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Shira 9 Day Route
Shira 9 Day Route
Tour Overview
FROM $ 2,250
Has good scenery, traffic not so high, It has the highest starting point require additional acclimatization, nearly identical to the Lemosho route, it has good rainforest section with wildlife spotting opportunities. Accommodation is in tents
Arrival
Airport
Arrival
Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at the Kilimanjaro International Airport, pick up and transferred to the Springlands Hotel or similar for overnight bed and breakfast.
Day 2: Londrossi National Park Gate
After breakfast and a briefing from your guide, leave Moshi and drive to Londorossi National Park Gate in order to complete the necessary registration formalities before we drive a short distance to Shira Gate (2787m) where we begin our trek.. Begin hiking, and enter the rainforest immediately. Your walk through the rainforest is on a winding muddy trail up a ridge. At these lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy, so gaiters and trekking poles will help. Stop halfway for lunch, and reach the Shira Camp in the afternoon. Unpack, rest, and have some tea or coffee.
Day 3: Barranco Camp
The route now turns east into a semi desert and rocky landscape surrounding Lava Tower, where you reach an altitude of 4600m after about a 5 hours walk. Lunch is served in a designated area before ascending the rocky scree path to Lava Tower (4600m). Definitely the toughest day so far. It is normally around this point, where for the first time, some climbers will start to feel symptoms of breathlessness, irritability and headaches. After lunch, you descent again by almost 660m to the Barranco camping 3940m, area and after reaching the high altitude of 4600m at Lava Tower, the true acclimatisation benefit of this day becomes clear. This descent to Barranco camp takes about 2 hours and offers great opportunities to take some beautiful photographs of the Western Breach and Breach Wall. The camp is situated in a valley below the Breach and Great Barranco Wall, which should provide you with a memorable sunset while you wait for the preparation of your dinner and overnight at Barranco Camp.
You may start to feel the effects of altitude here, and to aid your acclimatization, you can choose to spend an extra day resting at Horombo or climbing to a basecamp below Kibo’s sub peak Mawenzi.
Day 4: Karanga Camp
After breakfast we leave Barranco camp 3940m, hiking up Barranco 4200m Wall which takes about an hour. Continue to Karanga Camp which takes 4035m,with numerous ascents and descents. Enjoy an afternoon acclimatization hike.
Day 5: Barafu Camp
After breakfast enjoy a acclimatization hike toward Barafu Camp which is 4670m. Later return to Karanga Camp which is 4035m for dinner & overnight. This offers you excellent acclimatization offering you even higher chances of reaching the summit.
Day 6: Summit
Totally exposed to the ever-present gales the tents are pitched on a narrow, stony, and dangerous ridge. Make sure that you familiarise yourself with the terrain before dark to avoid any accidents. The summit is now a further 1225m up and you will make the final ascent the same night. Prepare your equipment, ski stick and thermal clothing for your summit attempt. This should include the replacement of your headlamp and camera batteries and make sure you have a spare set available as well. To prevent freezing it will be wise to carry your water in a thermal flask. Go to bed at round about 19h00 and try to get some precious rest and sleep for not more than 5-hours.
Day 7: Stella | Uhuru Peak
You will rise around 23h30, and after some tea and biscuits you shuffle off into the night. You will head in a northwesterly direction and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This 6-hour walk to Stella point is for many climbers, mentally and physically the most challenging on the route. At Stella Point (5759m) you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise you are ever likely to see (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you will normally encounter snow all the way on your 2-hour ascent to Uhuru Peak. The time you will spend on the summit will depend on the weather conditions. Do not stop here for too long, as it will be extremely difficult to start again due to cold and fatigue. Enjoy your accomplishment and a day to remember for the rest of your life. The walk back to Barafu from the summit takes about 3 hours. Here you will have a well-earned but short rest and collect the rest of your gear, before heading down to Mweka Camp for dinner and overnight
Day 8: Springlands Hotel
After Breakfast, From the Mweka Gate, you will continue down into the Mweka village, normally a muddy and long hour walk. In the Mweka village drive to Springlands Hotel and you will be served a delicious hot lunch and a long overdue hot shower. Overnight in Springlands Hotel. It is recommended and tips are highly appreciated at the end of their trip. Tips can be given to the guide at Springlands Hotel. This is also where successful climbers receive their summit certificates. Those climbers who reached Stella Point (5685m) are issued with green certificates and those who reached Uhuru Peak (5895m) receive gold certificates.
Airport
Day 9: Departure | Kilimanjaro Airport
After an early breakfast, transfer to Kilimanjaro airport for your departure flight back home.