Day Trips · Northern Circuit | Shira Route

Day Hike Kilimanjaro Shira Plateau

Mount Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau is one of the most fascinating and scenic areas on Kilimanjaro. It’s also the oldest peak of Mount…

Overview

What makes this journey special

Climbing / Trekking

Mount Kilimanjaro’s Shira Plateau is one of the most fascinating and scenic areas on Kilimanjaro. It’s also the oldest peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, at 3872m altitude.

After a 7am pick up from the hotel and a 2-hour drive to the Londorosi Gate in Mount Kilimanjaro National Park (2100m). After formalities, registrations, and a toilet break, Continue Drive through a rain forest to the Morum Barrier Gate / Morum Picnic site which is at 3400 metres of altitude.

From Morum Picnic Site continue walk / hike to Shira 1 Camp, Lion Gorge and the foothills of the Shira Pinnacles. Kilimanjaro’s iconic snow-covered table top, Kibo Peak, should be visible from here, as well as neighbouring glaciers.

From the gate is rainforest with a number of wildlife which includes black and white colobus monkey, blue monkey, Baboons, Eland, Dikdik etc. In some point while driving you will get the view of Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira peak but from Morum Picnic site the view of all peaks is spectacular and amazing.

The Kibo peak is so close and can be viewed from its base. The vegetation zone is moorland and all plants are short giving opportunity of distant view. On the way you can find buffalo's dung and footprint because they hike to the higher regions to craving salt and other minerals from rocks.

Day by day

Your itinerary

AM
Moshi / Arusha → Londorosi Gate
Hotel pick-up 7:00am – ~2 hrs drive – Park registration at Londorosi Gate (2,100 m)

Your guide collects you from your hotel at 7:00am for the drive around the western slopes of Kilimanjaro to Londorosi Gate. After registration and a short break, continue by vehicle up through the rainforest, watching for black-and-white colobus and blue monkeys, to the Morum Barrier picnic site at around 3,400 m.

Hotel Pick-upLondorosi GateRainforest DriveColobus Monkeys
MID
Shira Plateau Hike – Shira 1 Camp & Lion Gorge
Hike from Morum Barrier – Shira 1 Camp – Lion Gorge – Picnic lunch with views of Kibo

From Morum Barrier you set off on foot across the open moorland of the Shira Plateau, the collapsed caldera of Kilimanjaro’s oldest volcano. The walk leads to Shira 1 Camp and Lion Gorge, below the jagged Shira Pinnacles, with Kibo’s glaciers rising ahead on a clear day. Your guide explains the giant heathers, everlasting flowers and the buffalo that climb this high for mineral salts. Picnic lunch is served with the summit in full view.

Shira PlateauLion GorgeKibo ViewsPicnic Lunch
PM
Descent → Return to Moshi / Arusha
Walk back to Morum Barrier – Drive down through the rainforest – Hotel drop-off early evening

Walk back across the plateau to the vehicle and drive down through the forest to Londorosi Gate to sign out. Arrive back at your hotel in Moshi or Arusha in the early evening – a rewarding taste of high-altitude Kilimanjaro without an overnight climb.

Moorland WalkSign-out at the GateRainforest DescentHotel Drop-off

Getting there

Arrival & transfers

Pick-up from hotels in Moshi or Arusha at 7:00am. The drive to Londorosi Gate on the western side of Kilimanjaro takes about two hours.

Inclusions

What's included

  • Return transfers from Moshi or Arusha
  • Certified Kilimanjaro mountain guide
  • Kilimanjaro National Park entry and rescue fees
  • Vehicle access to Morum Barrier on the Shira Plateau
  • Picnic lunch and drinking water

Not included

  • Drinks other than drinking water
  • Tips for guides
  • Personal travel insurance

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