Shira Route 7 Days

If you’re the kind of traveler who’d rather blaze trails than follow them, the Shira Route on Mount Kilimanjaro is calling your name.

While most folks stick to the popular paths, you’ll be starting high, hiking higher, and living large on an off-the-grid journey that takes you across one of the most dramatic landscapes on Earth. This is your chance to explore the original western approach to Kilimanjaro, now a lesser-used gem—and that’s exactly what makes it special.

Instead of walking into the adventure slowly, you’re driven straight up to 11,800 feet at Shira Ridge—cutting through the forest zone in a 4x4 and getting dropped off above the clouds. From there, it’s game on.

That high starting point gives you instant access to the Shira Plateau, a vast alpine plain of lava-rock moonscapes, wildflowers, and views straight out of a National Geographic spread.

But don’t let the beauty fool you—starting this high means your body has to work extra hard to acclimate. So yeah, it’s a little bold. But you didn’t come all this way for “easy,” did you?

Once you're on foot, the hiking is smooth, open, and stunning. You’ll traverse the entire Shira Plateau from west to east in a wide, cinematic walk under impossibly wide skies. This route is ideal for travelers who want fewer crowds, wide-open landscapes, and real wilderness vibes.

Eventually, you’ll join up with the Southern Circuit, swinging around the base of Kibo (the main volcanic cone) with soul-stealing views of the Southern Ice Field, the last glaciers clinging to Kilimanjaro’s massive summit cone.

Shira offers some of Kilimanjaro’s most scenic and remote campsites.

• Sleep under the stars at Shira 2 Camp, surrounded by open space and silence
   
• Watch the sun set behind the jagged peaks of Mt. Meru, visible to the west
   
• Get your first taste of altitude magic—or madness—early on. (Hydrate. Sleep. Repeat.)
   

Like most western approaches, you’ll reach the summit via the Barafu Camp route. From there, it’s a midnight start and an unforgettable climb to Uhuru Peak – 19,341 feet above sea level.

Watch the sunrise from the Roof of Africa, with glaciers glittering, the plains of Tanzania rolling endlessly below, and your own breath fogging up your sunglasses. You earned it.

After conquering the summit, you’ll descend via the Mweka Route, a forested path that brings you back down into the green zone, full of birdsong, mist, and sweet oxygen.

High start = less time in the forest, more time in the alpine
Wide, open views and minimal foot traffic
Unique access to the Shira Plateau
Ideal for experienced hikers, high-altitude junkies, and those wanting a more secluded experience

Note: The rapid gain in elevation can make Day 1 tougher than expected. Good fitness and a strong acclimatization plan are a must.

• Wilderness lovers and solitude seekers
   
• Trail veterans who want something off the main drag
   
• Hikers looking for a scenic, quieter way up Kilimanjaro
   
• Altitude thrill-seekers who want to skip the warm-up and get straight to the good stuff
   

• Duration: 7 to 8 days 
• Starting elevation: ~11,800 ft (Shira Ridge) 
• Summit elevation: 19,341 ft (Uhuru Peak) 
• Finish: Mweka Gate 
• Best time to go: January–March & July–October
   

The Shira Route isn’t for everyone. But if you’re up for an unfiltered, high-altitude, wide-open adventure that few others get to experience—this is your trail.
You’ll climb across a volcanic plateau, sleep beneath icefields, and stand where the world drops away in every direction.

Let the others take the easy way. You came for the view—and the edge.