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Mount Kilimanjaro

Shira Route

Day 1 Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa. Climbers are taken to the gate at 1800 metres at the entrance to the forest for entrance formalities, and then to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades. From here, a 3 to 4 hour walk, ascending quite steeply through the forest, until a camp is made in a clearing in the forest dominated by a large tree – Mti Mkubwa.

Day 2 Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1. Continue climb to the moorland above the forest, then detour northwards around the Shira ridge before dropping down onto the Shira plateau. Camp is made by a stream at Shira One campsite. Total time is about 6 hours.

Day 3 Shira 1 to Shira hut. The trail continues across the plateau towards Kibo. After about 2 hours, the edge of the plateau is reached and the path climbs up for about 40 minutes to Shira hut at 3800 metres. Total time is about 3 hours, therefore, if the direct route is taken. However, this day affords the opportunity to branch off the trail and climb Shira Cathedral and Shira Needle, the imposing hills on the southern side of the plateau, and to look down the Machame ridge from their tops. It is also possible to visit Cone Place , the centre of the extinct Shira volcano, and to look from there at the highest parts of the Shira plateau - Johnsell Point and Klute Peak on the western Shira ridge.

Day 4 Shira hut to Lava Tower hut. The path continues directly up the ridge towards Kibo to Lava Tower hut at 4600 metres. The hut is so called because of a tower of lava nearby. Total time is about 4-5 hours. Shortly before reaching Lava Tower hut, a path leads off to the right which goes along the Kibo South Circuit to Horombo hut. From this point to Horombo hut takes a good 4-5 hours more.

Day 5 Lava Tower hut to the top. Leaving the hut very early in the morning, climb the slope behind the hut, continuing up through cliffs of rock. This is the Arrow Glacier - not much glacier left. Eventually reach a ridge like a staircase and scramble up onto the crater floor. From the hut, this part will take about 7-9 hours, and the crater floor is about 5700 metres at this point. It is then about 1 1/2 hours to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Then descend via Barafu hut (on Kibo's southern slopes) and then continue for another 3 or 4 hours to Mweka hut.

Day 6 Descend to Mweka gate.

Option 2:

Day 1 Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa. Climbers are taken to the gate at 1800 metres at the entrance to the forest for entrance formalities, and then to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades. From here, a 3 to 4 hour walk, ascending quite steeply through the forest, until a camp is made in a clearing in the forest dominated by a large tree – Mti Mkubwa.

Day 2 Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1. Continue climb to the moorland above the forest, then detour northwards around the Shira ridge before dropping down onto the Shira plateau. Camp is made by a stream at Shira One campsite. Total time is about 6 hours.

Day 3 Shira 1 to Shira hut. The trail continues across the plateau towards Kibo. After about 2 hours, the edge of the plateau is reached and the path climbs up for about 40 minutes to Shira hut at 3800 metres. Total time is about 3 hours, therefore, if the direct route is taken. However, this day affords the opportunity to branch off the trail and climb Shira Cathedral and Shira Needle, the imposing hills on the southern side of the plateau, and to look down the Machame ridge from their tops. It is also possible to visit Cone Place , the centre of the extinct Shira volcano, and to look from there at the highest parts of the Shira plateau - Johnsell Point and Klute Peak on the western Shira ridge.

Day 4 Shira hut to Lava Tower hut. The path continues directly up the ridge towards Kibo to Lava Tower hut at 4600 metres. The hut is so called because of a tower of lava nearby. Total time is about 4-5 hours. Shortly before reaching Lava Tower hut, a path leads off to the right which goes along the Kibo South Circuit to Horombo hut. From this point to Horombo hut takes a good 4-5 hours more.

Day 5 Lava Tower hut to Arrow glacier hut. Cross a stream and climb a steep boulder strewn path to a small plateau directly beneath Kibo's western breach. This is where the Arrow glacier camp site is located, at 4850 metres the highest camp site on Kilimanjaro below the crater. This walk may only take one hour, and the rest of the day is spent exploring the big Breach glacier close to the camp site, admiring the magnificent views of the western breach and the Breach Wall towering over the camp site, and resting in preparation for the next day's efforts.

Day 6 Arrow glacier hut to the top. Leaving the camp very early in the morning, climb the slope behind the hut, continuing up through cliffs of rock. This is the Arrow Glacier - not much glacier left. Eventually reach a ridge like a staircase and scramble up onto the crater floor. From the camp, this part will take about 6 hours, and the crater floor is about 5700 metres at this point. It is then about 1½ hours to Uhuru Peak (5895m). Then descend via Barafu hut (1-2 hours from Stella point) and then continue for another 3 or 4 hours to Mweka hut.

Day 7 Descend to Mweka gate.

Option 3:

Day 1 Londorossi gate to Mti Mkubwa. Climbers are taken to the gate at 1800 metres at the entrance to the forest for entrance formalities, and then to the trailhead at Lemosho Glades. From here, a 3 to 4 hour walk, ascending quite steeply through the forest, until a camp is made in a clearing in the forest dominated by a large tree – Mti Mkubwa.

Day 2 Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1. Continue climb to the moorland above the forest, then detour northwards around the Shira ridge before dropping down onto the Shira plateau. Camp is made by a stream at Shira One campsite. Total time is about 6 hours.

Day 3 Shira 1 to Shira hut. The trail continues across the plateau towards Kibo. After about 2 hours, the edge of the plateau is reached and the path climbs up for about 40 minutes to Shira hut at 3800 metres. Total time is about 3 hours, therefore, if the direct route is taken. However, this day affords the opportunity to branch off the trail and climb Shira Cathedral and Shira Needle, the imposing hills on the southern side of the plateau, and to look down the Machame ridge from their tops. It is also possible to visit Cone Place , the centre of the extinct Shira volcano, and to look from there at the highest parts of the Shira plateau - Johnsell Point and Klute Peak on the western Shira ridge.

Day 4 Shira hut to Barranco hut. The path continues directly up the ridge towards Kibo. After about 4 hours, the path forks to the right and descends into a gorge (barranco) and the night is spent at Barranco hut (3950 metres). Total time about 5-6 hours.

Day 5 Barranco hut to Barafu hut. Cross the Barranco valley, climb the Barranco wall (not technical climbing), then follow the Kibo South Circuit. Wonderful views are to be had of Kibo's southern glaciers if the weather is clear. Lunch next to the river in the Karanga valley, then on to the intersection of the South Circuit with the Mweka ascent path. Turn left and climb up a ridge for about 2 hours to Barafu hut (4600 metres). Total time about 6-7 hours.

Day 6 Barafu hut to the top. Leave hut at 1 or 2am. Steep climb over scree and rock towards the Rebmann Glacier, pass a cliff and then enter the gap between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers, arriving at the crater rim near Stella point. (About 6-7 hours). 1 more hour to Uhuru. Descend via Barafu hut (1-2 hours from Stella point) and then continue for another 3 or 4 hours to Mweka hut.

Day 7 Descend to Mweka gate.

Rate for hiking Mt Kilimanjaro rate for 2012.