Shira Route 7 Days - Africa Natural Tours ( africanaturaltours.com )

Shira Route 7 Days: Africa Natural Tours

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Shira Route 7 Days

This route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west and is nearly identical to the Lemosho Route. In fact, Shira was the original Lemosho route in this western side of the mountain. While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this segment by using a vehicle to transport climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge.

On the first day on the mountain, climbers begin their hike from (3,400 m) and end at Shira One Campsite, (3,5OO m). The remainder of the route is follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the Southern ice fields before summiting from Barafu or Western Breach Route.

Day 1: Moshi to Londorosi Gate to Shira One Campsite

Elevation:1200m to 1830m to 3500m

Distance: 18km

Hiking Time: 3 hours

Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation

Drive from Moshi to the trailhead to Londorosi gate for registration. Following this you will board a vehicle again and drive further up to Moram gate. You trek through the mooland  and heather vegetation heading to the east crossing ridges and valley as well as a long flat distance to Shira One campsite.

Day 2: Shira One campsite to Shira Two campsite

Elevation: 3500m to 3800m.

Distance: 7km

Hiking time: 5-6 hours.

Habitat: Moorland and rock.

This day you will trek to east across Shira plateau visiting Cathedral Peak (3850m) for acclimatization. At this peak you will have great views of both Mt. Meru and Kibo Peak and other many spectacular special  features then continue walk to Shira Two camp where meal and overnight will take place.

Day 3: Shira Two campsite to Barranco campsite

Elevation: 3800m to 3950m

Distance: 13km

Hiking time: 7-8 hours

Habitat: Moorland/

This is long but important acclimatization day. You will have an early breakfast then continue trekking east to a junction leading to Lava tower rock (4600m) for acclimatization after you will continue to Barranco hut camp for supper and overnight.

Day 4: Barranco campsite to Karanga campsite

Elevation: 3950m to 3900m

Distance: 6 km

Hiking time: 4-5 hours

Habitat: Moorland

Today is short day walk. In the morning you will start climbing Barranco wall and reach 4200m for acclimatization and continue crossing ridges and valleys to Karanga campsite for a hot lunch. After lunch you will have a bit of rest and get another acclimatization of trekking up the scree slopes towards the Southern ice field then after you will return to the camp for supper and overnight

Day 5: Karanga campsite to Barafu campsite

Elevation: 3900m to 4620m.

Distance: 8 km.

Hiking time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Alpine Desert.

Today trek up to the Barafu ridge campsite is tough because of altitude. The walk take few hours because of short distance but is steep which need slowly walk so to avoid tiredness. You will completely walk across a alpine desert with strong and cold winds blows from the ever closer Kibo peak and its ice. You will have an early dinner at 1700hrs then rest until midnight when we you commence your push for the summit

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Day 6: Barafu hut campsite to Uhuru peak to Mweka hut campsite

Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m

Distance: 15km

Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours

Habitat: Desert and ice.

Wake at midnight to a light breakfast and then prepare for your summit ascent. The goal is to climb before dawn so that you can reach Uhuru Peak shortly before or after sunrise. Leave to the peak at 12; 00AM, switchback up steep scree or possibly snow, and reach Stella Point on the crater rim at 5,861 m/18,640 ft between 4 and 5 AM. At this point you will be having the views of the fabled crater and its icecaps facing you. Then after 1 hour of hiking along the Kibo crater rim near the celebrated snows takes you to Kilimanjaro true summit, Uhuru Peak here you will spend some times for taking photo’s. After your summit activities done, you will descend back to the Barafu Huts campsite, for lunch, rest, collect your belongings, and continue down through moorland and heath zone to Mweka Huts campsite. Dinner and overnight at Mweka hut campsite.

Day 7: Mweka hut campsite to Mweka gate

Elevation: 3100m to 1700m

Distance: 9km

Descending time: 3-4 hours

Habitat: Montane forest.

After breakfast, today is your last day on the mountain so you will descend down to Mweka park gate walking across Montane forest this descent will take 3-4 hours. Then here at the gate you will sign out and get ready to board the vehicle ready for the transfer back to the hotel in Moshi for your certificate presentation celebration.

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