Overview

Important: The Shira Route starts at 3,500m, skipping the lower forest zone that gives the Lemosho Route its acclimatisation advantage. Jaribu recommends the Lemosho 7-day or 8-day for most climbers. The Shira Route is for those who specifically want the plateau experience and are confident in their ability to acclimatise at high altitude from day one.

The Shira Route is the only Kilimanjaro route that begins directly on the plateau. A 4WD transfer from Londrossi Gate carries you to 3,500m before you take a single step on the mountain. From Shira 1 Camp, the route heads north through alpine desert to the rarely-visited Moir Hut, then swings south past Lava Tower and down into the Great Barranco Valley. From Barranco onwards, the trail is identical to the Lemosho route.

The Shira Plateau is one of Kilimanjaro's most dramatic landscapes: a high-altitude moorland sitting inside the caldera of an ancient collapsed volcano, ringed by volcanic dykes and lava formations. The Shark's Tooth landmark and views of the Northern Ice Field on Day 3 are found nowhere else on the standard routes. For climbers who specifically want this terrain and can acclimatise well at altitude, Shira delivers it in 6 days.

Quick Facts

Difficulty
Challenging
Mountain days
6
Total trip
8 days including travel
Distance
approx. 40 km
Starting altitude
3,500m (4WD to Shira 1)
Summit
5,895m
Environments
Alpine Desert, Moorland, Arctic Summit
Accommodation
Camping
Meals
All included
Note
Shares route with Lemosho from Shira 1 onwards

Day-by-Day Itinerary

  1. 1

    Arrive in Tanzania

    Airport transfer to Arusha hotel. Accommodation: Ameg Lodge / Salinero Hotels (Mid-Range) or River Trees Country Inn / Arumeru River Lodge (VIP).

  2. 2

    Londrossi Gate to Shira 1 Camp

    2 to 3 hours· 3 km· 3,500m to 3,511m· Montane moorland

    4WD transfer to Londrossi Gate for park registration and porter bag weighing (20kg limit). Short hike to Shira 1 Camp. The route begins significantly higher than any other Kilimanjaro route. Acclimatisation begins immediately.

  3. 3

    Shira 1 Camp to Moir Hut

    5 to 6 hours· 9 km· 3,511m to 4,175m· Alpine desert

    Trek northward through heather toward the Shark's Tooth landmark. Cross a ridge into a high-altitude valley with hardy everlasting flowers and giant senecios. Views of the Shira Plateau, Lent Group volcanic dykes, lava tube caves, Kibo Massif, and the Northern Ice Field.

  4. 4

    Moir Camp to Barranco Camp (via Lava Tower)

    5 to 6 hours· 6 km· 4,175m to 4,642m· Alpine desert

    Descend rocky scree to Lava Tower (4,530m) for lunch. Optional non-technical rock scramble to the tower top with panoramic views of Karanga Valley, the Shira Plateau, and Western Breach. Steep 600-metre descent into the Great Barranco Valley. Giant groundsels and endemic giant lobelia visible on the descent.

  5. 5

    Barranco Camp to Barafu Camp

    6 to 7 hours· 9 km· 4,039m to 4,600m· Alpine desert

    Climb the Great Barranco Wall, passing below the Heim Glacier. Alpine desert traverse through Karanga Valley as temperatures drop. Arrive at Barafu Camp, an exposed ridge at 4,600m with powerful winds. Views of Kibo and Mawenzi peaks across the saddle. Rest and prepare all summit equipment.

  6. 6

    Barafu Camp to Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

    7 hours to summit, 7 to 8 hours descent· 7 km to summit, 23 km descent· 4,682m to 5,895m, then to 3,819m· Arctic summit

    Depart around midnight. Steady climb to Stella Point crater rim (5,685m). Final 2-hour push past Rebmann and Tarzel glaciers to Uhuru Peak (5,895m), the highest point in Africa. Wine and champagne at the summit. Descent to Barafu, then continue down to Mweka Camp. Hot meal on arrival.

  7. 7

    Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate

    5 to 6 hours· 13.5 km· 3,819m to 1,652m· Montane rainforest

    Steep descent through Mweka rainforest, slippery when wet. Summit certificates issued at Mweka Gate: gold for Uhuru Peak, green for Stella Point. Transfer to Arusha hotel.

  8. 8

    Depart Tanzania

    Transfer to Kilimanjaro International Airport for your flight home.

Gallery

Route Map

The Shira Route map

Pricing

Prices in USD per person. 6 Days on the mountain.

Group sizeMid-RangeVIP
Solo$3,500$6,900
2 people$2,510$5,900
3 people$2,460$5,400
4 people$2,410$5,200
5 people$2,360$5,000
6 people$2,310$4,800
7 people$2,260$4,600
8 people$2,210$4,400
9 people$2,160$4,200
10+ people$2,110$4,000

*Prices subject to availability and seasonal park fees. Contact us for a confirmed quote.

Kilimanjaro prices vary significantly between operators. Government park fees alone run $700 to $1,200 per climber and cannot be reduced by any operator. The difference between a $1,700 climb and a $2,800 climb comes down to what happens to everything else: guide certification, safety equipment, porter wages, and food. See how our pricing works and how we compare to other operators.

What is Included in Every Climb

Mid-Range

  • Airport transfers to and from Arusha hotel
  • 2 nights hotel in Arusha (B&B): Ameg Lodge or Salinero Hotels
  • All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
  • Senior guide and assistant guide
  • Certified Wilderness First Responder guide
  • Porterage for main bag (max 15kg day pack carried by you)
  • Emergency oxygen and Gamow bag
  • Pulse oximeter and expedition medical kit
  • Vital signs monitoring at every camp
  • 2-way radio and mobile phone
  • 3-person expedition tent (2 clients per tent)
  • Mountaineering mattress
  • Portable private flush toilet tent
  • AMREF Flying Doctors medical evacuation cover
  • Kilimanjaro National Park fees (entrance, camping, rescue)
  • Wine and champagne at summit
  • Hot washing water (morning and evening)
  • Summit certificate signed by Kilimanjaro National Park
  • Fair wages for all porters, guides, and cooks

VIP

Everything in Mid-Range, plus:

  • Premium Arusha hotel (River Trees Country Inn or Arumeru River Lodge)
  • Walk-in sleeping tent with full-size bed, pillow, blankets, thermal liner
  • Personal porter carries your day pack on the mountain
  • Hot shower tent at camp
  • Wine, champagne, whisky, soft drinks, and beer at camp
  • Snacks throughout the day
  • Satellite phone
  • Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope
  • Medevac stretcher
What is not included: International flights, Tanzania visa, travel insurance, personal trekking gear, tips for crew, laundry.

Route FAQ

The two best windows are July to September (dry, cold, clearest skies) and January to February (warmer, fewer crowds, good visibility). These give you the highest chance of a clear summit and stable conditions on the trail. April, May, and November are the rainy months. Hikeable but not recommended unless you are experienced with wet alpine conditions. For a full month-by-month breakdown, see our best time to climb guide on this site.
TripAdvisor

38 five-star reviews on TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Joseph and his team answered all our questions very quickly, which greatly facilitated planning. Our guides Stephen and Manase kept us safe and made the long hikes pass faster. The cook prepared hot and delicious meals that gave us the energy we needed for each day. Reaching Uhuru Peak together was definitely worth it. They fulfilled our dream of Kilimanjaro.

Anna M.
Montreal, Canada
March 2025 · Lemosho 8 Days

Our group of 15 Americans had such an amazing experience. Joseph was very helpful and easy to communicate with. Every question was answered quickly. Our head guide Manase was incredible throughout the entire trek. He kept motivating us, checked on everyone constantly, and made us feel safe the whole time. Reaching the summit together was emotional and one of the proudest moments for our group. You could tell the company really cares about their guests.

Alex N.
United States
February 2026 · Lemosho 8 Days

We had an amazing trip with Jaribu Africa! We climbed Kilimanjaro for 8 days using the Lemosho route. Our guides, Manase and Ayumwe, were fantastic. They knew everything about the mountain and helped us reach the top. The food was great, even though we are vegetarian. The people who carried our things were also very kind.

Shelby Lowery
Seattle, Washington
March 2025 · Lemosho 8 Days

My wife and I and our two boys (18 years old) along with our friends climbed Kilimanjaro along the north route. The guides and porters were fantastic and the longer route was fun because we had more days to acclimatize to the altitude. We all successfully summitted and we attribute our success to the company Jaribu (experts) and the extra days at camp 14,000 ft. The equipment provided was high quality, spacious and comfortable. The kitchen tent was a great place to hang out and visit with friends and eat the excellent meals. I can highly recommend Jaribu and the lead guide Joseph.

Josef C
February 2025 · Northern Circuit 8 Days

We had two families on an eight day climb of Kilimanjaro. Joseph is very attentive and detail oriented in organizing our trips. We were a big group, which Jaribu team effortlessly moved from camp to camp. Meals were fresh and delicious due to Jeff's superb skills. Manase, our head guide, was professional, helpful, and very friendly. He made us feel welcome and supported. This was our third trip with Jaribu adventures, but will definitely not be the last.

Renee E
January 2025 · Marangu 6 Days

As I reflect on our 8-day adventure with Jaribu Africa Adventures, I'm still pinching myself to believe we actually summitted Mount Kilimanjaro — all of us, on the Roof of Africa! My 14 friends and I went on an unforgettable journey, and I'm thrilled to share our remarkable experience.

Ben Keryt
United Kingdom
June 2024 · Lemosho 8 Days

We booked this trip direct with Jaribu after a friend's recommendation. Everything went smoothly from airport pick up, hotels to trek. Two of us suffered with mild altitude sickness but the advice and support of the guides kept us safe at all times and ensured that we summitted. Mathew and Ayumi the guides were so patient and helpful. The porters were polite and friendly and Jeff, the cook, produced food which would have been top class even under normal conditions. It was amazing to reach the summit at sunrise. I would totally recommend Jaribu.

horseyj
Winchburgh, United Kingdom
July 2023 · Lemosho 7 Days

Ready to Climb The Shira Route?

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TATOTanzania Tourist BoardLeave No TraceAMREF Flying DoctorsKilimanjaro Search and Rescue