Overview
Unveiling Kilimanjaro's Majesty: The Enchanting 8-Day Shira Route
Embark on an unforgettable 8-day adventure on the Shira Route, renowned for its stunning scenery, diverse landscapes, and gradual ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro, Africa's rooftop. This super challenging-paced journey offers ample time for acclimatization, increasing your chances of reaching the peak while immersing you in the mountain's breathtaking beauty.
Why Choose the 8-Day Shira Route:
The Ultimate Challenge: Embark on a thrilling, steep ascent to the summit, perfect for experienced hikers seeking a rigorous adventure.
Rapid Ascent: Conquer the mountain in fewer days, ideal for those with limited time or a desire for a more intense experience.
Solitude and Serenity: Encounter fewer crowds on this less-traveled route, providing a peaceful and intimate connection with nature.
Stunning Summit Views: Reward yourself with panoramic vistas of the African savannah from the highest peak.
Expert Guidance: Benefit from the expertise of our knowledgeable guides, ensuring your safety and maximizing your enjoyment.
What to Expect
Prepare for a thrilling adventure surrounded by the natural beauty of Shira Route. The hike will challenge you physically and mentally, offering stunning vistas and a sense of accomplishment at every turn. Expect camaraderie, shared stories, and a deep connection with nature. The Shira route is one of the least used routes on Kilimanjaro. It's also the predecessor to the Lemosho route. The Shira route on Mount Kilimanjaro is 56 kilometers (35 miles) long and involves significant elevation gains: The route includes a number of elevation gains, including:
Shira 2 Camp to Barranco Camp: A distance of about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) with a slight net elevation gain of 50 meters (164 feet)
Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak: An elevation gain of 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp: An elevation drop from 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
Price Includes
Guided hiking tour led by certified lead guides
Airport Transfers:
Return transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) to accommodation in Moshi;
Return transfer from accommodation in Moshi to the entry gate into Kilimanjaro National Park.
Trip Safety: Helicopter Rescue
A helicopter rescue service will be provided to air transfer you (during daylight hours only) in an emergency from the mountain to hospital in Moshi. Note that this service will only be applicable if you have medical insurance which covers high altitude trekking up to 6,000 meters, and this service is always subject to weather conditions.
Trip Crew:
Professional guides, licensed by Kilimanjaro National Park. All our guides are well-equipped to handle medical emergencies as they have undergone various High-Altitude Medical Emergency Training to save the lives of climbers who fall sick on the mountain.
Dedicated support crew (assistant guides, camp master, porters, cooks, etc.).
Accommodations:
One night at 3* Marididi hotel https://themaridadihotel.com/ before the expedition and one night after; The hotels have everything for your comfortable stay - caring staff, nice rooms, reliable Wi-Fi, restaurant and swimming pool). Some rely on generators.
Tented accommodation on Mount Kilimanjaro (modern, comfortable 4-Season tents, Mountain Hardwear Trango 3/4 or equivalents).
Please Note:
All hotel accommodation is based on a sharing basis (i.e. you will be sharing with your travel companion a twin/double room. If you travel solo on a group expedition, we will room you with a same-sex participant unless you purchase a single supplement. Single occupancy in a hotel is available upon request and extra charges apply and can be purchased through our online store under single supplement.
Meals:
Breakfast in the hotel before and after the trek.
All meals on the trek. Our Kilimanjaro diet includes energy-rich and highly nutritious meals prepared by our professional high-altitude cooks. In our menu you will find different soups, garnishes, several types of fish and meat, fresh fruit and vegetables; vegetarian/gluten-free/halal options are available at no extra cost. Also options for lactose free are available upon request.
All drinks on the trek (juices, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and water). We will stop coffee to reduce blood pressure prior to summit night.
We send a resupply of fresh food from our office to your camp on Day 5.
Entrance Fees:
All park fees collected by the Kilimanjaro National Park (conservation fees, camping fees, crew fees, rescue fees and all other fees collected by the Tanzania National Parks Authority). These are subject to increase on or before July 1st every year and are now required to be paid in TSH/TZH instead of other currencies.
Hiking and safety equipment:
2-inches thick and comfortable sleeping mattresses.
All group equipment (spacious and comfortable dining tent, camping table and chairs, dining sets and cutlery).
Dry bag (to protect your duffel bag).
Portable toilets (one unit can be comfortably shared between up to 6 people). For more than 6, we will provide a 2nd toilet.
Bottled oxygen, blood pressure kit and pulse oximeter.
GPS-tracking service.
Complete medical kits including Diamox and Dexamethasone.
Future offering (Starting January 2026) Satellite Internet for the group setup at campsites.
Awards:
We have very high success rates and your trip includes a Certificate of Achievement if you make it to the summit at Uhuru Peak (19,341 feet). But your trip includes a Certificate of Achievement even if you only reach Stella Point at 18,885 feet.
We will bake a celebratory cake for the group if all make it to the summit together.
We will provide glow sticks on summit night to make the trek more fun!
Price Excludes
Personal gear and equipment
Travel Insurance (now required in Zanzibar for all trips and required for all Kilimanjaro Treks by our company)
Visa costs (only obtain online starting Nov 2024)
Roundtrip airfare/flights
Tips for Guides/Porters
Dinner on the Day before the trip and the final night after the trip at the hotel
Single Supplement/accomodations
Itinerary
Hike Talk Stay Adventures: Conquer Kilimanjaro via the 8-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Shira Trek Itinerary
SHIRA ROUTE
Climb Mt Kilimanjaro by the Drive-in Route
Shira Route follows the only vehicle track that ascends to the Shira Plateau, reaching a height of about 3600m. As such we do not normally recommend this route to hikers - who would want to walk along a road in such a beautiful place? Note that during the wet season the road can become treacherous, even in a good 4x4
Shira plateu itself is extremely beautiful, so those who only want to spend a couple of nights on Kili, and not make an attempt at the summit may choose this option. Shira offers higher start point compared to Lemosho
Day 0: Arrival & transfer to the Maridadi hotel:
https://themaridadihotel.com/
Greet and pickup at Airport & transfer with baggage to hotel in Moshi
Dinner you are free choose and is not included
Trip briefing either same day or tomorrow morning
Gear check to ensure you are prepared and safe for the trip
Storing of Valuables in the safe and additional luggage not needed for the Trek locked in the hotel safe
Day 1: Kilimanjaro International Airport to Moshi/Arusha
On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. You will meet your guide and have a Mountain Briefing and check your mountain gears and also be able to hire equipment if required.
Day 2: Moshi to Londross Gate to Shira1 camp
Ascent: 1200m to 2245 to 3500m
Hiking Time: 2 to 3 hours
Distance: 18km
Habitat: Rain forest
After breakfast you will be picked at your hotel and transported to Londross gate which takes about 3 hours drive. At the gate you will register yourself with all particulars required while the crews measure their stuff. After all procedure you will board your vehicle again and drive to Moram point, where you will Start hiking pole pole through heather and moorland vegetation heading to the East crossing ridge and valley and as well as plain flat are to Shira One campsite. This is real short day and you don't hike through rain forest.
Day 3: Shira1 Camp to Shira2 Camp
Ascent: 3500m to 3860m
Hiking Time: 5 to 6 hours
Distance: 7km
Habitant: Moorland and Rocks
An early breakfast then we start Eastward across the Shira Plateau, via Simba cave on the Eastern slopes of Shira. The Shira camp is farther 1 hour hike. For those who want to visit Shira Cathedral 3863m for acclimatizing we recommend early start. The views are very special and worth taking photos if the weather permits. This takes more time than those who go straight up, and those with Vertigo should take care. Thereafter you continue to shira2 camp for Dinner and Overnight
Day 4: Shira camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
Ascent: 3840m to 4600m to 3950
Hiking Time: 7 to 8 hours
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Semi Desert
After a early breakfast, we leave Shira camp continues eastward up the ridge to the passing the junction from west towards Kibo to lava tower 4600m for acclimatization. There afterwards we proceed down to Baranco camp for dinner and overnight.
Day 5: Barranco camp to Karanga Valley camp
Ascent: 3950m to 4030m
Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 5km
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast we began from Barranco camp, you climb up through the edge of great Barranco Wall. It's a difficult, steep trail and rocky ascending up to 4200m, but once you reach the top, the views are well worth it. This a short day meant to acclimatize.
Day 6: Karanga Valley camp to Barafu camp
Ascent: 4030m to 4600m
Hiking Time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 5km
Habitat: Alpine Desert
This day is shorter hike than the past few days, hiking up over steep rocky slabs to the final campsite, Barafu 4600m. You will want to get as much rest a possible before the push to the summit.
Day 7: Barafu Camp to the Summit to Mweka Camp
Ascent: 4600m to 5895m to 3100m
Hiking Time: 6-8 hours ascent and 5-6 hours descent
Distance: 5km ascent / 12km descent
Habitat : Arctic
This day we normally wake up before midnight to prepare you with summit gears and have some slight breakfast. We begin our ascending ever pole pole our way to the summit facing Rebeman and Ratzel glaciers. We continue to the Northwest where the trail series of switch backs up steep scree towards Stella Point 5732m on the crater rim. This is the most challenging part so it needs your Positive mental attitude and physically prepared.
At this point you will have a short rest and have a cup of tea, while having the views of the crater and glaciers and enjoying the sunrise over Mawenzi peak if the weather will be good.
From Stella you will have 1 hour of hiking along the crater rim, you may encounter with snow all the way to summit but depends on the weather to Uhuru 5895M.
At Uhuru Peak the African highest point, you will take few minutes taking Photo as it is cold and freezing but depends on one his situation.
From summit we continue descending on the same way straight down to Barafu Camp for lunch and some rest before we continue to Mweka camp 3100m for Dinner and Overnight.
Day 8: Mweka Hut to Mweka Gate
Ascent: 3100m to Mweka gate 1830m
Descending Time: 3 to 4 hours
Distance: 10km
Habitat: Rain forest
This will be our final day on the mountain, after breakfast we will start ascending through the lush rain forest, it can be wet and muddy so the raining gears, walking poles and gaiters will be of most help. At the Gate you will be rewarded with certificates and meet your vehicle at and drive back to your hotel for another 45 minutes.
Day 9: Departure - Farewell, Kilimanjaro!
Whether you go on a safari with us, or fly to Zanzibar or any other destination, our vehicle will be ready for your airport transfer at a time of your choosing.
Option:
For those climbers who need shorter trip can try 6 Days by opting Karanga camp to Barafu camp
Upcoming Tours Schedule
Departure Date