Kilimanjaro Hiking Tours - 7 Day Shira route itinerary, fast ascending Kilimanjaro route

Shira Route

The Shira route starts on the western side of Mt Kilimanjaro and is a scenic and beautiful route. The Shira route is ideal for hikers already acclimatized to 3 500m / 11 480ft, as it is a fast ascending Kilimanjaro route that involves driving up to the Morrum Barrier gate 3 400m / 11 150ft, before starting with the actual hike. The drive from the Londorossi gate to the Morrum Barrier gate, features some striking vegetation changes ranging from forest, grassland, heath to moorland.

The Shira route merge with the Lemosho route from night 1 onwards and then forms the same route till the end of the hike. The actual hiking trail is considered to be more challenging and 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. Please click on the Shira map to see an enlarged Shira route map.

Recommended duration of climb

The minimum duration for the Shira route is 6 days, however we strongly recommend you choose the 7 day Shira route option. On the 6 day Shira route will you have a long day with little rest when hiking from Baranco campsite to Barafu campsite. If you choose the 7 day Shira route, will this day be split into two separate days and the extra night will be spend at Karanga campsite. Karanga campsite is located close to Barafu campsite, which means you will arrive earlier to Barafu campsite and have more time to rest before the summit attempt.

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.

6 Day Shira route itinerary – click here

7 Day Shira route 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, hike through a giant heather moorland zone and cross several streams before reaching Shira 1 Campsite, located on the western edge of the Shira plateau.

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), a huge buttress of rock surrounded by steep spires and pinnacles. Shira 2 campsite is exposed campsite, and the night will even 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 into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4 600m / 15 090ft and stop for lunch. This is where the true acclimatisation benefit of the Lemosho route becomes clear, of climbing high and sleeping low. The descent to Baranco campsite takes about 2 hours.

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 in the end, 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. One should keep in mind that there are three rises and falls before reaching Karanga campsite where you will have lunch, dinner and overnight.

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, located on the crater rim. For many climbers the 6-hour walk to Stella point is mentally and physically the most challenging part of the entire hike. At Stella Point (5 756m / 18 884ft) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). 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!

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 just after sunrise and everything was on schedule will we descend down to Mweka campsite (3 100m / 10 170ft). However if the summit attempt took longer than planned, will we overnight at High Campsite (3 950m / 12 960ft), which 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

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, it is a short 3 to 4 hour scenic hike from Mweka campsite to the Mweka gate. If the group spend the last night at High Campsite it will be a slightly longer 5 to 7 hour hike down to the Mweka gate.

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 and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5 895m / 19 341ft) receive gold certificates. Drive back to the hotel for a long overdue hot shower and well deserved rest!