5days - Shira Route (Option 2)

Day 1 - Londorossi Gate to Moorland Camp
Climbers are taken to the gate at 1800 metres at the entrance to the forest. From here, a 4 to 5 hour walk, ascending quite steeply through forest and moorland, until a camp is made near the edge of the Shira plateau.

Day 2 - Moorland Camp to Shira 1
Continue climb to the edge of the plateau, reached after about one hour. From here, one can detour for an hour and a half around one of the hills on the northern edge of the plateau in order to look at views down towards Amboseli in Kenya. There are also good views to be had of the entire plateau, with Kibo as a backdrop. The trail then continues across the plateau to a camp beside a lovely clear stream. Total time is about 4 hours unless the detour option is taken at the plateau edge.

Day 3 - Shira 1 to Shira 2 (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 campsite 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 11⁄2 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
NB Rather than start the trek at Londorossi gate, many climbers choose to start from Lemosho Glades instead (this start point is about 10 kilometres drive from Londorossi gate). After about three hours the first night's camp is then made at Mti Mkubwa (the Big Tree) in the middle of the forest, and the second day involves a steep climb up the Shira ridge to the edge of the plateau –4-5 hours. This camp is called Shira 1. This walk through the forest is considered more scenic than the trail up to the plateau from the Londorossi gate, but there are additional forest fees payable for all climbers and crew on the Lemosho Glades path because it is not a prescribed corridor through the forest to the national park.

Cost of the Itinerary

Book this Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

<< safaris