SHIRA
The Shira Route is a little-used trekking path in Tanzania's Kilimanjaro National Park. It is known for its spectacular landscape and glaciers, and offers breathtaking views of Mount Kilimanjaro. The route begins at a high elevation, and follows the mountain's glaciers and saddle. It takes you through a scenic valley, and passes by the imposing Lava Tower, a popular stop for climbers. The Shira Route is a great choice for travelers looking for a unique and challenging trekking experience.
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Difficulty: Medium
Distance: 56 km
Duration: 7-8 days
Success rate: High
The Climb
The Shira Route is a little-used trail on Mount Kilimanjaro that was once the original route to the summit. It offers a varied and beautiful landscape, including stunning views of the mountain and its glaciers. The Shira Route has become less favorable due to its high elevation of the starting point and the first camp at 11,800 feet. Also, it takes longer to ascend than other routes. However, for those looking for a unique trekking experience, it is an excellent choice. This route begin with a long drive from Moshi, so you will pass through the rain forest zone in a vehicle and start walking in Health Zone.
Scenery
A Kilimanjaro trek on the Shira Route takes adventurers through some of the most scenic sights on the mountain. As you ascend, you will enjoy stunning views of the majestic Mount Meru and the rolling highlands of the Shira Plateau. Soon, you will be surrounded by the alpine desert of the Saddle, with the summit of Kilimanjaro in the distance. When you reach Lava Tower, you will be surrounded by the stunning glaciers and snowfields of the mountain. The majestic beauty of Kilimanjaro will take your breath away!
Success Rate
Shira Route follows almost the same path as Lemosho Route with the starting point being the difference. Similar to the Lemosho route, Shira has a high success rate due to a longer acclimatization period, which helps to reduce the risk of altitude sickness. From Shira Plateau, climbers will traverse the Southern Circuit and ascend to the summit of Kilimanjaro. The Shira route is perfect for those looking to explore the mountain and take in the beautiful views on their way to the summit. Descent is made via the Mweka route.
ITIRENARY
Day 1 - Shira Gate to Simba Camp
The first day of the Kilimanjaro Shira Route begins with an early morning departure from Moshi, a four hour drive to Londorossi Gate. Here you will complete the entry formalities and then proceed up a steep path to Shira Gate. The terrain for the first few kilometers consists of shrubs and giant heather. As you continue the hike, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the surrounding scenery. You will finish the day at Simba Camp, located at an altitude of about 11,500 feet above sea level.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 11,800 ft to 11,800 ft
Hiking Time: 1 to 2 hours
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Habitat: Health
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Day 2 - Simba Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Today is an easy day on the Shira Route, designed to help with acclimatization. We will hike across the grassy moorland of the Shira Plateau, where you can see volcanic rock formations and explore the Shira Cathedral, an impressive feature with its huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. We will settle at Shira 2 Camp for the night.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 11,800 ft to 12,500 ft
Hiking Time: 2 hours
Distance: 6 km/4 miles
Habitat: Health
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Day 3 - Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Today you will be hiking from Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower, and then down to Barranco Camp. The hike should take between 4-5 hours. Once you reach Lava Tower, you will then descend through the beautiful Senecio Forest to Barranco Camp. Even though this hike begins and ends at the same elevation, it still provides many benefits for acclimatization. This hike also allows you to take in some of the amazing scenery that Kilimanjaro has to offer.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours and descent 2-3 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
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Day 4 – Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
You'll be hiking through an alpine desert environment and a variety of terrain, beginning with a descent into a ravine and then a climb up the non-technical but steep Barranco Wall.
You'll continue on your hike by crossing a series of hills and valleys before descending sharply into Karanga Valley. From here, the final climb up to Karanga Camp begins. This day is typically shorter than others on the route and is meant for acclimatization. At Karanga Camp, you will have lunch and settle in for the night.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 5 km/3 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
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Day 5 – Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Hike from Karanga Camp to Barafu Hut, where you will spend the night and make your final summit attempt. You will be surrounded by lava towers, glaciers, and snow-capped peaks. Mawenzi and Kibo peaks are visible from here. The views will certainly motivate you to keep going and remind you of the incredible benefits of having undertaken such a journey. Once you reach Barafu Hut, take the rest of the day to relax and take in the surroundings before your summit attempt in the morning.
Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
Hiking Time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: 4 km/2 miles
Habitat: Alpine Desert
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Day 6 – Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp
The summit attempt is the most challenging part of the Shira Route. Starting around midnight, hikers will ascend more than 5,000 feet over a distance of 5 miles to reach Uhuru Peak (19,341 ft). Along the way, hikers will witness one of the most magnificent sunrises at Stella Point (18,900 ft). As you continue up the steepest section of the climb, trekking poles can be incredibly helpful as the trail is very rocky. Once you reach the peak, take some photos of your accomplishment and shortly, you will begin the descent straight down to Barafu for lunch. From there, you will make your way to Mweka Camp where dinner and sleep will be enjoyed at the end of the day. Keep in mind that Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent and 4-6 hours descent
Distance: 17 km/10 miles
Habitat: Arctic and Rain Forest
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Day 7 – Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
On the final day of the Kilimanjaro trek, you'll begin your descent from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate. This section usually takes about 3-4 hours, as the trail is mostly downhill and well-maintained. At Mweka Gate, you will receive your Kilimanjaro certificate for completing the Shira Route. This is a great moment to pause and reflect on your accomplishment! From here, you'll board a vehicle for your ride back to the hotel in Moshi.
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Accommodation: Camping (1 night)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
Hiking Time: -4 hours
Distance: 10 km/6 miles
Habitat: Rain Forest
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