9-Day Mount Kilimanjaro Trek via the Shira Route to Uhuru Peak

• Stay at Arusha Safari Lodge, a beautiful hotel located on the lower slopes of Mount Meru and a perfect place to prepare for your adventure.

• Gather in the evening at 5:30 pm for a pre-climb briefing and an equipment check.

Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: bed, dinner, and breakfast included.

• After breakfast, drive for approximately 2 hours through the rural countryside to Londorossi Gate.

• After completing the necessary formalities at the Londorossi National Park gate, drive a short distance on a steep track through farmland and plantations to the start of the Shira Route.

• Begin your ascent through shrub forest to reach the rim of the Shira Plateau. Enjoy wide views of the Kibo Icefield as you climb steadily.

Londorossi Gate to Shira One Camp (3550 m): 4-5 hours walking.

• Follow an easy path to the summit of Shira Cathedral before reaching the next camp at Shira Hut.

• As this camp is quite exposed, it can be substantially colder than the previous night, with temperatures dropping to well below freezing.

Shira Camp One to Shira Hut (3,840 m): 4-5 hours walking.

• Walk on a gentle ascent with panoramic views all around you.

• Traverse the southwest side of Kilimanjaro, passing underneath the Lava Tower and the final section of the Western Breach.

• After a hot lunch at the bottom of the Lava Tower (4,600 m), descend to the bottom of the Great Barranco Valley (3,900 m).

Moir Hut to Barranco Valley (3,900 m): 5-7 hours walking.

• A steep climb up the eastern wall leads to a point just below the Heim Glacier. Here, you are bound to have some spectacular views of Kilimanjaro.

• Then, take a steep exit up the Great Barranco Wall, which divides the trail from the southeastern slopes of Kibo.

• The trail continues down into the alpine desert of the Karanga Valley, followed by a steep climb up to Karanga Camp.

Barranco Valley to Karanga Camp (4,000 m): 4-5 hours walking.

• Take the Traverse Route, climbing to the Barafu Ridge.

• Walk quite slowly to the final camp before your last ascent day to the summit.

• The remainder of the day is spent relaxing in preparation for the final ascent before a very early night.

Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp (4,600 m): 3-4 hours walking.

• Start the final and most demanding part of the climb at around 1 a.m. A steep ascent over loose volcanic scree, combined with a slow but steady pace, takes you to the rim of the main crater at Stella Point (5,735 m).

• Rest there for a few minutes to enjoy the sunrise over Mawenzi. Those who are still feeling strong can continue slowly on the two-hour round trip along the crater rim to the main peak (5,895 m), the highest point in Africa.

• The descent to Barafu is amazingly fast, and after some refreshment, the trail continues down to Mweka Camp.

Barafu Camp to Summit to Mweka Camp (3100 m): 13-15 hours walking.

• A gentle walk takes you down through the rainforest to Mweka Gate, where successful climbers receive their summit certificates.

• After lunch, drive back to Arusha Safari Lodge.

Mweka Camp to Mweka Gate: 3-5 hours walking.

Dinner and overnight at Arusha Safari Lodge: bed, dinner, and breakfast included.

• Head to Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) for your flight.