Shira Route

Shira Route Itinerary

Day 1: Shira Gate to Simba Camp
After a 4-hour drive from Moshi to Londorossi Gate to complete registration, we continue to the Shira Gate. Here, the hike begins through shrubs and giant heather until we reach Simba Camp. The elevation is 11,800 ft, with a distance of 4 km and a hiking time of 1-2 hours in the heath habitat. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 2: Simba Camp to Shira 2 Camp
Today focuses on acclimatization with a scenic trek across grassy moorland and volcanic rock formations. We’ll visit Shira Cathedral, then settle at Shira 2 Camp. The elevation increases to 12,500 ft, covering a distance of 6 km with a hiking time of 2 hours in the heath habitat. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 3: Shira 2 Camp to Lava Tower, then Barranco Camp
We ascend towards Lava Tower, a striking volcanic formation, before descending to Barranco Camp through the unique Senecio Forest. This helps with acclimatization despite starting and ending at similar altitudes. The elevation to Lava Tower is 15,190 ft, covering a distance of 7 km with a hiking time of 4-5 hours in the alpine desert habitat. After reaching Lava Tower, we descend to Barranco Camp at 13,044 ft, covering a distance of 3 km with a hiking time of 2-3 hours in the alpine desert habitat. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 4: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
We start by descending into the Great Barranco before tackling the challenging Barranco Wall. After passing under the Heim and Kersten glaciers, we head towards Karanga Camp. The distance covered is 5.5 km with a hiking time of 5 hours. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 5: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
After breakfast, we hike to Barafu Camp, traversing desolate scree slopes. This steep ascent is crucial for acclimatization. The distance covered is 3 km with a hiking time of 3 hours. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 6: Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak, then Mweka Camp
Starting around midnight, we push for Uhuru Peak, the highest point in Africa. After celebrating at the summit, we descend to Mweka Camp, where we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain. The elevation to Uhuru Peak is 19,341 ft, covering a distance of 5 km with a hiking time of 7-8 hours in the arctic habitat. We then descend to Mweka Camp at 10,065 ft, covering a distance of 12 km with a hiking time of 4-6 hours in the rain forest habitat. Meals included are breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Day 7: Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate
On our final day, we descend to Mweka Gate to collect our summit certificates. After a muddy trek through the rainforest, we reach Mweka Village, where a vehicle will take us back to Moshi. The elevation decreases from 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft, covering a distance of 10 km with a hiking time of 3-4 hours in the rain forest habitat.