Kilimanjaro Shira Route driving up
The Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days starts on the western side of Mt Kilimanjaro and is a scenic and beautiful route. The route is ideal for hikers already acclimatized to 3 500m / 11 480ft. It is a fast ascending Kilimanjaro route that involves driving up to the Morrum Barrier gate. The drive from the Londorossi gate to the gate, features vegetation changes from forest, grassland, heath to moorland. Please click on the Shira route map to see an enlarged Shira route map.
The Kilimanjaro Shira route merge with the Lemosho route from night 1 onwards, sharing the same route till the end. The actual hiking trail is considered to be more challenging. Hikers with a fear of heights, may find the Baranco wall intimidating. The Shira route share the same acclimatization benefit – climb high, sleep low – with the Machame and Lemosho routes.
Recommended duration of climb
While the minimum duration for the Shira route is 6 days, we strongly recommend opting for the 7-day option. On the 6-day route, you’ll face a strenuous day with minimal rest, when hiking from Baranco to Barafu campsite. However, by choosing the 7-day option, this challenging day is split into two. The additional night is then spent at Karanga campsite. Positioned close to Barafu campsite, Karanga allows for an earlier arrival at Barafu. This will allow valuable extra time to rest before the summit attempt.
Kilimanjaro Shira route summary
| Shira route advantages | Shira route disadvantages |
|---|---|
 Ideal route for hikers already acclimatized to 3500m / 11 480ft. |  Long transfer time to the starting point, making it more expensive. |
| Beautiful drive from Londorossi gate to the Morrum Barrier gate. | Actual trail from the Morrum Barrier gate to Barafu campsite is challenging. |
| Opportunity to climb high / sleep low, reducing the possibillity to get altitude sickness. | Baranco wall a potential problem for hikers with a fear of heights. |
| The actual summit trail shorter, less challenging than the Marangu route summit trail. | Basic long drop style toilets at campsites. |
| Ascend and descend using different routes. | Some parts ;ike the Baranco wall, subject to “bottled neck” effect due to high number of hikers. |
Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days itinerary
Day 1 – Morrum Barrier Gate (3 300m / ft) – Shira 1 campsite (3 610m / 11 843ft)
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: Approximately 7 km / 4.4 miles
Habitat: Montane forest
Your day starts early with a 3 to 4 hour drive from Moshi town to the Londorossi gate to register. After registration, you continue by vehicle to the Morrum Barrier gate. The drive itself is spectacular as you drive through the different vegetation zones. You will start hiking from the Morrum Barrier gate, hiking through a giant heather moorland zone. You will cross several streams before reaching Shira 1 Campsite, located on the western edge of the Shira plateau. On this day will the Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days join the Lemosho route.
Day 2 – Shira 1 campsite (3 610m / 11 843ft) – Shira 2 campsite (3 850m / 12 631ft)
Hiking time: 6 to 7 hours
Distance: Approximately 10 km / 6.2 miles
Habitat: Moorland
After breakfast, trek from Shira 1 campsite, directly across the gentle slope of the Shira plateau. We take a scenic path to Shira Cathedral (3 872m / 12 703ft). Shira Cathedral is a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. Shira 2 campsite is a exposed campsite. The night will be colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.
Day 3 – Climb high, sleep low
Ascend: Shira 2 campsite (3 850m / 12 631ft) – Lava Tower (4 600m / 15 090ft)
Hiking time: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: Approximately 7 km / 4.3 miles Habitat: Semi-desert
Descend: Lava Tower (4 600m / 15 090ft) – Baranco campsite (3 900m) / 12 795ft)
Hiking time: 2 to 3 hours
Distance: Approximately 3.3 km / 2 miles Habitat: Semi-desert
The route now turns east heading into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower. At Lava Tower you will reach an altitude of 4 600m / 15 090ft and stop for lunch. This is where the true acclimatisation benefit of the Shira route becomes clear, of climbing high and sleeping low. The descent to Baranco campsite takes about 2 hours. Please click on the Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days, Shira route map to visualize.
Day 4 – Baranco campsite (3 900m) / 12 795ft) – Karanga campsite (3 995m / 13 105ft)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Distance: 6 km / 3.7 miles
Habitat: Semi desert
After breakfast, make your way up the Baranco wall, which normally turns out to be easier than anticipated. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you will now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. There are three rises and falls before reaching Karanga campsite where you will have lunch, dinner and overnight. On this day will the Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days join the Umbwe route.
Day 5 – Karanga campsite (3 995m / 13 105ft) – Barafu campsite (4 673m / 15 330ft)
Hiking time: 3 hours
Distance: 4 km / 2.5 miles
Habitat: Alpine desert
Enjoy breakfast and ascend 640m to Barafu campsite. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and the Barafu campsite is totally exposed to the ever-present gales. The summit is now a further 1 222m / 4 009ft higher and you will commence with your final ascent attempt, the same night. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep.
Day 6 – Summit attempt
Ascend: Barafu campsite (4 673m / 15 330ft) – Uhuru Peak (5 895m / 19 341ft)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak
Distance: Approximately 5 km / 3.1 miles
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
Descend: Uhuru Peak (5 895m / 19 341ft) – Mweka (3 100m / 10 170ft)
Hiking time: 7 to 8 hours to reach Uhuru Peak, 6 to 8 hours to descend to Mweka Campsite
Distance: 12.5 km / 7.8 miles to Mweka campsite or 9 km / 5.6 miles to High campsite
Habitat: Stone scree and ice-capped summit
You will get up around 23h20, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a north-westerly direction and ascend up a steep path towards Stella Point. For many hikers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is the most challenging part of the entire hike. At Stella Point (5 756m / 18 884ft) you will stop for a short rest. Weather permitting, you will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see. From Stella Point it is possible to encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life! Please click on the Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days, Shira route map to visualize.
Descend to Mweka camp
The walk back to Barafu campsite from the summit, takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned, but short rest and collect the rest of your gear. If the group managed to summit on schedule, just after sunrise, will we descend down to Mweka campsite. However if the group took longer than planned, will we overnight at High Campsite (3 950m / 12 960ft). High Campsite is located closer to Barafu campsite.
Day 7 – Final descend
Shorter: Mweka campsite (3 100m / 10 170ft) – Mweka Gate (1 640m / 5 380ft)
Hiking time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: Approximately 10 km / 6.2 miles
Habitat: Forest
OR
Longer: High campsite (3 950m / 12 960ft) – Mweka Gate (1 640m / 5 380ft)
Hiking time: 5 to 7 hours
Distance: From High Campsite approximately 13.5 km Mweka campsite approximately 13.5 km / 8.4 miles
Habitat: Forest
After an early and well-deserved breakfast start descending. It is a short 3 to 4 hour scenic hike from Mweka campsite to the Mweka gate. If the last night was spend at High Campsite, the descend will be a longer 5 to 7 hour hike. Please click on the Kilimanjaro Shira route 7 days, Shira route map to visualize.
At Mweka gate, you sign your name and details in a register. This is also where successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5 756m / 18 884ft) are issued with green certificates. Climbers who reached Uhuru Peak (5 895m / 19 341ft) will receive gold certificates. Drive back to the hotel for a long overdue hot shower and well deserved rest!