Six Days Mt Kilimanjaro Trekking through Shira Route

Day 1: Moshi (915 m/3,000 ft) to Shira Gate (1,830 m/6,000 ft) to Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) 18 km, 5-7 hours Montane Forest

After breakfast and a briefing from your guide, leave Moshi and drive for several hours to the Shira Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro, register with the national park. Begin hiking by entering the rainforest immediately through the a winding muddy trail up the ridge here trekking poles will help. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Shira Camp in the afternoon. Dinner is served during the early evening at 7 PM.

Day 2: Shira Camp 2 (3,840 m/12,600 ft) to Lava Tower (4,630 m/15,190 ft) to Barranco Camp (3,950 m/12,960 ft) 15 km, 7 hours Semi-Desert

After breakfast, you will hike east up a steep path above the highest vegetation towards Kilimanjaro looming mass. After several hours, you walk through a rocky landscape to reach the prominent landmark called Lava Tower at 4,630 m/15,190 ft. This chunky remnant of Kilimanjaro earlier volcanic activity is several hundred feet high. After a lunch stop near Lava. Tower, descend for 2 hours below the lower cliffs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall to Barranco Camp at 3,950 m/12,960 ft. Barranco Camp is in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Walls, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for your dinner.

Day 3: Barranco Camp (3,900 m/12,800 ft) to Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) 7km, 4 hours Alpine Desert

After breakfast, we continue up a steep ridge to the great Barranco Wall, then you climb this imposing obstacle, which turns out to be easier than it looks. Topping out just below the Heim Glacier, you can now appreciate just how beautiful Kilimanjaro really is. With Kibo glaciers, soaring overhead, you descend into the lush Karanga Valley to the Karanga Valley campsite, From the camp, you can look east and see the jagged peaks of Mawenzi jutting into the African, sky. After a hot lunch in camp, your afternoon is at leisure for resting or exploring. After two long days, this short day is very important for your acclimatization.

Day 4: Karanga Camp (4,200 m/13,780 ft) to Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) 13km, 8 hours Alpine Desert

Hike east over intervening ridges & valleys to join the Mweka Route, which will be your descent route. Turn left and hike up the ridge through a sparse landscape for another hour to the Barafu Hut where you will receive a hot lunch. The last water on the route is in the Karanga Valley; there is no water at Barafu Camp, even though Barafu is the Swahili word for ice. The famous snows of Kilimanjaro are far above Barafu Camp near the summit of the mountain. Your tent will be pitched on a narrow, stony, wind-swept ridge, so make sure that you familiarize yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. After an early dinner, go to bed for a few hours of precious sleep.

Day 5: Summit Day! Barafu Camp (4,550 m/14,930 ft) to Uhuru Peak (5,895m/19,340 ft) to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) 7 km up, 23 km down 8 hours up, 7-8 hours down Scree and seasonal snow.

Wake up past midnight for hot tea then start a 6 hour trek northwest up through heavy scree between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers to Stella Point (5,685 m/18,650 ft) For a brief stop for sunrise. on the crater rim is the most challenging part of the route for most climbers. At Stella Point you join the top part of the Marangu Route, From here you may encounter snow on your remaining hike along the rim to Uhuru Peak. After your 3-hour descent from the summit back to Barafu Camp for a short rest, collect your gear and hike down a rock and scree path into the moorland and eventually into the forest to Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Mweka Camp (3,100 m/10,170 ft) to Mweka Gate (1,980 m/6,500 ft) to Moshi (890 m/2,920 ft) 15 km, 3 hours Forest.

After a well-deserved breakfast, it is a short, scenic, 3-hour hike back to the Mweka park gate where you meet your transfer to Moshi.

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