Shira Route - West Kilimanjaro - 7 to 9 days

The Shira route is a path that approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, and is nearly identical to the Lemosho route. In fact, Shira was the original route and Lemosho is the improved variation.

While Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate and treks through the rain forest to Shira 1 Camp, the Shira route bypasses this walk by using a vehicle to transport climbers to Shira Gate, located near the Shira Ridge.

On the first day on the mountain, climbers begin their hike from 11,800 feet (3,600 m) and spend their first night at the same elevation at Simba Camp. Then, the route merges with Lemosho at Shira 2 and follows the southern circuit route, traversing beneath the Southern Ice fields before summiting from Barafu. Descent is made on the Mweka route.

Day Start Altitude (m) Altitude (ft) Finish Altitude (m) Altitude (ft) TIme Distance Distance
1 Shira Gate 3,600 11,800 Simba Camp 3,600 11,800 1-2 4 2
2 Simba Camp 3,600 11,800 Shira 2 Camp 3,810 12,500 2 6 4
3 Shira 2 Camp 3,810 12,500 Lava Tower 4,630 15,190 4-5 7 4
Lava Tower 4,630 15,190 Barranco Camp 3,976 13,044 2-3 3 2
4 Barranco Camp 3,976 13,044 Karanga Camp 3,995 13,106 4-5 5 3
5 Karanga Camp 3,995 13,106 Barafu Camp 4,673 15,331 4-5 4 2
6 Barafu Camp 4,673 15,331 Uhuru Peak 5,895 19,341 7-8 5 3
Uhuru Peak 5,895 19,341 Mweka Camp 3,068 10,065 4-6 12 7
7 Mweka Camp 3,068 10,065 Mweka Gate 1,640 5,380 3-4 10 6
Total 56 33

9 Days Shira Itinerary

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