7 Days Kilimanjaro Climb Shira Route

On this day will wake up at 06:00am, and have breakfast from 06:30am to 07:30am. Leave Moshi and drive for several hours to the Shira Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park. 

Begin hiking, and enter the rainforest, as you will be on the high altitude, will need to reach at the Camp early so you get used to the weather around Shira. Your walk through the rainforest is on a winding muddy trail up a ridge. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Shira Camp in the afternoon. Dinner and Overnight at Shira Camp.

Wake up at around 06:30am and after breakfast, you will start the hike around 07:30am to east up to a steepening path above the highest vegetation toward Kilimanjaro looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. 

This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro’s earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high, and the trail passes right below it. For extra credit, the sure-footed can scramble to the top of the tower. After a lunch stop near Lava Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. 

There are numerous photo opportunities on this hike, especially if the walls are festooned with ice. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner. In the evening you will have Dinner and overnight at Baranko Camp.

After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo’s glaciers soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite. 

From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African sky. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting or exploring. After two long days, this short day is very important for your acclimatization, since your summit push is about to start. After dinner you will overnight at Karanga Camp.

There will be a short day walk which is approx 100 to 200 meters high walk from Karanga Valley to half way to Barafu, and the walk can take approx 2-3hrs walk also around the Karanga Camp. 

In the evening Your Guide will give you briefing for the next day as there will be no overnight at any Camp after you pass Karanga Valley, so the Guide will show and brief you on clothes to wear and get prepared to the next higher Camp which is Barafu Camp /freezing point. After Arrive at the Camp, you will have Finishing Dinner you overnight at Karanga Valley Camp.

After spending a night at the Karanga Valley, you will climb this awesome obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice.” 

The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. 

Prepare your equipment and warm clothing for your summit climb. This should include replacing your headlamp and camera batteries, and to prevent freezing, consider carrying your water in a thermal flask. 

Go to bed by 07:00 PM, and try to get a few hours of precious sleep. You will rise around 10:30 PM, and after some steaming tea and biscuits, you shuffle off into the night. You will start the summit hike walk at around 11:00pm from Barafu Camp to Summit

Summit Day! From Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895 m/19,340 ft) 7 km, approx 7 to 8 hours hiking and then descend from Uhuru Peak/Summit to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). From Summit is approx 23 km down to Mweka Camp which is 7-8 hours down Scree and seasonal snow

Your 6-hour climb northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. You will reach Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) at around 05:30am and you will stop for a short rest and a chance to see sunrise and if you will manage to reach at the summit at 06:00am you may have chance to see the sun rise.

At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, but do not stop here too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Depending on the season and recent storms, you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. On the summit, you can enjoy your accomplishment and know that you are creating a day that you will remember for the rest of your life. 

After your 3-hours descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp, you will have a well-earned but short rest, collect your gears, and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft). This camp is in the upper forest, so you can expect mist or rain in the late afternoon or evening. Dinner, and washing water will be prepared, and the camp office sells drinking water, soft drinks, and chocolates! After Dinner you will overnight at Mweka Camp.

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hours hike back to the park gate. Don’t give your porters any tips until you and all your gear have reached the gate safely, but do remember to tip your staff at the gate. 

At Mweka Gate, you can sign your name and add details in a register. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Some climbers likes to get their Certificates at the Hotel or where they will be staying and have a celebration Dinner and drinks with their Porters and Guides and get Certificates with photos of a Give presenting the Certificates to each member of the Group for Good Memory after accomplish the DREAM. 

Climbers who reached Stella Point are issued Green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak receive Gold with Green Colours certificate. From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down to the Mweka Village, possibly a muddy, 3 km, 1 hour hike if the road is too muddy for vehicles. In the Mweka Village you will be served a delicious hot lunch after which you are driven back to Moshi for an overdue hot shower and comfortable night in a Hotel or similar lodging.

Depart for the airport or other destinations in Tanzania or Kenya. A trip to the beaches at Zanzibar is a good way to recuperate. We can arrange as many for  reasonably priced trips and safaris around Moshi or Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar.