The Shira Route offers a scenic and challenging approach to Mount Kilimanjaro. Starting on the western side, this 6/7-day trek takes you through beautiful highland meadows and diverse landscapes, with rewarding views of the Shira Plateau, Kibo, and the dramatic scenery along the way.
Ideal Duration: 6/7 Days
Arrive at the airport and be transferred to your hotel. You will meet your chief guide for a pre-trek briefing the day before the hike to ensure you are well-prepared.
After breakfast, you’ll drive 2 hours to Londorossi Gate for formalities and permit acquisition. From there, a 30-minute drive brings you to Morum Gate. After lunch at the Morum picnic site, you’ll begin the trek to Shira 2 Camp, located at 3,850 meters. The hike is around 11 kilometers and takes 5-6 hours through moorland habitat, with stunning views of the surrounding landscape.
Start your day hiking from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower, ascending to 4,600 meters. This 8-kilometer stretch takes 4-5 hours. After reaching Lava Tower, you’ll descend to Barranco Camp (3,900 meters) over another 3 kilometers in 2-3 hours. This part of the trek helps with acclimatization under the motto “climb high, sleep low.” Expect to cross semi-desert terrain with impressive views of giant groundsel.
Begin your day by tackling the Barranco Wall, known as the “Breakfast Wall.” Once you ascend the wall, the trail flattens out as you continue to Karanga Camp at 3,995 meters. The 5-kilometer trek takes around 4-5 hours through alpine desert. After reaching the camp, you’ll do a short acclimatization hike before descending back for overnight rest.
Continue the trek to Barafu Camp, which sits at 4,673 meters and serves as your base camp for the summit attempt. The 4-kilometer trek takes 3 hours, allowing plenty of time to rest and prepare for the midnight summit push.
Summit day begins at midnight with the push to Uhuru Peak (5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa. The 5-kilometer ascent takes 6-8 hours, through challenging conditions with extreme cold and high winds. You’ll reach Stella Point for a magnificent sunrise view before continuing to the summit. After spending some time at the top, you will descend back to Barafu Camp for rest, then further down to Mweka Camp (3,068 meters) for overnight.
After breakfast, descend 10 kilometers through rainforest to Mweka Gate. The trek takes around 3 hours. Upon arrival, you’ll have lunch and collect your summit certificates. A vehicle will be waiting to take you back to your hotel.
Transfer to the airport, leaving 3 hours before your scheduled flight.
The Shira route is considered moderately difficult. The early days of the trek are relatively gentle, but altitude can be a challenge as the route starts at a higher elevation. The trail involves crossing alpine desert zones and acclimatization is key to managing the difficulty.
The success rate for the 7-day Shira route is generally high, around 85-90%, as the extra day allows for better acclimatization, which is crucial for reaching the summit.
The cost of climbing Kilimanjaro via the Shira route varies depending on the service provider, but it generally ranges from $2,000 to $5,000. This includes park fees, guiding services, porters, meals, and camping equipment.
No, Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb. It is a trekking peak, meaning you do not need any mountaineering skills or equipment like ropes or ice axes. However, the high altitude presents the main challenge.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro typically takes 5 to 9 days, depending on the route chosen. The 7-day Shira route is common, allowing for better acclimatization and increasing summit success.
Showers are not available on the mountain. Most trekkers use wet wipes for hygiene. Portable toilet tents are often provided by trekking companies, or you can use the basic long-drop toilets at campsites.
The Shira route typically takes 6 to 7 days, including summit and descent days. This timeframe allows for proper acclimatization and increases the chances of a successful summit.
Meals on Kilimanjaro include high-energy, nutritious food like soups, pasta, rice, vegetables, fruits, bread, and sometimes meat or eggs. Snacks like nuts, energy bars, and cookies are also provided to keep you fueled during the trek.
Distances between camps vary depending on the day. For example, the hike from Shira 2 to Lava Tower is 8 km (5 miles), while the trek from Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak is 5 km (3 miles). Each day involves walking 5-11 km on average.
(+255) 784 884 018
contact@mauly-tours.com
(+255) 784 884 018
contact@mauly-tours.com
The Shira Route was a beautiful and peaceful trek. The views from the Shira Plateau were incredible, and the guides were very helpful throughout.
An amazing trek! The Shira Route had stunning landscapes, and the team did an excellent job of ensuring our comfort and safety. Highly recommended!
