Shira 8 Days

Shira Route - The Challenging Less Traveled Route - 8 days hiking

DAY 1: Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport
You will be met On arrival, after clearing immigration transfer 0.5 hours by private vehicle to the Park View Hotel in Moshi.  In the evening you will have a mountain briefing to prepare you for your climb of Mt Kilimanjaro.  You can also arrange an equ
ipment hire that you may want.

DAY 2: Moshi - Shira 1 Camp

After breakfast we have a 2 hr drive to Londorossi Gate located on the western side of Kilimanjaro. After completing the necessary registration at Londorossi Kilmajaro National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through shamba and pla
ntations (reaching 2,800 m.). Then you continue climbing on foot through shrubs and stands of giant Ericas to reach the Shira Plateau (3,350 m.). The views across the plains open out as you climb. The first camp is in the centre of a plateau at ?Shira One?
 (3,550 m.). [5 hours]

DAY 3      Shira 1 - Shira 2

An easy acclimatisation day to explore the grassy moorland and the superb volcanic rock formations around the plateau.  Walk to the Shira Cathedral (3,750 m.), a huge buttress of rock with steep spires and pinnacles.  Great views of Mt. Meru floating on
 the clouds are possible from our camp near Shira Hut (3,840 m.) [5 hours walking]

DAY 4      Shira 2 - Moir Hut

Explore below the Northern Ice-fields, an area almost totally unseen by tourists and with great views of Kibo. A steady climb away from the moorland of Shira Plateau into the broad upland desert beneath the Lent Hills. After lunch,  close to Moir Hut (4,200 m.), there is the option of a more strenuous afternoon walk to reach the summit of the Lent Hills (4,700 m.) or time to relax and enjoy the superb campsite. [6 hours walking]

DAY 5      Moir Hut - Lava Tower Camp

A gentle ascent with panoramic views, walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western Breach. After lunch at our Lava Tower campsite (4,550 m.), there is a tough afternoon hike on the rocky slopes of the Western Breach to the ruins of an old hut at Arrow Glacier (4,800 m.). This afternoon excursion is highly recommended for acclimatisation purposes and for the superb views of the hanging glaciers. [6 hours walking]

DAY 6      Lava Tower Camp -  Karanga Camp

The day begins with the descent into the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.), protected by towering cliffs and with spectacular views of the plains below. A short climb up the Barranco Wall leads to a winding trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo. Here you will note superb vistas of the Southern Ice-fields. The terrain is scree and pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows. The camp is at Karanga (4,000 m.), the last water point. There is plenty of time to rest, or for an acclimatisation walk in the afternoon up the valley above the camp towards Southern Ice-fields. [7 hours walking]

DAY 7      Karanga Camp - Barafu Camp

Climb out of Karanga valley, following an easy path on scree that gains altitude to reach the Barafu campsite (4,600 m.) for lunch. During the afternoon, other walkers will begin to fill the campsite for the first time in our trip. There is the option of a short acclimatisation walk to the plateau at the bottom of the South-East valley (4,800 m.). The remainder of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night. [5 hours walking]

DAY 8      Barafu Camp - Summit - Mweka Hut

You start the ascent by torchlight around midnight so that you can be up on the Crater rim by sunrise. The steep climb is over scree and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5,735 m.), in about five or six hours. You will rest there for a short time to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip to Uhuru Peak (5,896 m.). The descent to Barafu is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue to descend to reach our final campsite (3,100 m.) at Mweka. . [15 hours walking]

DAY 9      Mweka Hut - Moshi

A well paced descent on a well constructed path through lovely tropical forest. The route winds down to the National Park gate at Mweka (1,650 m.).  Sign out of the National Park and receive our certificates from the warden. Transfer by private vehicle back to our hotel in Moshi. [5 hours walking]