Shira Route

Our friendly transfer driver will meet you at Kilimanjaro airport. After loading the luggage into the vehicle you will make your way to the lodge and explore the small town of Arusha. Our team will meet you later the day to have a preliminary talk in preparation for the days of safari.

After breakfast at the hotel in Arusha, we drive approximately 2 hours through the rural countryside to the Londrossi Gate. For the necessary park registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations to the start of Shira Route. We start our ascent along with the shrub forests the trail climbs steadily with wide views of Kibo Icefield to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau.

Londrossi Gate to Shira One Camp (3550 m): 4-5 hours walking.

Today we follow an easy path to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut. As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Shira Camp One to Shira Hut (3,840 m): 4-5 hours walking

Today we walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach after a hot lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.)

We descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3,900 m.).

Moir Hut to Barranco valley (3,900 m.): 5-7 hours walking.

A steep climb up the eastern wall leads us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally, we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.

Barranco Valley to Karanga camp (4,000 m): 4-5 hours walking

Today we take the Traverse Route that takes up the Barafu Ridge, we walk up quite slowly to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,600 m): 3-4 hours walking.

Wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. We begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree that has some well-graded zig-zags and a slow but steady pace will take us to the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. We will rest there for a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling good can continue slowly to make the two-hour round trip from here along the crater rim to the main peak (5,895 m), which is the highest point in Africa. After a few minutes to appreciate your accomplishment we descend to Barafu is amazingly fast, and we stop at Barafu Camp for some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach Mweka Camp.

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking

A gentle walk takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch, we drive back to Arusha for shower and celebration.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 3-5 hours walking.

Arusha to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight unless you have the option to relax at Zanzibar beach, or any other option we will discuss.