6 Day Shira, Lemosho or Rongai Route
Overview
Choose how you’d like to approach Kilimanjaro’s summit: gliding in over the wild Shira Plateau, weaving through the forests of Lemosho, or sneaking up from the quiet northern flank on Rongai. All three routes take six days and share one destination – Uhuru Peak – but each one has its own rhythm, landscapes and character. Shira delivers big-sky views from day one, Lemosho is the perfect mix of forest, moorland and open vistas, while Rongai is dry, peaceful and less crowded, with excellent chances of seeing wildlife. Whichever trail you choose, your days follow the same comforting pattern: wake to hot coffee and mountain light, walk “pole pole” with your guide, arrive in camp to warm meals and friendly porter songs, then fall asleep under a sky anchored with Southern Hemisphere stars.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Moshi / Arusha – Londorossi Gate – Shira 1 Camp
Start: Moshi / Arusha (900–1,000 m)
End: Shira 1 Camp (~3,500 m)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 6–8 km
You drive through coffee and banana farms toward Londorossi Gate for registration, then continue by 4×4 up to the Shira Plateau track. From here, the hike is relatively gentle, crossing open moorland with sweeping views toward the western crater. You reach Shira 1 Camp in the afternoon, settle into tents and enjoy your first sunset from high on the plateau.
Day 2: Shira 1 Camp – Shira 2 Camp
Start: Shira 1 Camp (~3,500 m)
End: Shira 2 Camp (~3,850 m)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 7–9 km
A relaxed acclimatization day. You walk across the rolling Shira Plateau, weaving between heather, rocky outcrops and giant groundsels. The views of Kibo’s glacier-clad summit are spectacular when the sky is clear. You arrive at Shira 2 Camp by early afternoon, giving your body time to adjust to the altitude.
Day 3: Shira 2 Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
Start: Shira 2 (~3,850 m)
High point: Lava Tower (~4,600 m)
End: Barranco Camp (~3,960 m)
Hiking: 6–7 hours, about 10–12 km
Today is a classic “climb high, sleep low” acclimatization day. The trail rises steadily toward the black volcanic plug of Lava Tower, where you stop for a hot lunch and enjoy the surreal alpine-desert surroundings. In the afternoon you descend into the Barranco Valley, with its strange Senecio trees and sheer rock walls, to camp below the imposing Barranco Wall.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barranco Wall – Karanga Camp
Start: Barranco (~3,960 m)
End: Karanga Camp (~4,035 m)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 6–7 km
You begin by “scrambling” up the Barranco Wall, using hands at times but always on a safe, well-trodden path. From the top, the views back across the valley and out toward the plains are stunning. The trail then undulates across rocky ridges and small valleys before reaching Karanga Camp. The afternoon is reserved for rest, hydration and short acclimatization walks.
Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp (Summit Base Camp)
Start: Karanga (~4,035 m)
End: Barafu Camp (~4,673 m)
Hiking: 3–4 hours, about 5–6 km
A shorter but steeper day. You climb through barren alpine desert to reach Barafu Camp, perched on a narrow, windswept ridge. From here you can see both the summit and the route you’ll follow in the night. After an early dinner, your guide will brief you for the summit attempt. You try to rest from around 19:00, ready for the midnight wake-up.
Day 6: Barafu – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Gate – Moshi / Arusha
Start: Barafu (~4,673 m)
High point: Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)
End: Mweka Gate (~1,640 m)
Hiking: 12–15 hours, about 18–20 km (summit + descent)
You begin the summit push around midnight, following a zig-zag path of headlamps through volcanic scree to Stella Point on the crater rim. The last stretch to Uhuru Peak is gradual but demanding as the sun colors the glaciers pink and gold. After photos and celebrations at Africa’s highest point, you descend to Barafu for a hot brunch, then continue down through changing vegetation zones to Mweka Camp or directly to Mweka Gate (depending on pace and your program). From the gate you transfer back to your hotel for a hot shower and well-earned rest.
Day 1: Moshi / Arusha – Lemosho Glades – Mti Mkubwa Camp
Start: Lemosho Gate (~2,100 m)
End: Mti Mkubwa “Big Tree” Camp (~2,780 m)
Hiking: 3–4 hours, about 6–7 km
Drive to the quiet Lemosho Gate, complete registration, then enter pristine montane forest. The trail is lush and alive with bird calls and, if you’re lucky, colobus monkeys. You arrive at Mti Mkubwa Camp in the late afternoon to find tents already pitched and dinner on the way.
Day 2: Mti Mkubwa – Shira 1 or Shira 2 Camp
Start: Mti Mkubwa (~2,780 m)
End: Shira Camp (~3,500–3,850 m)
Hiking: 6–7 hours, about 8–10 km
Leaving the forest behind, you climb onto the Shira Plateau, crossing heather and moorland dotted with volcanic rocks and wildflowers. On a clear day you’ll see the full western face of Kibo rising ahead of you. You camp at Shira 1 or Shira 2, depending on your operator’s exact schedule.
Day 3: Shira Camp – Lava Tower – Barranco Camp
Start: Shira (~3,500–3,850 m)
High point: Lava Tower (~4,600 m)
End: Barranco Camp (~3,960 m)
Hiking: 6–7 hours, about 10–12 km
A key acclimatization day as you join the Machame trail. You steadily climb up to Lava Tower, have lunch in the high-alpine desert, then descend into the sheltered Barranco Valley. The drop to camp helps your body adapt while still benefiting from the time spent high.
Day 4: Barranco Camp – Barranco Wall – Karanga Camp
(same pattern as Shira)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 6–7 km
You tackle the Barranco Wall, traverse ridges and valleys, and reach Karanga Camp by early afternoon. Rest, snack, hydrate and enjoy the shifting clouds around Kibo.
Day 5: Karanga Camp – Barafu Camp
Hiking: 3–4 hours, about 5–6 km
The trail climbs steadily over scree and rock slabs to reach Barafu, your high base camp. Early dinner, gear check and rest before the summit climb.
Day 6: Barafu – Uhuru Peak – Mweka Gate – Moshi / Arusha
Hiking: 12–15 hours, about 18–20 km
Midnight start to Uhuru Peak via Stella Point, sunrise on the summit, then a big descent back down to the forest and finally Mweka Gate, where you say goodbye to your crew and return to town.
Day 1: Moshi / Arusha – Rongai Gate – Simba Camp
Start: Rongai / Nalemoru Gate (~1,990 m)
End: Simba Camp (~2,650 m)
Hiking: 3–4 hours, about 6–7 km
You drive around to Kilimanjaro’s remote northern side near the Kenyan border. After registration at Rongai Gate, you hike through farmland and pine forest before entering heather zone. The ascent is gradual; you arrive at Simba Camp on open moorland with wide views across the plains.
Day 2: Simba Camp – Kikelewa Camp
Start: Simba (~2,650 m)
End: Kikelewa Camp (~3,600 m)
Hiking: 5–6 hours, about 8–9 km
The path climbs steadily through heather and low alpine vegetation, with Mawenzi’s jagged peaks drawing closer. You stop for lunch near Second Cave, then continue to the sheltered Kikelewa Camp, tucked below the ridges.
Day 3: Kikelewa Camp – Mawenzi Tarn Camp
Start: Kikelewa (~3,600 m)
End: Mawenzi Tarn (~4,330 m)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 5–6 km
A shorter but steeper day, ascending grassy slopes and scree to reach Mawenzi Tarn, a small lake nestled beneath the dramatic spires of Mawenzi. This is one of the prettiest camps on the mountain and an excellent acclimatization stop. Afternoon is free for short walks and rest.
Day 4: Mawenzi Tarn – Kibo Hut
Start: Mawenzi Tarn (~4,330 m)
End: Kibo Hut (~4,700 m)
Hiking: 4–5 hours, about 8–9 km
You cross the desert saddle between Mawenzi and Kibo: a broad, lunar landscape with big skies and wide horizons. The trail is gently undulating but exposed to sun and wind. You reach Kibo Hut in the early afternoon, eat an early dinner and go to bed very soon – the summit push starts around midnight.
Day 5: Kibo Hut – Uhuru Peak – Horombo Hut
Start: Kibo (~4,700 m)
High point: Uhuru Peak (5,895 m)
End: Horombo Hut (~3,720 m)
Hiking: 10–14 hours, about 16–18 km
The toughest day. You wake around 23:00–00:00, have a light snack and begin a slow zig-zag up the steep scree to Gillman’s Point on the crater rim, then continue around to Uhuru Peak. After celebrating at the top, you descend back to Kibo for a hot meal, then continue down to Horombo Hut on the Marangu route, where thicker air and warmer temperatures greet you.
Day 6: Horombo Hut – Marangu Gate – Moshi / Arusha
Start: Horombo (~3,720 m)
End: Marangu Gate (~1,840 m)
Hiking: 5–6 hours, about 18–20 km
Your final day is a long, gentle descent through moorland, forest and finally the lush lower slopes. At Mandara Hut you stop for lunch, then continue to Marangu Gate for sign-out and certificate collection. Your vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to Moshi or Arusha for a well-deserved shower and celebration dinner.
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Inclusions
All park fees
Certified mountain guide(s)
Support team: assistant guides, cook, and porters
All meals on the mountain (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Drinking water (treated / boiled)
Round-trip transfers from your hotel to Marangu Gate
Emergency oxygen (for altitude-related emergencies)
Government taxes and levies
Exclusions
International & domestic flights
Tanzanian visa fees
Tips for guides, cook & porters
Personal climbing gear
Travel insurance (highly recommended for evacuation)
Snacks & energy supplements
Additional transport or activities not listed in itinerary