Kilimanjaro Climb for Shira Route 7 Day

Itinerary Highlights

• Duration in days: 7
• Itinerary Category:  Kilimanjaro Trekking
• Destinations:  Kilimanjaro via Shira route
• Major Attractions: Kilimanjaro mountain
• Guiding Language: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian
• Start point: Moshi
• End point: Arusha
• Essential items: Digital Camera with enough memory space and extra batteries, binoculars, light clothes, safari boot, mosquito repellents, sunhat, sunglasses with ultra violet radiation filtering etc
• Additional information: guidance and support offered by cookers, guides and porters while on the mountain

Itinerary Description By Day

Day 1: Shira Gate To Simba Camp (3595m)

• Drive from your hotel in Moshi to Shira gate for registration processes and trekking preparations
• Climb through the rainforest to arrive at Simba camp in the evening
• Dinner and overnight stay at the camp

Day 2: Simba Camp to Shira 2 Camp

• Hike from the rainforest into the moorland zone while approaching the volcanic rock formations on Shira plateau
• The trail passes through Shira cathedral which finally leads to Shira 2 camp
• Dinner and overnight stay at the camp

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

• From the Shira Plateau we continue to the east up a ridge, passing the junction towards the peak of Kibo
• As we continue, our direction changes to the South East towards the Lava Tower, called the “Shark’s Tooth” (elev 4650m/15,250ft)
• Shortly after the tower we come to the second junction which goes to the Arrow Glacier
• We now continue down to the Barranco Camp
• Although you end the day around the same elevation as when you began, this day is very important for acclimatization and will help your body prepare for summit day
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Barranco Camp

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp

• After breakfast, we leave Barranco and continue trekking on a steep ridge up the Barranco Wall to the Karanga Valley
• The junction which connects with the Mweka Trail
• Have a rest at Karanga Camp
• Have dinner and overnight stay at Karanga Camp

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp

• We continue trekking up to the Barafu Camp
• You have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles
• Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

• Very early in the morning (midnight to 2 am), we continue our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers
• You head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim
• This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek
• At Stella Point you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see
• Faster hikers may view the sunrise from the summit
• From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit
• Once at Uhuru Peak you have reached the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro and the continent of Africa
• From the summit we begin our descent by continuing straight down to the Mweka Camp, stopping at Barafu for lunch
• You may want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down
• We arrive at Mweka Camp and enjoy our last evening on the mountain.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

• After breakfast we continue the descent down to the Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates
• At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy
• Gaiters and trekking poles will help you
• From the gate, continue another hour to Mweka Village
• A vehicle will meet you at Mweka gate to drive you back to your hotel in Moshi (about 30 minutes)