The Shira route
Shira begins high on the Shira Plateau, reached by vehicle. For climbers who are already acclimatised it is a short, quiet way onto the mountain; for anyone who is not, it is the wrong choice.
We don’t judge it safe to be driven straight to around 3,500 m. If you summited Mount Meru a couple of days ago, it’s fine. We run it in seven or eight days, or joined to TK Lemosho, our own route round the quiet northern side of the mountain.
- 53.3–57.7 kmGate to gate
- 7 or 8 daysOn the mountain
- 3,395 mMorum Barrier
- MwekaDescent route
Who Shira is for
All three versions start at Morum Barrier, the trailhead, and reach Shira 1 on the first day. From there they part.
Only for climbers already acclimatised
Driving from Arusha straight onto the plateau gives the body no time to adjust, and sleeping that high on the first night puts climbers at real risk of altitude sickness. Climbers who have just summited Mount Meru (4,566 m), or spent the previous days at altitude, are already adapted, and for them Shira saves the days in the forest. If that isn’t you, Lemosho starts on the same side of the mountain and gives your body the time it needs.
Three ways to climb it
The seven-day route crosses the plateau to Shira 2, then joins Machame; the eight-day route goes by Moir Hut and spends a night at Lava Tower Camp. Or, from Shira 1, you can head north to Moir Hut and join TK Lemosho, which follows the quiet northern circuit and summits from School Hut. In seven days it keeps the night at Pofu that the seven-day TK Lemosho has to skip.
The road onto the plateau also makes Shira our quickest access for mountain safety work and rescues on the western side.
| Route | Gate to gate | Days | From Shira 1 | Climb high, sleep low | Height lost and climbed again | Last camp | Summit approach | Crowding | Descent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shira to TK LemoshoTK route | 57.7 km | 7 | North to Moir Hut, then the quiet northern circuit | About 400 m, Moir Hut to Pofu | None | School Hut4,715 m | From School Hut, on the quiet north-east side | Quiet throughout | Mweka |
| Shira, 7 days | 55.9 km | 7 | East to Shira 2, then joining Machame | 670 m at the Lava TowerClose to the summit bid | About 340 mThe day before summit night | Barafu4,673 m | Stella Point, from Barafu | Quiet for a day, then Machame’s camps | Mweka |
| Shira, 8 days | 53.3 km | 8 | North-east to Moir Hut, then a night at Lava Tower Camp | A night at Lava Tower Camp4,645 m, then down to Barranco | About 340 mThe day before summit night | Barafu4,673 m | Stella Point, from Barafu | Quiet to Moir Hut, then Machame’s camps | Mweka |
Swipe sideways to see every column. Tap i for more detail.
The shape of the route
Drawn from our own GPS tracks. Choose a route to see its profile.
- Morum Barrier3,395 m
- Shira 13,495 m
- Moir Hut4,160 m
- Pofu3,990 m
- Third Cave3,940 m
- School Hut4,715 m
- Uhuru Peak5,895 m
- Millennium3,800 m
- Mweka Gate1,645 m
- Morum Barrier3,395 m
- Shira 13,495 m
- Shira 23,890 m
- Lava Tower4,645 m
- Barranco3,975 m
- Karanga4,035 m
- Barafu4,673 m
- Uhuru Peak5,895 m
- Millennium3,800 m
- Mweka Gate1,645 m
- Morum Barrier3,395 m
- Shira 13,495 m
- Moir Hut4,160 m
- Lava Tower Camp4,645 m
- Barranco3,975 m
- Karanga4,035 m
- Barafu4,673 m
- Uhuru Peak5,895 m
- Millennium3,800 m
- Mweka Gate1,645 m
Shira route map
All three on our relief map of the mountain. They share the first day to Shira 1, then part. Tap a route’s name to hide or show it, and tap a line for its distance and downloads.
Day by day
Distances come from our GPS tracks. Your guide may vary the plan for crowding, water, your group’s pace and the weather.
- Day1
Morum Barrier to Shira 1
After registering at Londorossi Gate, a drive up onto the Shira Plateau to Morum Barrier, the trailhead, then a short walk across the plateau to camp. You sleep high on the first night, which is why this route is only for climbers already acclimatised.
- Day2
Shira 1 to Moir Hut
Across the plateau to Moir Hut, beneath the western cliffs of Kibo. From here you are on the TK Lemosho route.
- Day3
Moir Hut to Pofu Camp
Onto the quiet northern side of Kibo, climbing to around 4,400 m before descending to sleep at Pofu: climb high, sleep low. Very few climbers come this way.
- Day4
Pofu Camp to Third Cave
An easy traverse at almost level height, with Mawenzi’s jagged peaks ahead. A gentle day that lets your body catch up.
- Day5
Third Cave to School Hut
A short, steady climb to the high camp. Rest, an early meal and an early night before the summit.
- Day6
School Hut to Uhuru Peak, down to Millennium Camp
Summit night from the north-east, usually starting around midnight, to the crater rim and Uhuru Peak around sunrise, then down the southern side to Millennium Camp.
- Day7
Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Down through heath and rainforest to the gate, where you sign the summit register, then a short walk to meet our vehicle and the drive back to Arusha.
- Day1
Morum Barrier to Shira 1
After registering at Londorossi Gate, a drive up onto the Shira Plateau to Morum Barrier, the trailhead, then a short walk across the plateau to camp. You sleep high on the first night, which is why this route is only for climbers already acclimatised.
- Day2
Shira 1 to Shira 2
An easy walk east across the open plateau, with Kibo growing ahead. Next morning, near Shira Cave Camp, you join climbers coming up from Machame, so from the Lava Tower onwards the trail and camps are busier.
- Day3
Shira 2 to Barranco, via the Lava Tower
A hard day. Up to the foot of the Lava Tower for lunch, the highest point so far, then down to sleep at Barranco, 670 m lower. Climbing high and sleeping lower helps you acclimatise, but it is a long day close to the summit bid, so we keep the pace steady to save your strength for the days ahead.
- Day4
Barranco to Barafu, via Karanga
A long, tiring day. First the Barranco Wall, 245 m of scrambling, easier than it looks, with one stride around an outcrop of rock; if you are nervous of it, a member of our crew stands on the ledge below to guide your feet. Then three rises and falls to lunch at Karanga (4,035 m), and 640 m up to the high camp at Barafu.
- Day5
Rest and acclimatisation at Barafu
A day to sleep, eat, drink and recover your reserves, with a short excursion, at your guide’s discretion, no higher than 5,000 m: enough to fine-tune your acclimatisation and see the ridge you will climb that night.
- Day6
Barafu to Uhuru Peak, then Millennium Camp
Summit night starts around midnight, at the time your guide judges best for your pace: up the ridge to Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim, ideally around sunrise, then about an hour more to Uhuru Peak. Back to Barafu for a rest and refreshments, then down to Millennium Camp.
- Day7
Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Down through heath and rainforest to the gate, where you sign the summit register, then a short walk to meet our vehicle and the drive back to Arusha.
- Day1
Morum Barrier to Shira 1
After registering at Londorossi Gate, a drive up onto the Shira Plateau to Morum Barrier, the trailhead, then a short walk across the plateau to camp. You sleep high on the first night, which is why this route is only for climbers already acclimatised.
- Day2
Shira 1 to Moir Hut
North-east across the plateau to Moir Hut, beneath the western cliffs of Kibo: a quieter camp than Shira 2.
- Day3
Moir Hut to Lava Tower Camp
Round the western side of Kibo to camp at the foot of the Lava Tower. In the evening, an acclimatisation walk up towards Arrow Glacier Camp. Your guide checks everyone’s acclimatisation, and if anyone is not adjusting well, the group goes down to sleep at Barranco instead.
- Day4
Lava Tower Camp to Barranco
A short morning down to Barranco, 670 m lower, with the afternoon to rest.
- Day5
Barranco to Barafu, via Karanga
A long, tiring day. First the Barranco Wall, 245 m of scrambling, easier than it looks, with one stride around an outcrop of rock; if you are nervous of it, a member of our crew stands on the ledge below to guide your feet. Then three rises and falls to lunch at Karanga (4,035 m), and 640 m up to the high camp at Barafu.
- Day6
Rest and acclimatisation at Barafu
A day to sleep, eat, drink and recover your reserves, with a short excursion, at your guide’s discretion, no higher than 5,000 m: enough to fine-tune your acclimatisation and see the ridge you will climb that night.
- Day7
Barafu to Uhuru Peak, then Millennium Camp
Summit night starts around midnight, at the time your guide judges best for your pace: up the ridge to Stella Point (5,756 m) on the crater rim, ideally around sunrise, then about an hour more to Uhuru Peak. Back to Barafu for a rest and refreshments, then down to Millennium Camp.
- Day8
Millennium Camp to Mweka Gate
Down through heath and rainforest to the gate, where you sign the summit register, then a short walk to meet our vehicle and the drive back to Arusha.
Add a night in the crater
Every route we run, Shira included, can be lengthened by one day to sleep inside the summit crater at Crater Camp, 5,725 m. This is our Excel Series, and it turns the summit into the start of a day and a half on the roof of Africa rather than a few minutes before the descent.
Our GPS track of the whole crater excursion, every option included: 9.8 km from Uhuru Peak to Stella Point.
- Summitday
Uhuru Peak, Furtwängler Point and down into the crater
From the summit we carry on about 200 m along the rim to Furtwängler Point, then drop into the crater to rest at Crater Camp. Climbers in good form walk to the top of the Western Breach, about 1.0 km there and back, to watch the sun set over Mount Meru, and explore the south face of the Furtwängler Glacier, which is shrinking fast and will not be there much longer.
- Craterday
The Reusch Ash Pit and the Northern Icefields
In the morning we climb to the rim of the Reusch Ash Pit and, if there is time, walk all the way round it. The strongest climbers also explore the Northern Icefields before finishing the circuit. Then back to Stella Point and down to Barafu.
Shira prices
The same price whichever way you climb it, and the same as Lemosho. Advantage series, our most popular level of support; per person in US dollars, depending on the size of your booking group.
Shira, 8 days
From
USD 2,887per person, group of 8
- 2 climbersUSD 3,169
- Solo, joining a groupUSD 3,169
- Solo, private climbUSD 3,651
Shira or Shira to TK Lemosho, 7 days
From
USD 2,548per person, group of 8
- 2 climbersUSD 2,807
- Solo, joining a groupUSD 2,807
- Solo, private climbUSD 3,260
Questions about the Shira route
Is the Shira route safe?
For climbers already acclimatised, yes. For anyone else, we advise against it.
A vehicle takes you onto the Shira Plateau, so you sleep at around 3,500 m on the first night with no time to adjust. We don’t judge it safe to be driven straight to that height from Arusha. If you summited Mount Meru a couple of days before, or have spent the previous days at altitude, it is fine. If not, Lemosho starts on the same side of the mountain and gives your body the time it needs.
Can I climb Shira after Mount Meru?
Yes. That is what it suits best.
Mount Meru (4,566 m) is the ideal preparation for Kilimanjaro. A couple of days after your Meru summit you are acclimatised enough to start high on the Shira Plateau, which saves the days you would otherwise spend climbing through the forest. Ask us to plan the two climbs together.
How long is the Shira route?
Seven or eight days, and 53.3–57.7 km gate to gate.
Measured from our GPS tracks, from Morum Barrier to Mweka Gate: 55.9 km on the seven-day route, 53.3 km on the eight-day route and 57.7 km joined to TK Lemosho.
Can I join TK Lemosho from Shira?
Yes, in seven days, keeping the night at Pofu.
From Shira 1 the route heads north to Moir Hut and follows TK Lemosho round the quiet northern side of the mountain, summiting from School Hut. Because you start on the plateau, you reach Moir Hut a day earlier than from Lemosho Gate, and avoid the 15.6 km day from Moir Hut to Third Cave that the seven-day TK Lemosho needs.
Where does the Shira route start?
On the Shira Plateau, on the western side, reached by vehicle.
You register at Londorossi Gate, then drive up onto the plateau to Morum Barrier, the Shira trailhead, at 3,395 m. We collect you from your hotel in Arusha.
Why does Team Kilimanjaro use the Shira road?
It is the quickest way onto the mountain for safety work and rescues.
An acclimatised member of our staff can leave Arusha early in the morning, drive onto the plateau and reach the summit the same day. If a sick climber is evacuated from the western side, a vehicle can come up to a point a short walk below Shira Hut, which makes the descent to hospital much faster.
Can I download the Shira routes as GPX or KML?
Yes, all three, in both formats.
Use the downloads below the map, or tap a route on the map.
Why climbers trust us with the mountain
Climb Shira with us
Tell us your dates, your group and whether you are climbing Meru first, and we will plan the climb with you, including which version of Shira suits you.
Plan my climb