Shira route 6 days

Shira Route 6 Days is a little used trail that begins near Shira Ridge. It is nearly identical to the Lemosho route. In fact, Shira was the original route and Lemosho is the improved variation. Although Shira is a varied and beautiful route, it is less favorable than its successor due to the relatively high altitude of Shira’s starting point, which is accessed quickly by vehicle. It is possible that climbers will experience some altitude related symptoms on the first day while camping at 11,800 feet.

Shira route approaches Mount Kilimanjaro from the west, beginning with a long drive from Moshi to Shira Ridge. The vehicle bypasses the rain forest zone and the hiking trail begins on Shira Ridge. The Shira route crosses the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a pleasant, relatively flat hike. Then the route traverses underneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on a path known as the Southern Circuit before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made via the Mweka route. Karibu Adventure offers Shira Route 6 Days or seven day private climb.

Shira Route 6 Days

Difficulty           Distance                Duration       Success rate

Medium            56 km / 35 miles        7-8 days           98%

Highlights                                                           Considerations
✓ Beautiful scenery                                      – Slow acclimatization profile start                                                                  – Possible in the wet season
✓ Panoramic views
✓ Varied terrain
✓ Excellent success rates over 85%
✓ less traffic at day one

Shira Route 6 Days Itinerary

Day 1: Kilimanjaro Airport – Hotel

Once you have arrived safely at Kilimanjaro airport you will be met by one of our friendly drivers who will transfer you to your hotel accommodation for the evening in Moshi. You will also meet with one of our operations staff who will explain everything you need to know regarding your trek and check all your equipment.

Day 2: Moshi/Hotel to Londorosi Gate to Shira One Campsite

Drive from the hotel, you can explore the small and pretty town of Bomang’ombe then drive to the trailhead to Londorosi gate for registration. Following this you will board a vehicle again and drive further up to Moram gate. You trek through the mooland  and heather vegetation heading to the east crossing ridges and valley as well as a long flat distance to Shira One campsite.

Elevation:1200m to 1830m to 3500m
Distance: 18km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation

Day 3: Shira One campsite to Shira Two campsite

This day you will trek to east across Shira plateau visiting Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak and other many spectacular special  features then continue walk to Shira Two camp where meal and overnight will take place.

Elevation: 3500m to 3800m.
Distance: 7km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours.
Habitat: Moorland and rock.

Day 4 : Shira Two campsite to Barranco campsite

This is long but important acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m) for acclimatization after you will continue to Barranco hut camp for supper and overnight.

Elevation: 3800m to 3950m
Distance: 13km
Hiking time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland

Day 5: Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall (elev 4250m/13,900ft), through the Karanga Valley (elev 4050m/13,250ft) to the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. 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 with views of the summit in the distance.

  • Elevation: 4000m/13,000ft to 4700m/15,350ft
  • Distance: 9km/6mi
  • Hiking Time: 6-8 hours
  • Habitat: Alpine Desert
  • Meals: BLD

Day 6: Barafu hut campsite to Uhuru peak to Mweka hut campsite

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point you will be having the views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend some times for taking photo’s. After your summit activities done, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite.

Shira Route 6 Days

Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m
Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours
Habitat: Desert and ice.

Day 7: Mweka hut campsite to Mweka gate

After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain so you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montane forest this descent will take 3-4 hours. Then here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel in Moshi for your certificate presentation celebration.

Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km
Descending time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane forest.

Day 8: After breakfast, you continue with your travel plans or take a transfer to the Kilimanjaro Airport. End of Shira Route 6 Days


Our package includes the following: 

  • Quality, waterproof, four-season mountain sleeping tents (on twin sharing basis)
  • Quality Mess tents with table and chairs
  • Conservation fees (part of park fees)
  • Clean, purified drinking water
  • Sleeping Mattress
  • Large portions of fresh, healthy, nutritious food
  • Hot water for washing up daily
  • Basic first aid kit
  • Camping  (part of park fees)
  • Airports pick up and drop off  
  • Orientation and gear check as well
  • Medically Trained qualified guides, porters and cooks, their food, salaries and their tents
  • Twice a day medical health checkup, monitoring with pulse-oximeter and stethoscope.
  • Two nights’ accommodation in the hotel; first night includes bed and breakfast, with storage facilities for excess luggage during hikes
  • All transfers to the mountain and back to your Moshi hotel
  • VAT (18% charged by the Government)
  • All meals while on the Mountain
  • Kilimanjaro summit certificate
  • Emergency Oxygen Cylinder
  • Rescue fees (part of park fees)

Exclusions

  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not listed in the itinerary
  • Surcharge for online payment of advance and balance
  • Liquors, beers and bottled beverages
  • Personal trekking equipment such as sleeping bags, hiking boots, clothes, etc (available for renting)
  • International and domestic flights
  • Personal Expenses (e.g. laundry, telephone, beverages, etc.)
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Tanzania Visa

Deposit Payment:

  • Deposit is 10% of the total booking amount, this is non-refundable.
  • Deposit can be paid either via a bank transfer or an online card payment.
  • Once you make the advance payment you will receive a booking confirmation.

Balance Payment

  • Balance can be paid via bank transfer, online card payment, or with cash.
  • Bank payment can be done 15 days prior to the tour date (recommended 30 days prior).
  • Card Payment can be done 1 day prior to the tour date (recommended 7 days prior).
  • Cash can be paid on arrival (USD printed in or after the year 2009).

Prices:

Please find below the prices for organizing a private trek. The prices are based on your group size.

  • Solo Trekker – USD 1871 per person
  • Group of 2 – USD 1797 per person
  • Group of 3 – USD 1734 per person
  • Group of 4 – USD 1658 per person
  • Group of 5 – USD 1646 per person
  • Group of 6 – USD 1628 per person
  • Group of 7 – USD 1624 per person
  • Group of 8 – USD 1620 per person
  • Group of 9 – USD 1615 per person
  • Group of 10 and above – USD 1612 per person

Hotels:

If you are booking a hotel directly, please do check with us before booking, to make sure we can meet you and pick you up from the hotel.

Gear

We offer the following add-ons to your gear (all equipment are subject to availability):

  • Private Toilet – USD 150
  • Private Tent – USD 5 per day
  • Thicker sleeping mattress – USD 10 per mattress

Our packages by default include a foam sleeping mattress of 2 inch thickness, if you want a thicker alternative you can opt a 4 inch foam mattress available with extra cost of $10.

Transfers

We offer the following transfer options

  • Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) to Moshi (one way) – USD 50 per vehicle
  • Moshi to Kilimanjaro Airport (JRO) (one way) – USD 50 per vehicle
  • Arusha to Moshi (one way) – USD 100 per vehicle
  • Moshi to Arusha (one way) – USD 100 per vehicle
Karibu Adventure
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