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 |