The Shira Route is a tough route that begins in the west, at Shira Gate. What are unique facts about this route is that the first section of the trail is not hiked, but rather driven. So for climbers using Shira will miss out on hiking up one of Kilimanjaro’s ecological zones, the rain forest.

• An off-road vehicle transports climbers to the Shira gate, located at approximately 11,500 feet, where the hike begins to Simba Camp. The route starts at 3,600 meters and is therefore not ideal for trekkers who have little or no experience of high altitude trekking.
• Shira was the original route before the Lemosho route was created to improve the route start point.
• The starting point is, however, a major difficulty for this route and some trekkers experience altitude sickness from day one as their bodies haven’t had enough time to acclimatize.
• After Shira Camp, the route joins the Machame Route via Lava Tower and then descends to the Barranco Camp via the Southern Circuit. You can explore these routes as well.
• The route itself offers a diverse range of scenery, as the trail travels through diverse ecosystems as it makes its way to the top.
• Climbers or trekkers experience is highly preferred, as the days will feature 6 to 8 hours hiking with daily ascents of 900m to 1000m.

You need ample confidence in your ability to trek for many days over difficult terrain. Higher altitude and weather may be encountered, as may the use of ice axes and crampons. And a degree of physical and mental stamina will be crucial to complete the hike as the days will be tiring.