descending into the start of the Great Barranco, a huge ravine. We then exit steeply, up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo. It’s a climb over rock, not technical but long and tiring. Passing underneath the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards the Karanga valley. From here we have a steep climb up from Karanga valley to our night’s camp at Karanga camp, set at 3963m. For those feeling strong we will go for a mid-afternoon acclimatization trek up to around 4200m before descending back to camp for the night.

• Distance: 5km/3miles,
• Hiking Time: 4-5hours,
• Eleven:13,044 ft – 13,106 ft
• Vegetation: Alpine Desert

After a good night’s rest and breakfast, we set off on our walk to Barafu camp at 4640m. The climb will take us across desolate scree slopes with no vegetation around us at all. It’s a tough steep walk made more difficult by the altitude. On arriving at camps, we eat and spend the afternoon resting as we prepare for a long night and day ahead. It is important to keep hydrated and warm. We have an early dinner and then try to get some sleep as we will be getting up at between 11pm and 12pm to start the climb to the summit.

• Distance: 4km/2miles,
• Hiking Time: 4-5hours,
• Eleven:13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
• Vegetation: Alpine Desert

We start off at around midnight and walk steeply upwards to the summit glaciers. We will be climbing scree for 4 to 5 hours but gain incredible height over a short distance. The views are spectacular. We should be on the crater rim at Stella Point (5739m) as the first rays of the sun hit us. Spectacular ice cliffs within the crater surround us and the views to jagged Mawenzi peak and beyond are breathtaking. Another hour’s walking takes us to the summit, Uhuru Peak (5895m). We begin our descent by returning to Stella Point and then descending on scree slope and track back to Barafu Camp for breakfast, before finally heading down to Mweka Camp for a long well-earned rest.

• Distance: 5km/3miles and 7km/4mile
• Hiking Time: 6-8 hours and 2-4 hours
• Eleven: 15,331 ft to 19,341ft and 12,434 ft
• Vegetation: Arctic to Heath

A gentle trek takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where we complete park formalities and receive certificates, which you can hang up with pride! We are then met by our vehicles and return to the hotel in Moshi, where you can treat yourself to a welcome shower then celebrate with cold drinks. Overnight at your arranged Hotel

• Distance: 12km/7miles,
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours,
• Eleven:12,434 ft – 5,380 ft
• Vegetation: Rain forest 

This day left for your next destination. If you have safari, then might be used to beginning your safari or fly to Zanzibar or fly back home. Our vehicle will be ready to take you to the airport at your time.