Shira Route :

The ascent of Africa's highest peak via the challenging and scenic Shira Route, with an excellent acclimatization schedule.

The Shira Route approaches Kilimanjaro from the west, crossing the caldera of the Shira volcano and exploring the rock formations of the plateau, before traversing beneath the southern ice fields of Kibo.

We make the final ascent to the summit from the Barafu hut, reaching the crater rim at Stella Point before continuing around to Uhuru Point.

This itinerary gives the best possible acclimatisation and also gives us plenty of time to enjoy the magnificent scenery.

From the lower slopes of the mountain, we ascend steadily to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau.

 

This area is home to a variety of game, including buffalo and there are good views of nearby Mount Meru, the second highest summit in Tanzania.

There is a real sense of wilderness here with the dramatic rocky scenery of the Western Breach rising above us.

A steep climb up the Barranco Wall takes us to an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with superb vistas of the Southern Icefields.

Gradually the terrain changes to scree and we climb steeply to reach the Barafu campsite.

Our ascent to the summit of Kilimanjaro has some well-graded zigzags and a slow but steady pace will take us to Stella Point (5735 metres) in about five or six hours.

 

Here we can rest and enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi.

Those who have the energy can make the two hour round trip from here along the crater rim to Uhuru Peak (5896 metres) passing close to the spectacular glaciers and ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area.

The descent to the Barafu Hut is surprisingly fast, and after some refreshment, we continue down to reach our final campsite at the new Millennium Hut before continuing on the following day to leave the park at the Mweka Gate.