6 Day Shira Route

6 Day Shira Route

Tour Highlights

  • The Shira Route is sometimes called the Lemosho Route because it runs parallel to the Lemosho Route at the beginning but begins much higher up.
  • The Shira Route connects with the Machame Route at Shira 2 Camp.
  • Spectacular 'equator to arctic' scenery on the southern circuit of the mountain through a mountain forest, heather and moorland, alpine desert and snowy summit.
  • A friendly and proffessional support team of guides, cook, waiter and porters with external monitoring for fair working standards on each and every trek.
  • A non-technical high altitude challenge of reaching Africa's highest point, Uhuru peak at 5985m or 19,341ft approaching via Barafu / Stella point and nights spent in mountain tents.
Arrival

Arrival

Trekking Pole

Trekking Pole

Tented Camp

Tented Camp

Trekking Shoe

Trekking Shoe

Departure

Departure

itinerary

Day 1

Arrival

A member of Ensembles Explores Adventures hospitality team greets you upon your arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO). He will drive you to your hotel. Your briefing, in the course of which your travel manager will provide all the details of the forthcoming climb, takes place in the evening. A final check of your readiness to tackle Kilimanjaro is the final part of your preparations.

Day 2

Shira Gate to Shira 1 Camp

We depart Moshi for Londorossi Gate, which takes about 4 hours; here we will complete entry formalities while guides and porters prepare equipment. We then continue to drive up a steep path to the Shira Gate where we will begin the hike. The trek starts through shrubs and giant heather until we reach Simba Camp.

Elevation: 11,800 ft to 11,800 ft

Distance: 4 km

Hiking time: 1-2 hours

Habitat: Heath

Day 3

Shira 1 to Shira 2 Camp

Today is a fairly easy day to help with acclimatization. We begin by exploring the grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations on the plateau. Then we take a scenic path to the Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles, before settling at Shira 2 Camp.

Day 4

Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower

We continue to the east up a ridge and then head southeast towards the Lava Tower – a 300 ft tall volcanic rock formation. We descend down to Barranco Camp through the strange but beautiful Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft. Although you begin and end the day at the same elevation, the time spent at higher altitude is very beneficial for acclimatization.

Elevation: 12,500 ft to 15,190 ft

Distance: 7 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft

Distance: 3 km

Hiking time: 2-3 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 5

Barranco Camp to Barafu camp

We begin the day by descending into a ravine to the base of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we climb the non-technical but steep, nearly 900 ft cliff. From the top of the Barranco Wall we cross a series of hills and valleys until we descend sharply into Karanga Valley. One more steep climb up leads us to Karanga CampWe after lunch we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the rocky section to Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the Southern Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest and enjoy an early dinner to prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are viewable from this position.

Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft

Distance: 9 km

Hiking time: 5 km

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft

Distance:4 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert

Day 6

Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak and back to mweka camp

Very early in the morning (around midnight), we begin our push to the summit. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek. The wind and cold at this elevation and time of day can be extreme. We ascend in the darkness for several hours while taking frequent, but short, breaks. Near Stella Point (18,900 ft), you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see coming over Mawenzi Peak. Finally, we arrive at Uhuru Peak- the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa.

From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. The trail is very rocky and can be quite hard on the knees; trekking poles are helpful. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in the late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and a well-earned sleep.

Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft

Distance: 5 km

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft

Distance: 12 km

Hiking time: 4-6 hours

Habitat: Rain Forest

Day 7

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

On our last day, we continue the descent to Mweka Gate and collect the summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village. A vehicle will meet us at Mweka Village to drive us back to the hotel in Moshi.

Day 8

Departure

Rest in the hotel and transfer to the airport.

Note: Hotel check-out is at 11:00 AM. In case you need a late check-out because of an evening flight, there is the option to extend your hotel stay for an extra fee.

Itinerary Map

Map

Itinerary Gallery

Booking Form

Include & Exclude

Include

  • Accommodation on arrival and after the trekking
  • Transfer to and from the base of the mountain
  • Lemosho route trek as itinerary depicts 6 Days
  • Full board accommodation whilst on the trek
  • Meal plan as detailed: B=Breakfast, L=Lunch and D=Dinner
  • All entrance fees to include government taxes
  • Service of an English-speaking professional Mountain guide on the mountain, porters and skilled cook
  • All services begin and end at Kilimanjaro Airport as per the itinerary
  • Treated water on the trek
  • Return airport transfers from/to Kilimanjaro Airport
  • Fair salary of porters, cooker and guides

Exclude

  • Tips for guides, cooker and porters
  • Medical evacuation,
  • International flights and taxes
  • Visas (50 US $ for Tanzania)
  • Items of a personal nature and any other extras not detailed in the above itinerary.

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