Shira Route

The Shira route on Mt. Kilimanjaro, is one of the least used initial ascent routes on the mountain, partly because of its remote location. The climb begins at a high elevation, Morum Barrier Gate at nearly 12,000 ft. (3600 m). Thus, you have to start slow and easy on this route. You start your trek in the heather zone, bypassing the wet forest behind, and immediately find yourself on the first day of the trek on the Shira Plateau.

The first day of your Kilimanjaro climb is simply short to begin the acclimatization process. You spend the next two days hiking across the plateau, which is said to be one of the most stunningly beautiful hikes in Africa. The plateau itself is grassland, heath and moor, and is home to especially large senecias (up to 10 meters high). On the plateau, one can often see elands, sometimes buffaloes, leopards and other animals. The Shira Cone, which is an ancient crater, rises about 200 meters above the plateau. Along the southern ridge of the Shira Plateau there are two dramatic peaks, Cathedral and the Needle. All of these create fantastic scenery to enjoy on this route.

The Shira route trail eventually merges with Machame Route on day three. From this point all the two trails continue to Lava Tower, and then down into the Great Barranco Valley, where the Umbwe route joins from the south.

The road to the starting point of Shira Route is only accessible by 4-WD vehicles and can become impassable during the wet seasons (when it might be necessary to start from a lower point). But the drive itself to the trailhead offers spectacular views of the Great Rift Valley and the surrounding mountains including Mt. Meru and Longido. It follows the ancient Shira rift zone, an array of parasitic cones on the flank of the volcano. The vegetation changes dramatically along the way are striking.