01
03°01′S 37°14′EDay 1
Shira Gate/Plateau Start: 3,400–3,600 m to Shira 1 Camp: 3,500 m
A high start right awayeasy walking, but altitude can be felt immediately. Move slowly and hydrate from the first hour.
7 Days Shira Route
Shira Route — 7 Days (Starts High — Do Not Rush)
Shira is a scenic western route that starts high, so it’s best done on a longer schedule and never rushed. Unlike Lemosho (which begins lower in the rainforest), Shira typically begins around 3,400–3,600 m, meaning you’re already at serious altitude on Day 1. The payoff is the wide-open Shira Plateau and dramatic mountain views, but because the high start can feel tough for anyone who doesn’t acclimatize quickly, the 7-day plan is the safer choice.You begin on the Shira Plateau (3,400–3,600 m), move through Shira camps (3,500–3,850 m), then complete the crucial acclimatization push to Lava Tower (4,600 m) before descending to Barranco (3,900 m) in a proven “climb high, sleep low” pattern. From there you continue to Barafu (4,640 m) for summit night, reach Uhuru Peak (5,895 m) at sunrise, and descend via Mweka.For the best conditions, aim for the drier, clearer periods: January–mid March and late June–October. Because Shira is more exposed and starts high, calmer, drier seasons are ideal. For a smooth start, base yourself in central Moshi or just outside town for an easy briefing and early pickup for the drive to the Shira/Londorossi area.
Tour Length
7 Days / 6 Nights
Country
Tanzania
Start / End
Kilimanjaro, Northern Zone → Kilimanjaro, Northern Zone
Accommodation
Mid-range
Tour Type
Kilimanjaro Climb
Meal Plan
All meals on the mountain
Activity Level
Trekking
Destination Highlights
Your Route Through Tanzania
Click any destination to explore it on the map.
The Days
Day-by-Day Detailed Safari Itinerary
Multiple parks, several days -- and no wasted transfers. Every drive doubles as a game drive.
03°01′S 37°14′E02
03°03′S 37°17′EDay 2
Shira 1: 3,500 m to Shira 2 Camp: 3,850 m
Cross the Shira Plateau with wide volcanic scenery. This stage helps you settle into altitude without overexertion.
03
03°06′S 37°20′EDay 3
Shira 2: 3,850 m to Lava Tower: 4,600 m to Barranco Camp: 3,900 m
Key acclimatization day: up to Lava Tower then down to Barranco for sleep. Strong altitude training without sleeping too high.
04
03°06′S 37°21′EDay 4
Barranco: 3,900 m to Karanga Camp: 4,035 m
Barranco Wall scramble then ridge traverses. Short day good for recovery while continuing acclimatization.
05
03°06′S 37°23′EDay 5
Karanga: 4,035 m to Barafu Camp: 4,640 m
Summit base preparations: rest, early dinner, summit briefing, early sleep.
06
03°05′S 37°21′EDay 6
Barafu: 4,640 m to Uhuru Peak: 5,895 m to Mweka Camp: 3,100 m
Summit at sunrise then long descent to Mweka
07
03°13′S 37°20′EDay 7
Mweka Camp: 3,100 m to Mweka Gate: 1,640 m
Final descent and certificates.
Camps
Accommodation & Comfort Level
Mid-range Accommodations During Safari
Add-Ons
Optional Safari Add-Ons
Extras you can add before or after your climb.
Before day 1
A night in Moshi before
Rest, a gear check and a briefing with your guide before the drive to the start.
After day 2
An extra day on the plateau
A second night at Shira 2 with a walk towards Shira Cathedral, giving your body more time before Lava Tower.
After day 7
Safari after the climb
Tarangire, the crater or the Serengeti are a drive from Moshi and Arusha, and sitting in a vehicle suits tired legs.
After day 7
Zanzibar, afterwards
Flights from Kilimanjaro reach Zanzibar in under two hours. A few nights on the coast is a good rest after the summit.
The Ground
Where the Safari Takes You
From the high Shira Plateau around the south side of Kibo to the summit and down through Mweka.
01
Shira Plateau
A wide, high plateau on the western side of Kilimanjaro, formed by an older collapsed volcano. Open moorland gives long views towards Kibo. Starting here means you begin the climb above 3,400 m.
02
Lava Tower and Barranco
Lava Tower is a volcanic rock outcrop at about 4,600 m, used as an acclimatisation point before dropping to sleep at Barranco. Barranco Camp sits in a valley below the steep Barranco Wall.
03
Karanga and Barafu
The trail traverses below the southern glaciers to Karanga, then climbs to Barafu, the high camp on a rocky ridge. Summit night starts from here.
04
Uhuru Peak
The highest point on Kibo's crater rim and in Africa, at 5,895 m. Most climbers aim to reach it around sunrise.
05
Mweka
The descent route through heath and then rainforest on the southern slopes. It ends at Mweka Gate, where summit certificates are given.
Rates
Price & Additional Costs
Price on request — contact us for a quote for this trip.
Price Details
What's Included
✓ Included
✓ Same as Lemosho (camping route)
✓ Tents
✓ Meals
✓ Crew
✓ Park fees
✗ Not Included
✗ flights/visa
✗ Insurance
✗ Tip
✗ Personal gear excluded.
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Best Time to Travel
Best Time to Do This Safari
Best time: late Jun – Oct
The long dry season, with clear days, cold nights and the most reliable summit mornings. It is also the busiest time on the mountain, so camps can be crowded.
Also good: Dec – mid Mar
A second dry window. Often warmer, with a chance of snow near the summit and some afternoon cloud. Fewer climbers than in August.
Avoid: Apr – May, Nov
The rains. Trails are wet, the plateau is often in cloud and summit views are less likely. Climbs can still run, but we advise against it on a route that starts high.
Flights
Flight Recommendation
Arrival
Kilimanjaro International (JRO)
Fly into Kilimanjaro International (JRO), under an hour from Moshi and about an hour from Arusha. Arrive at least one day before day 1 for rest, a gear check and a briefing, and so a lost bag can be traced before you go up. This route starts high on day 1, so arriving tired matters more than usual.
Departure
Kilimanjaro International (JRO)
Day 7 is the walk down from Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate, usually finished around midday, then a transfer to town. A late-evening flight the same day is possible but tight. A night in Moshi or Arusha after the climb is better: a shower, a proper bed and no rush.
Supplementary Costs
Supplementary (not included) costs
Flights to and from Tanzania are booked separately.
Most visitors need a visa; check the current rules for your passport.
Choose a policy that covers trekking at high altitude and evacuation.
Tipping the guides, cooks and porters is customary at the end of the climb.
Sleeping bags, poles and warm layers can be hired locally if you do not bring your own.
Nights in Moshi or Arusha before and after the climb are planned separately.
Why Us
Why Book With Us
01
Seven days because it starts high
Shira begins at around 3,500 m with no rainforest days below. The extra days are what make up for that.
02
Two easy days on the plateau
Days 1 and 2 are short and fairly flat, so your body adjusts before the real climbing starts.
03
Climb high, sleep low
Lava Tower on day 3 takes you to about 4,600 m and back down to Barranco to sleep, which helps acclimatisation.
04
Short stages to Barafu
Barranco, Karanga and Barafu approach the summit from the south in short days, so you start summit night with energy left.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about climbing Kilimanjaro on the Shira route.
The rate depends on your group size, the season and the hotel level before and after the climb. Park fees make up a large part of it. Tell us your dates and how many are climbing and we will quote for those exact dates.
Shira starts at about 3,400 to 3,600 m, which is already high enough to cause headaches and poor sleep on the first night. That is why this climb is 7 days, walks slowly on days 1 and 2, and should not be shortened.
You need to be able to walk for six to eight hours on hilly paths several days in a row. You do not need climbing experience. Fitness helps, but it does not protect you from altitude sickness. Slow pace and time do.
Longer routes have better success than short ones, and 7 days gives reasonable time to adjust. It still depends on how your body handles altitude, and on the weather. Your guides check your health every day and will turn you around if it is not safe to go on.
Day 3 climbs to Lava Tower at about 4,600 m and then drops to sleep at Barranco at about 3,900 m. Going high and sleeping lower is one of the most useful things you can do for acclimatisation.
Porters carry the tents, food, water, cooking gear and your duffel bag up to a set weight limit, which we confirm before the climb. You carry a daypack with water, snacks, a rain jacket and warm layers.
Warm layers for nights below freezing, a down jacket, a sleeping bag rated for cold, broken-in boots, waterproof jacket and trousers, a headlamp and gloves. We send a full list after booking, and some items can be hired in Moshi.
Tips for guides, cook and porters are not included and are expected on Kilimanjaro. We give you the usual guidelines before the climb, and tips are handed over at the end, ideally to each crew member in person.
Enquire
Shall we begin?
Tell us when you would like to travel and we will send you a tailored quotation.