Overview

The Shira Plateau is one of the most scenic and captivating areas of Mount Kilimanjaro, offering breathtaking views of both Mt. Meru and the Great Rift Valley. This route is only available to climbers who are already acclimatized to an altitude of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet). Depending on the weather, you can either drive by 4×4 vehicle or walk for approximately 30 minutes to reach Shira Hut, located at 4,000 meters. Along the way, you'll pass through a variety of ecosystems, ranging from forest to grassland, heath, and moorland, providing a diverse and ever-changing landscape.
The fast ascent to 4,000 meters by vehicle will require additional time for acclimatization to ensure a safe and successful climb. From here, climbers can continue their journey to Uhuru Peak, choosing either the Western Breach route or the Barafu Hut route, both of which provide unique challenges and rewarding views.

What to Expect

On the Shira Plateau route, you can expect a dramatic change in scenery as you transition through several distinct climate zones, including forests, grasslands, heath, and moorland. The initial ascent to Shira Hut, whether by vehicle or on foot, offers a striking introduction to Kilimanjaro’s diverse landscapes. Game animals are often spotted along the way, adding to the allure of the trek.
Since this route starts at 4,000 meters, it's vital that climbers are already acclimatized to that altitude before beginning. The rapid ascent can put extra strain on your body, so additional acclimatization time will be necessary to ensure your body adjusts to the altitude before continuing higher.
Once acclimatized, the route offers two options for reaching Uhuru Peak: the Western Breach and the Barafu Hut. Each has its own challenges, but both offer a rewarding climb with unparalleled views of the summit. The Shira Plateau is perfect for those seeking a scenic and less crowded route to the summit, while still maintaining a good chance of reaching the top with proper acclimatization and preparation.

Tour Plan

Arrival in Tanzania - Transfer from Airport to Moshi
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Moshi town. You will meet our Kilimanjaro trekking expert who will brief you on your upcoming Kilimanjaro trekking, then rest until the next day morning.

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Day 1 - SHIRA GATE – SHIRA ONE CAMP.
Elevation:1200m to 1830m to 3500m
Distance: 18km
Hiking Time: 3 hours
Habitat: Montane forest to moorland and heath vegetation
Our Kilimanjaro trek on the Shira Route begins today with a four-hour drive to the Londorossi Gate to the Kilimanjaro National Park. After meeting up with our trekking team and getting registered with the local authorities, we’ll actually pile back into the car and drive just a bit further to reach the park’s Shira Gate. It’s all on foot from here, and our hike actually begins at about 3,600 meters in altitude. We’ll climb through a scenic landscape of rolling heaths and far-reaching moors, where large rocky outcrops rise intermittently from the bushes. After about two hours of trekking, we’ll pitch our tents at Shira One Camp and enjoy our first night of camping on Mount Kilimanjaro.

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Day 2 -SHIRA ONE CAMP – SHIRA TWO CAMP.
Elevation: 3500m to 3800m.
Distance: 7km
Hiking time: 5-6 hours.
Habitat: Moorland and rock.
The Shira Route beckons us further into the wilds of Kilimanjaro on our second day of hiking. The path today is relatively gentle, but we’ll be hiking about twice as far as we managed yesterday. Our path leads through fields of swaying grass interspersed with piles of volcanic rock as we approach Shira Cathedral. Despite its name, this is an entirely natural ridgeline which affords spectacular views of the Shira Plateau. From here, it’s just a short jaunt to Shira Two Camp, where we’ll settle in for our second night on the mountain. Tonight you’ll get to enjoy one of the chief pleasures of climbing Kilimanjaro: savoring a stunning sunset over the peaks and crags of the mountain from the comfort of our own campsite.

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Day 3 -SHIRA TWO CAMP – BARRANCO CAMP.
Elevation: 3800m to 3950m
Distance: 13km
Hiking time: 7-8 hours
Habitat: Moorland
If the jaw-dropping lunar landscapes of the Shira Plateau haven’t wowed you yet, don’t worry—there are more geological wonders in store for us on the Shira Route itinerary. After breakfast this morning, we’ll ascend from Shira Two Camp and leave the vast moorlands of the plateau behind us, climbing higher into an otherworldly alpine desert where the views seem to go on forever. It’s here that we’ll find Kilimanjaro’s famous Lava Tower, a 300-foot formation of lava rock that’s situated at more than 4,500 meters in elevation. After catching our breath, we’ll press on to descend through a forest of Kilimanjaro’s distinctive cactus-like dendrosenecio plants. We’ll be applying the climber’s maxim of “climb high, sleep low” today by pitching our tents at Barranco Camp, which sits at about 3,900 meters in elevation.

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Day 4 -BARRANCO CAMP – KARANGA CAMP.
Elevation: 3950m to 3900m
Distance: 6 km
Hiking time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Moorland
Our morning hike begins with a brief descent to the foot of the Barranco Wall: a steep 900-foot cliff which represents our next obstacle on the way to Kilimanjaro’s summit. From here, our adventure along the Shira Route will actually follow the newer Lemosho Route. You’ll get a firsthand glimpse into the history of the many trails that have been blazed across Kilimanjaro over the years, including the path which now winds its way to the very top of the Barranco Wall. Once we’ve scrambled to the top and caught our breath, we’ll move on into the Karanga Valley, arriving at Karanga Camp after a total of about four or five hours on the trail.

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Day 5 - KARANGA CAMP – BARAFU CAMP
Elevation: 3900m to 4620m.
Distance: 8 km.
Hiking time: 3-4 hours.
Habitat: Alpine Desert.
We’ll be gaining some serious altitude as we ascend through a rocky alpine desert en route to Barafu Camp, so we’ll trek at a comfortable, steady pace. If we’re hiking in fair weather, you’re going to want to stop for pictures frequently; Kilimanjaro’s picturesque summit can be seen clearly throughout the day. Kilimanjaro actually has three distinct volcanic cones, or summits. With each step on today’s section of the Shira Route, we’ll draw closer and closer to the tallest of them all: Kibo. When we arrive at Barafu Camp after approximately four hours of hiking, you’d be forgiven for refusing to take your eyes from Kibo’s grandeur. But make sure to get plenty of sleep—we’ll have a very early morning tomorrow as we begin our attempt on the summit.

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Day 6 - BARAFU CAMP – UHURU PEAK – MWEKA.
Elevation: 4620m to 5895m to 3100m
Distance: 15km
Hiking time: 10 to 12 hours
Habitat: Desert and ice
Are you ready to climb Kilimanjaro at long last? We’ll wake up at midnight to begin the final stretch of our ascent to the top of Africa’s tallest mountain. This will be a long day, as we’ll need to cover more than 15 kilometers to reach the summit and come back down—but the rewards will be worth the effort. After enjoying a hot tea in the darkness of camp, we’ll begin climbing across rocks and scree-covered slopes to arrive at Stella Point, where we’ll watch a breathtaking sunrise across Tanzania’s most beautiful landscapes. From here, we’ll make the final push to Uhuru Peak, where we’ll celebrate our once-in-a-lifetime achievement with plenty of photos and camaraderie. Then we’ll trek back to Barafu Camp, collect any belongings and gear we’ve left behind, and descend into Kilimanjaro’s montane forests to reach Mweka Camp

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Day 7 -MWEKA CAMP – MWEKA GATE - MOSHI
Elevation: 3100m to 1700m
Distance: 9km
Descending time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Montane forest
Today represents a memorable benchmark: it’s the first day you’ve awoken as a trekker who has already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro! And while descending from the mountain is our first order of business, we’ll also break new ground today. Our path follows the Mweka Route from here, making it the third trekking route we’ve enjoyed on this seven-day Shira Route itinerary. You can expect about three or four hours of hiking as we venture deeper into Kilimanjaro’s montane rainforests and eventually emerge at Mweka Gate, where we’ll collect our certificates of achievement.

The Pamoja Kilimanjaro & Safari team will ensure that your dream of summiting Mount Kilimanjaro becomes a reality.