6 Days Kilimanjaro Trekking - Shira Route

6 DAYS SHIRA ROUTE ITINERARY

DAY 0: ARRIVAL TO TANZANIA.
You will be picked up at the Kilimanjaro international airport and transferred to your hotel in moshi town, you will meet your guide who will brief you on your upcoming trek and do an equipment check to make sure you have all the necessary mountain gear. The missing gear can be rented on this day .
DAY 1: Hotel - Shira Two Camp.
Altitude range: 1,500meters (4,900 ft) - 3,850 meters (12,600 ft)
Hiking time: 1 hour
Distance: 3 km
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we start a long drive to Lemosho Gate where you will complete the necessary registration. Afterwards, we continue our travel up the Shira Plateau to the trailhead. You will have a short hike through the rain forest to Shira Two Camp where your tent will be pitched
DAY 2: Shira Two Camp - Lava Tower - Barranco Camp
Altitude range: 3,850 meters (12,600 ft) - 4,600 meters (15,100 ft) - 3,950 meters (12,950 ft)
Hiking time: 7 hours approx
Distance: 14 - 15 km's (9 miles)
Habitat: Semi desert and rocky terrain
The route turns east towards Kibo and you will find yourself hiking through semi-desert up to the fairly rocky conditions that surround Lava Tower at 4,600 meters (15,100 ft). After lunch, we descend approximately 650 meters to Barranco Camp. Along the way, you will have good views overlooking Western Breach and Breach Wall. Tonight’s camp is located in a valley just below the Breach and gives an impressive view of Great Barranco Wall.
DAY3: Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,000ft to 13,100ft
Distance: 5km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
This is a short day meant for acclimatization. We take on a route that heads down through the Karanga Valley over intervening ridges and valleys, and then joins up with the Mweka route. We turn left up the ridge and after another hour or so, we would have reached Barafu Hut.
-The last water stop on the route is the Karranga Valley, as there is no water available at Barafu camp. Barafu is the Swahili word for “ice” and it is a bleak and inhospitable camping area to spend the night. 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.
DAY4: Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Elevation (ft): 13,100ft to 15,300ft
Distance: 4 km
Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
Habitat: Alpine Desert
After breakfast, we leave Karanga and hit the junction which connects with the Mweka Trail. We continue up to the Barafu Hut. At this point, you have completed the South Circuit, which offers views of the summit from many different angles. Here we make camp, rest, enjoy dinner, and prepare for the summit day. The two peaks of Mawenzi and Kibo are to be seen from this position.
DAY5: Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Hut
Elevation (ft): 15,300ft to 19,345ft (and down to 10,000ft)
Distance: 5 km ascent / 12 km descent
Hiking Time: 7-8 hours ascent / 4-6 hours descent
Habitat: Arctic
At 2am, we start our way to the summit between the Rebmann and Ratzel glaciers. We head in a northwest and ascend through heavy scree towards Stella Point on the crater rim. This is the most mentally and physically challenging portion of the trek.
-At Stella Point (18,600 ft), you will stop for a short rest and will be rewarded with the most magnificent sunrise (weather permitting). From Stella Point, you may encounter snow all the way on your 1-hour ascent to the summit. At Uhuru Peak, you have reached the highest point of Mount Kilimanjaro. Faster hikers will see the sunrise from the summit.
-From the summit, we now make our descent continuing straight down to the Mweka Hut camp site, stopping at Barafu for lunch. You will want gaiters and trekking poles for the loose gravel going down. Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest and mist or rain can be expected in late afternoon. Later in the evening, we enjoy our last dinner on the mountain and have a well-earned sleep.
DAY6: Mweka Camp to Hotel
Elevation (ft): 10,000ft to 5,400ft
Distance: 10 km
Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
Habitat: Rain Forest
After breakfast, we continue the descent down to Mweka Park Gate to receive your summit certificates. At lower elevations, it can be wet and muddy. Gaiters and trekking poles will help. From the gate, we continue another hour to Mweka Village where our vehicle awaits to drive us back to the Hotel.

PRICE INCLUDES

Private transport to & from Kilimanjaro International Airport to your accommodations in Moshi.
2 nights of accommodation in Moshi.
Transportation to & from the Kilimanjaro gate.
Park entry fees.
Camping fees.
Team Kilimanjaro Rescue fees.
18% VAT on tour fees & services.
4 Season mountain tents.
Double layered Sleeping Mats.
Friendly and professional mountain guides, cook and porters.
3 hot meals daily while on the mountain.
Enough treated & filtered drinking water throughout the trek.
Hot water for washing.
Fair wages for the mountain crew as approved by the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), Kilimanjaro Association of Tour Operators (KIATO).
Government taxes.
Portable oxygen tanks & ox meter.
Emergency first-aid kit.

PRICE EXCLUDES

Lunches, dinners and drinks at your hotel before and after climb.
Travel insurance.
Portable flush toilet with a toilet tent is available for extra charges $ 225 for the entire trek.
Flights.
Laundry (Available at hotel).
Personal items and toiletries.
Tips for guides, porters and cook (this is a guide to tipping on the mountain).
*Tips on Mountain Kilimanjaro are recommended for group sharing as follows:
Guide $25 - $30 per day
Assistant Guide $20 - $25 per day
Waiter/camping crew/dish washer $15 per day
Chef $20 - $25 per day
Porters $10 per day

TREKKING EQUIPMENTS

Technical Clothing:

• 1 - Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood

• 1 - Insulated Jacket, synthetic or down

• 1 - Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell

• 2 - Long Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric

• 1 - Waterproof Pants, breathable (side zipper recommended)

• 2 - Hiking Pants

• 1 - Fleece Pants

• 1 - Shorts (optional)

• 1 - Long Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric

• 3 - Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric recommended

• 2 - Sport Bra (women)

Equipment

• 1 - Sleeping Bag, warm, four seasons

• 1 - Camp Pillow, inflatable (optional)

• 1 - Trekking Poles, collapsible (highly recommended)

• 1 - Head Lamp, with extra batteries

• 1 - Duffel Bag, 50-90L capacity, for porters to carry your equipment

• 1 - Daypack, 30-35L capacity, for you to carry your personal gear

Paperwork

• Passport – Valid more than 6 months.

• Visa (applied online but also available at JRO)

• Immunization Papers

• Insurance Document (That covers 6000m recommended) *

Accessories

• 1 - Sunglasses or Goggles

• 1 - Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)

• 1 - Water Bottle (Nalgene, 32 oz.)

• 1 - Water Bladder (Camelbak type, 3 liters)

• 1 - Towel, lightweight, quick-dry (optional)

• 1 - Pee Bottle, to avoid leaving room/tent at night (recommended)

Head Wear

• 1 - Brimmed Hat, for sun protection

• 1 - Knit Hat, for warmth

• 1 - Balaclava or Buff, for face coverage (optional)

Hand Wear

• 1 - Gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)

• 1 - Gloves, thin

Footwear

• 1 - Hiking Boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in

• 1 - Gym Shoes, to wear at camp (optional)

• 3 - Socks, wool or synthetic

• 1 - Gaiters, waterproof (optional)

Other Important things:

• Toiletries

• Prescriptions

• Sunscreen

• Lip Balm

• Insect Repellent, containing DEET

• First Aid Kit

• Hand Sanitizer

• Toilet Paper

• Wet Wipes (recommended)

• Snacks, light-weight, high calorie, high energy (optional)

• Electrolytes, powder or tablets (optional)

• Camera, with extra batteries (optional)

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Kilimanjaro Trekking Information