KILIMANJARO - SHIRA ROUTE
The Shira Route is a tough route that begins in the west, at Shira Gate. What are unique facts about this route is that the first section of the trail is not hiked, but rather driven. So for climbers using Shira will miss out on hiking up one of Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones, the rain forest.
- An off-road vehicle transports climbers to the Shira gate, located at approximately 11,500 feet, where the hike begins to Simba Camp. The route starts at 3,600 meters and is therefore not ideal for trekkers who have little or no experience of high altitude trekking.
- Shira was the original route before the Lemosho route was created to improve the route start point.
- The starting point is, however, a major difficulty for this route and some trekkers experience altitude sickness from day one as their bodies haven’t had enough time to acclimatize.
- After Shira Camp, the route joins the Machame Route via Lava Tower and then descends to the Barranco Camp via the Southern Circuit. You can explore these routes as well.
- The route itself offers a diverse range of scenery, as the trail travels through diverse ecosystems as it makes its way to the top.
- Climbers or trekkers experience is highly preferred, as the days will feature 6 to 8 hours hiking with daily ascents of 900m to 1000m.
You need ample confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. Higher altitude and weather may be encountered, as may the use of ice axes and crampons. And a degree of physical and mental stamina will be crucial to complete the hike as the days will be tiring.
ITENARY
Kilimanjaro Airport - Arusha
You will be greeted by our guide and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight. A briefing about the following days will be given depending on your arrival time.
Meals: Breakfast & dinner
Accommodation: Planet Lodge
Morum Barrier Gate- Shira 1 Camp
Around 07:30 you will depart from the lodge to Londorosi gate for entry registration. It will take around 4 hours, depending on the road condition. After registration, you will drive for another hour to Morum Barrier Gate where you will reach the trailhead for lunch and then trekking begins through heather and moorland Altitude: (11,500 ft. 3,505m.) Trekking time: 1-2hours
Meals: Breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Shira 1 Camp
Shira 1 Camp- Shira 2 Camp
Trek through one of the highest plateaus on earth, the Shira plateau then toward Kibo’s glaciered peak, with the option to visit the ancient collapsed Shira cone and to scramble atop the ‘Shira Cathedral’ to overlook the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes. overnight: Shira 2 Camp (12,600 ft. 3,950m.) Trekking time: 3-5 hours.
Meals: breakfast , lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Shira 2 Camp
Shira 2 Camp- Moir Camp
Walk into the barren high altitude desert surrounded with a landscape of bizarre plants, rock formations, and caves. Overnight: Moir Camp (13,800 ft. 4,205 m.) Trekking time: 3-5 hours.
Meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Moir Camp
Moir Camp- Buffalo Camp
Morning starts into the stark alpine desert, on a steep ridge off the main trail through rocky east while enjoying a magnificent view into Kenya’s wild lands to the north. Overnight: Buffalo Camp (13,200 ft. 4,025 m.) Trekking time: 5 – 7 hours
Meals: breakfast , lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Buffalo Camp
Buffalo Camp- Third Cave Camp
Cross valleys and over ridges through the alpine desertcontinuing to the east, enjoying a vast view of mountain wilderness. Overnight: Third Cave Camp (12,960 ft. 3,950 m.) Trekking time: 5-7 hours
Meals: breakfast , lunch & dinner
Accommodation: Third Cave Camp
Third Cave Camp– School Hut
Leave camp slowly trek to the stark highland desert as we near the massive saddle, where the landscape spectacularly stark. As you near the foot of Kibo the temperature will be chill. Overnight: School Hut (15,585 ft. 4,750 m.) Trekking time: 4-5
Meals: breakfast lunch dinner
Accommodation: School Hut
School Hut - UHURU PEAK (19,340 ft. 5,895 m) Mweka Camp
A long trek will be started at 1 am after a wakeup call at midnight. Walk to the rim of the crater (Gillman’s Point (18,750 ft. 5,712 m)) to Uhuru Peak, about 7 – 8 hours. As you approach Gilman’s Point at the edge of the crater, the trail to the summit will be getting easier and can be reached after a further 1½-2 hours along possibly snowy crater rim. Take time to reflect on the achievement at the summit, capture some memorable moment, then gather your strength for descent Overnight: Mweka Camp (10,200 ft. 3,110 m) Trekking time: 11-15 hours
Meals: breakfast lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mweka Camp
Mweka Camp -Mweka Gate
carefully descend to Mweka gate where you’ll be greeted with lunch and you will be awarded your climbing certificates. You will be transferred to your lodge for a warm shower. Overnight: Planet Lodge Trekking time: 2-3 hours
Meals: breakfast
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR?
Items that are included in the cost of our price
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners & dining
- All accommodation including tea houses en route
- All transportation including taxis and coaches
WHAT IS not INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR?
Items that are not included in the cost of our price
- Travel insurance and other emergencies
- Visa fees and entry clearing fees
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