Trekking · Mount Kilimanjaro
Start High on the Shira Plateau
The Shira Route is one of Kilimanjaro’s least-used and most spectacular approaches. Rather than walking up through the forest, you are driven to Shira Gate at around 3,600 m and begin the trek already high on the plateau, with Mount Meru and the Great Rift Valley laid out behind you.
That fast start makes it a route for experienced, already-acclimatised mountaineers. From the plateau the trail passes the volcanic Shira Cathedral, joins the Southern Circuit at Lava Tower and climbs the Great Barranco Wall before the summit push from Barafu.
- Vehicle start at 3,597 m on the Shira Plateau
- Shira Cathedral and the Great Barranco Wall
- Remote western trail with very few other groups
- Best suited to trekkers with previous altitude experience
5,895 m
Uhuru Peak — 19,345 ft
7 Days
6 Nights on the Mountain
3,597 m
Trailhead Altitude
Experienced
Recommended Fitness Level
Day by Day
Your Itinerary
Day 1
Moshi/Arusha – Shira Gate – Shira 1 Camp
A four-hour drive to Londorossi Gate for registration, then a rough track carries you up to Shira Gate itself. A short walk through heathland and moorland brings you into camp with the whole plateau in view.
- ⛰️ 3,597 m
- 📏 4 km
- 🕐 1–2 hrs
- 🌾 Heathland
Day 2
Shira 1 Camp to Shira 2 Camp
An easy plateau walk past volcanic rock formations and open moorland, with a detour to the dramatic Shira Cathedral. A gentle day that lets the altitude settle before the climb steepens.
- ⛰️ 3,597 → 3,810 m
- 📏 7 km
- 🕐 3–4 hrs
- 🌾 Moorland
Day 3
Shira 2 – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
Climb east to the 4,629 m Lava Tower for lunch, then descend into the Barranco Valley through the surreal Senecio Forest — the classic climb-high-sleep-low acclimatisation day.
- ⛰️ 3,810 → 4,629 → 3,976 m
- 📏 10 km
- 🕐 6–8 hrs
- 🏜️ Alpine Desert
Day 4
Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
The day opens with the steep scramble up the Great Barranco Wall, then crosses a succession of ridges and valleys to the exposed Karanga campsite.
- ⛰️ 3,976 → 3,993 m
- 📏 5 km
- 🕐 4–5 hrs
- 🏜️ Alpine Desert
Day 5
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Join the Mweka Trail and climb through rocky, barren terrain to Barafu, completing the Southern Circuit. Rest, eat early and sleep — the summit push starts at midnight.
- ⛰️ 3,993 → 4,673 m
- 📏 4 km
- 🕐 4–5 hrs
- 🏜️ Alpine Desert
Day 6 · Summit
Barafu – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Camp
A midnight departure by headlamp, reaching Stella Point around sunrise, then the final walk along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak. Celebrate, then begin the long descent to Mweka Camp.
- ⛰️ 4,673 → 5,895 → 3,068 m
- 📏 5 km up · 12 km down
- 🕐 7–8 hrs up · 4–6 down
- ❄️ Arctic
Day 7
Mweka Camp – Mweka Gate – Moshi/Arusha
A final descent through lush rainforest to Mweka Gate, where summit certificates are issued, then the drive back to Moshi or Arusha.
- ⛰️ 3,068 → 1,640 m
- 📏 10 km
- 🕐 3–4 hrs
- 🌿 Rainforest
Cost
What Your Trip Covers
What’s Included
- Base and airport transfers
- Full-board trek accommodation & hotel before/after
- All park fees and government taxes
- Professional English-speaking guide, porters & cook
- Tents, mattresses & private chemical toilet
- Boiled water, first-aid kit & supplementary oxygen
- 3 porters per climber · head guide with assistant
- Flying Doctors emergency evacuation cover
Not Included
- Laundry, sleeping bags & climbing gear
- Beverages
- International flights, visas & taxes
- Tips for the mountain crew
- Personal items not listed
Get Your Tailored Quote
Rates vary with group size, season and accommodation level. Tell us your dates and party size and we’ll send a detailed, no-obligation quote within 24 hours — usually much faster on WhatsApp.
Map
Where You'll Be Travelling
A Route for Seasoned Mountaineers
If you’ve been high before and want Kilimanjaro without the crowds, Shira is the one.