7 Days Shira Route

Transfer to gate – hike to Shira 1 camp (3505 m)

After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel in Arusha and transferred to Londorossi gate (ca. 4 hrs transfer), where you will complete Kilimanjaro National park entry formalities. Afterwards continue by car to Morum Barrier Gate (ca. 1 hr). where you will have your lunch. Thereafter you begin your Mt. Kilimanjaro climb trekking through heather and moorland to the first camp (ca. 1-2 hrs). You will find that the views over to Kibo across the Plateau are breathtaking. Overnight at Shira 1 camp.

Shira 1 – Shira 2 (Fischer’s) camp (3900 m)

Today, you have a full day to explore the Shira plateau, with a slow trek eastward towards Kibo’s glaciered peak. The Shira plateau is considered as one of the highest plateaus on earth and it averages 12,500 ft. You have a chance to visit the ancient collapsed cone of Shira volcano (the oldest of Kilimanjaro’s 3 volcanic centers). Total trekking time: ca. 3 hrs.Dinner & Overnight at Shira 2 Camp.

Shira 2 – Barranco camp (3976 m)

After breakfast, you will have a steady climb over vast rigdes to “Lava Tower” , here, you will have your lunch (ca. 4 hrs). Lava Tower, a 300 ft volcanic plug, marks an exposed pass at 15,000 ft. In the afternoon, you will have to descend the steep trail into the Great Barranco Valley. Your camp at Barranco is set in a valley enclosed on 3 sides with the massive walls of the valley itself and the massif of Kibo. Hanging glaciers glint in the sunshine above,- an eerie landscape known for its rare plants such as the Giant Groundsels (Seneciao Kilimanjari) and the uniquely endemic Giant Lobelia. Total trekking time: 6-7 hrs.Dinner & Overnight at Barranco Camp.

Barranco camp – Barafu camp (4673 m)

If you decide to take the 6-day itinerary option, you will trek 3-4 hours and stop in the Karanga Valley for a hot lunch. Afterwards, in the afternoon, the trail turns steadily uphill. The temperature will start growing colder and the landscape more sparse as you approach Barafu Camp. Your Barafu Camp is set on a small, explosed flat area on a ridge and is the usual base camp from which you will make the summit attempt at midnight tonight. It’s essential to eat and especially drink as much as possible before retiring to your tent for rest and sleep. Overnight at Barafu Camp.

Barafu camp – Stella Point (5790 m) – Uhuru Peak (5895 m) – descend to Mweka camp (3068 m)

Your chef will prepare a hot drink, which you will take very early this morning. Expect a midnight wake-up call which will be the start of a juggernaut (12-17 hrs of trekking). At around 1 am, you will start trekking; Here temperatures usually range from just below freezing at midnight to somewhere between -12 deg. C (10 deg. F) to -23 deg. C (-10 F.) on the summit just before dawn.

As you proceed with ascent at a slow pace, you will come across winding path of endless switchbacks which will slowly take form and shape in the shadows of the Ratzel and Rebman glaciers at early dawn, and behind you the spires of Mawenzi are silouhetted against the red glow of the sun rising behind the clouds.

6 hrs of slow walking uphill, brings you to the edge of the crater: Stella Point, at an elevation of 19,000 ft (5790 m) on the crater rim, it is the end of the steep part of the hike. From here, the you will have a gentle slope towards Uhuru Peak (ca. 1 hr), the true summit of Kili at 19,340 ft (5896 m). The strength it takes to ascend this final piece is for many monumental. Spend a short time at the summit, before you start descending. The path goes down a steep scree slope back to Barafu Camp where you will rest for a short time , before you have to summon your strength to continue your further descent to Mweka Camp for the last night on the mountain. Dinner & Overnight art Mweka Camp.

Final descend – Transfer to Arusha

Your last descent to mweka gate, is an easy 2-3 hours trek that will take you through a beautiful rain forest to go down the final parts of the trail back to the Mweka Gate. Here, you will be awarded your Kilimanjaro certificate , and have lunch, thereafter you will say goodbye to many of your crew, and start your return journey to Arusha where a day room to freshen will be provided till evening when you will be picked up by your driver and transferred to Kilimanjaro International Airport to board your International flight. However your Tanzania trip will not be complete without booking one of our popular wildlife safaris to Serengeti National Park, Ngorongoro crater or Tarangire park.