Kilimanjaro climb – Shira Route
9 days / 8 nights with an additional acclimatisation day at Karranga Valley
Day
1 Arrive in Kilimanjaro Airport.
We’ll meet for an introductory briefing upon our arrival in
Arusha, before transferring to the Oasis Lodge for the evening.
Day
2 – Drive from Moshi to Londorossi Park Gate. Walk to Simba Cave
Camp
Start: Londorossi
National Park Gate (1800m)
End: Simba Cave Camp (3500m)
Ascent:
1700 metres
Time: 6 to 8 hours
After breakfast we
drive to the Londorossi Park Gate. The drive is about 5 hours. Here
we will meet our porters and go through the registration formalities.
The first part of the walk is along a vehicle access track, through
farmland and into the forest. This can be a beautiful walk in good
weather, with plenty of interesting birds and animals. Most notable
are the black and white colobus monkeys and some excellent bird life.
There are also elephant and buffalo in this area and for this reason
you are accompanied through this stretch by an armed park ranger.
The path continues climbing steadily through the forest
for 2 or 3 hours until gradually you emerge out of the forest and
into the next climate zone, which is more open and characterised by
stands of giant heather. The land opens out into the relative
flatness of the Shira plateau and after a couple more hours you
arrive at the first campsite, near Simba Cave. Overnight camp.
DAY
3 – Simba Cave Camp to Shira Cave Camp
Start:
Simba Cave Camp (3500m)
End: Shira Cave Camp (3720m)
Ascent:
220 metres
Time: 4 to 6 hours
Early morning is
normally clear and we should get good views of Mt. Meru. Today is an
acclimatisation day and we explore the grassy moorland and volcanic
rock formations of the plateau. One option includes a walk to the
summit of Shira Cathedral, a huge buttress of rock surrounded by
steep spires and pinnacles.
By early afternoon we should
arrive at our campsite at Shira Cave from where there are views of
Kibo (usually refered as Kilimanjaro) and the Western Breach above
and the sharp ridges of the Shira Hills to the west. Overnight camp.
DAY 4 – Shira
Cave Camp to Moir Hut
Start:
Shira Cave Camp (3720m)
End: Moir Hut (4200m)
Ascent: 480
metres
Time: 4 to 6 hours
The morning walk is a
steady climb away from the moorland of Shira Plateau to reach the
broad upland desert beneath the Lent Hills, with expansive views in
all directions. Lunch is taken in the campsite at Moir Hut (4200m),
after which there is the chance to explore the remote and little
visited areas below the Northern Icefields, even walking to the
summit of the Lent Hills (4700m). Alternatively the afternoon can be
spent enjoying time in this beautiful and peaceful campsite.
Overnight camp.
DAY
5 – Moir Hut to Lava Tower
Start:
Moir Hut (4200m)
End: Lava Tower (4550m)
Ascent: 350m
Time:
4 to 6 hours
A morning of gentle ascent and panoramic
views, walking on lava ridges beneath the glaciers of the Western
Breach. After lunch at our Lava Tower campsite (4550m), there is a
steep and spectacular afternoon walk on the rocky lower slopes of the
Western Breach to reach the ruins of the old hut at Arrow Glacier
(4800m). This afternoon excursion is highly recommended both for
acclimatisation purposes and for the superb views of hanging glaciers
on both sides of the Breach. Superb sunset views can be anticipated
in another spectacular campsite. Overnight camp.
DAY
6 – Karanga Valley (4000m)
Start: Lava Tower (4550m)
End: Lava Tower (4000m)
Descent:
600m
Time: 5 to 7 hours
High up here in the valleys
around Barranco is the best location for the famous giant lobelia. It
is a full 600m descent on the trail down into the Great Barranco
Valley at 3900m, sheltered by towering cliffs and with extensive
views of the plains far below. From the campsite here the path heads
out across the valley, over several streams and up to the foot of the
imposing Barranco Wall. This is a steep and exposed climb of around
300m. The wall is near vertical, but the path cuts across it on a
diagonal. Technically it is no more than a scramble, with some of the
porters able to go up without needing to use their hands, but it is
very exposed. It is quite a struggle at this time in the morning, but
there is a real sense of achievement as you get to the top and the
summit comes back into view that little bit closer.
From
here an undulating trail on the south-eastern flank of Kibo, with
superb vistas of the Southern Icefields. The terrain is volcanic
scree, with pockets of lush vegetation in sheltered hollows, and a
powerful sense of mountain wilderness. The next camp is at Karanga
(4000m), the last water point on the approach to Barafu, in a narrow
valley. There is plenty of time to rest, or for an acclimatisation
walk in the afternoon up the valley above the camp towards the
glaciers of the Southern Icefields. Overnight camp.
DAY
7 – Karanga Valley Camp to Barafu Camp
Start:
Karanga Valley Camp (4000m)
End: Barafu Camp (4600m)
Ascent:
600m
Time: 6 to 8 hours
This is the last point for
water and the porters carry supplies from here. A short but steep
climb out of Karanga valley, following an easy path on compacted
scree with wide views that gains altitude unrelentingly to reach the
Barafu campsite (4600m) for lunch. During the afternoon, other
walkers will begin to fill the campsite for the first time in the
trip, whilst we are out on a short acclimatisation walk to the
plateau at the bottom of the southeast valley (4800m). The remainder
of the day is spent resting in preparation for the final ascent
before a very early night.
You should pack your day-sacks
for the morning and change your clothes in advance so that you are
wearing the correct underlayers for the summit day. You should try to
keep eating throughout the afternoon, even though your appetite will
probably be diminished by now due to the altitude. Bedtime is around
18.00hrs and hopefully getting to sleep soon after. Overnight camp.
DAY 8 – Barafu
Camp to Summit
Start:
Barafu Camp (4600m)
Summit 1 Stella Point (5735m)
Summit 2:
Uhuru Peak (5896m)
Ascent: 1296m
Time: 7 to 10 hours
We
will start the final, and by far the steepest and most demanding,
part of the climb by torchlight around midnight. We plod very slowly
in the darkness on a switchback trail through loose volcanic scree to
reach the crater rim at Stella Point (5735m) in time for sunrise.
Five to six hours of trudging up generally well graded zig zags in
the dark. On some stretches the ground is stable, whilst on others
the loose volcanic scree scrunches and slides underfoot. All the way
your climbing guide is keeping you going at a very slow plod, taking
regular rest stops to drink and catch your breath. The temperature
though is very cold and it is better to keep going very slowly.
After 5 or 6 hours we reach Stella Point at 5735 metres.
If you reach this point the park authorities will grant you a
certificate. We will rest here for a short time to enjoy the
spectacular sunrise over Mawenzi before continuing to the summit.
Those who are still feeling strong can make the two hour round trip
to Uhuru Peak (5895m), passing close to the spectacular glaciers and
ice cliffs that still occupy most of the summit area. Eventually you
reach the summit and the wooden noticeboard confirming that you are
actually standing on the roof of Africa. By now the warming rays of
the sun will be thawing out cold bodies and there is time to absorb
the fantastic scene and take those all important summit photographs.
Summit Descent to Mweka Forest Camp
Summit 2: Uhuru
Peak (5895m)
End: Mweka Forest Camp (3800m)
Descent:
2096m
Time: 4 to 6 hours
Coming down to Barafu is
much easier than going up. Camp will still be there and if you have
made good time there is the chance to have a lie down and rest as
well as eat some food. The next section down to Mweka Forest Camp
involves descending long scree slopes. “Skiing” down the scree is
easy, quick and lots of fun. Overnight camp.
Day
9 – Mweka Forest Camp to National Park Gate Mweka. Drive to
Arusha
Start: Mweka
Forest Camp (3800m)
End: National Park Gate Mweka
(1650m)
Descent: 2150m
Time: 4 to 6 hours
A
steady descent takes us down through forest to the National Park gate
at Mweka. Your vehicle will be waiting for you at the bottom of the
hill. Here we will say goodbye to our porters and distribute well
earned tips. We drive back to Arusha for hot showers, a celebratory
dinner and a few beers!
Included
- all meals
- transfers to and from hotel in Arusha or Moshi
- mountain tent accommodation
- climb and park fees
- porters,
- English speaking, professional guide,
- full briefing,
- AAR Emergency Rescue & Evacuation Insurance
- Kilimanjaro certificate.
not included
- Items of a personal nature such as passport, visa, traveler’s insurance
- Tips to guides and porters.
