6 Days from$1800 p/p in USD- DeparturesYear Round
Destinations
Tanzania,
Tour Type
Guided, Large Group, Small Group
Safari Standard
Budget, Camping
Tour Overview
Shira is one of the six established routes to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. The Shira routes approaches from the west. Very similar to Lemosho route, it starts at 3,600 meters and is therefore not ideal for trekkers who have little or no experience of high altitude trekking. On the first day you begin at Shira Gate to Simba Camp before joining the Lemosho Route on day two at Shira Camp 2. The high starting point is however a major negative for this route as many experience altitude sickness from day one without enough time to acclimatize. The route over the Shira Plateau has several possible variations. After Shira Camp 2 the route joins the Machame Route via Lava Tower, and then descends to the Barranco Camp via the Southern Circuit. Ascent to Uhuru Peak is made via Barafu Camp and up the southern slopes of Kibo.The route is seldom used by other trekkers and so your initial two days on the mountain are less crowded than on most other routes.
General Information
- Safari types:Guided Safari, Mountain Safari, Trekking Safari
- You will visit:Kilimanjaro National Park
- Wildlife:Birds
- Activities:Trekking
- Getting around:Transfer Vehicle
- Start/end:Start in Moshi-Kilimanjaro, end in Moshi-Kilimanjaro
- Minimum age:16
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro via The Shira Route
Duration: 6 – 8 days
Difficulty: High
Scenery: Excellent
Traffic: Medium
Price Per Person – USD
From USD 1,800 per person
What's Included
- 2 nights in Moshi on a Bed & Breakfast basis (1 before trekking & 1 after trekking)
- Transfers to and from Kilimanjaro International Airport (2 transfers)
- Transfers to and from the route gate(s) (2 transfers)
- Professional Kilimanjaro Guides, Wilderness First Responder & CPR certification
- Adequate and appropriate number of guides, porters & cooks for your group
- Meals & drinking water
- Sleeping mattress pad(s), dining tent(s), sleeping tent(s), & crew’s equipment
- All guides, porters, and cooks wages
- Portable toilet for the trek
- Complimentary oxygen cylinder
- All park fees, camping fees, rescue fees, and team fees 18% VAT
- Government taxes
What's Excluded
- Flights & visas
- Personal trekking gear
- Tips for guides, porters & cooks
- Travel insurance
- Any private expenses
Disclaimer
- This itinerary is owned and delivered by ‘Kilimanjaro Umoja Tours‘
- All prices are ‘From’ and may vary at the time of booking
- Display price is usually based on two people sharing
- ‘Kilimanjaro Umoja Tours‘ reserves the right to change the content and price of the itinerary
- All itineraries and services are subject to availability
Day by Day Overview
Elevation: 1830m/6000ft to 3850m/12,600ft
Distance: 8km/5mi
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Montane Forest
The drive from Moshi to the trailhead takes about 3 hours. We hike through the rain forest on a winding trail up a ridge. At lower elevations the trail can be muddy and slippery. Gaiters and trekking poles are a good idea here. We continue a short distance until we reach the Shira Camp. An overnight at Shira 2 Camp.
Elevation: 3850m/12,600ft to 4000m/13,000ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Walking Time: 5-6 hours
Habitat: Semi-desert
From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo. As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft). Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier. We now continue down to the Barranco Camp. Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day. An overnight at Barranco Camp.
Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4050m/13,250ft
Distance: 5km/3mi
Hiking Time: 34 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley and the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. An overnight at Karanga Camp.
Elevation: 4050m/13,250ft to 4700m/15,350ft
Distance: 4km/2mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
We continue up to the Barafu Camp. You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. An overnight at Barafu Camp.
Elevation: 4700m/15,350ft to 5895m/19,340ft
Down to 3090m/10,150ft
Distance: 5km/3mi up / 13km/8mi down
Hiking Time: 5-7 hours up / 5-6 hours down
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit.
From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa! From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain. An overnight at Mweka Camp.
Elevation: 3090m/10,150ft to 1680m/5500ft
Distance: 10km/6mi
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Forest
After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. Shorts and t-shirts will probably be plenty to wear (keep rain gear and warmer clothing handy). From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet you at Mweka village to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes).
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