8 Days Shira Route-kilimanjaro Trekking Itinerary
8 DAYS SHIRA ROUTE-KILIMANJARO TREKKING ITINERARY begins and ends in Arusha. Arrive anytime at Kilimanjaro Airport, there will be a private transfer waiting at the airport to pick up you to Arusha. All airport transfers are part of the package, and no extra fees are required. Book with confidence.
DAY 1: ARRIVE IN TANZANIA:
We stay at the Arusha Safari Lodge, which is a beautiful Hotel located on the lower slopes of Mount Meru and is a perfect place to prepare you for the adventure. We will gather in the evening at 5:30 pm for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check. We will also confirm you have the appropriate mandatory medical coverage and travel insurance.
Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: Bed, dinner, and Breakfast-included.
DAY 2: SHIRA ONE CAMP (FULL BOARD)
After breakfast at the hotel in Arusha, we drive approximately 2 hours through the rural countryside to the Londrossi Gate. For the necessary park registration formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, we drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations to the starting of Shira Route.
Londrossi Gate to Shira One Camp (3550 m): 4-5 hours walking.
DAY 3: SHIRA HUT (FULL BOARD)
Today we follow an easy path to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut. As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.
Shira Camp One to Shira Hut (3,840 m): 4-5 hours walking.
DAY 4: MOIR HUT (FULL BOARD)
In the morning we cross-part of the plateau through lush heather and moorland then into expensive high Savannah desert before reaching more huts in the alpine zone. For extra acclimatization one can take walk around for the higher lands around the camp; the views are superb. The afternoon will be the acclimatization walk up onto the Lent Hills, the summit of which is at 4,700 meters.
Shira Hut to Moir Hut (4,200m): 3-4 hours walking.
DAY 5: BARRANCO VALLEY (FULL BOARD)
Today we walk on a gentle ascent and panoramic views. We traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach and after hot lunch the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m.) we descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco valley (3,900 m.).
Moir Hut to Barranco valley (3,900 m.): 5-7 hours walking.
DAY 6: KARANGA CAMP (FULL BOARD)
A steep climb up the eastern wall leads us just below the Heim Glacier, where we may have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro. We then take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides us from the southeastern slopes of Kibo, the trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, finally, we have a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.
Barranco Valley to Karanga camp (4,000 m): 4-5 hours walking.
DAY 7: BARAFU CAMP (FULL BOARD)
Today we take the Traverse Route that takes up the Barafu Ridge, we walk up quite slowly to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit. The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.
Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,600 m): 3-4 hours walking.
DAY 8: SUMMIT TO MWEKA CAMP (FULL BOARD)
Wake up before midnight in the cover of darkness. We begin a steep climb over loose volcanic scree has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take us to the rim of the main crater, Stella Point, at 5,735m. We will rest there for a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.
Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking.
DAY 9: MWEKA GATE TO ARUSHA (FULL BOARD)
A gentle walk takes us down through the rainforest to Mweka gate successful climbers will receive their summit certificates. After lunch, we drive back to Arusha Safari Lodge. Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 3-5 hours walking.
Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: Bed, dinner, and Breakfast-included.
