8-Day Climb + 3-Day Safari
Shira Route Safari
The High-Altitude Combo
From Shira Gate at 3,500m to Uhuru Peak at 5,895m β then the Northern Circuit safari. A condensed, expedition-style Kilimanjaro experience.
Total Duration
12 Days
Climb Route
Shira (8 days)
Safari Circuit
Northern Circuit
Total Price
$4,368/person
Why Shira
The original high-altitude route β and still the most dramatic
The Shira Route is the oldest of the western approaches to Kilimanjaro's summit. It begins at Shira Gate (3,500m) β the highest starting elevation of any established route β and was originally an expedition-only path before becoming a supported trekking route. What it offers that Lemosho does not is a sense of remoteness: the first two days on the Shira Plateau feel genuinely expeditionary, with vast views and minimal crowds.
The trade-off is the altitude. Starting at 3,500m gives you less time to acclimatise before the summit push. For experienced high-altitude trekkers this is not a problem β your body knows how to adjust. For first-time climbers, we recommend the Lemosho Route for its gentler profile and superior summit success rate for novices.
High-altitude start (3,500m) β best for experienced altitude trekkers
The Shira Plateau: one of the most remote sections of the mountain
Joins the Lemosho Route at Shira Camp 1 β the best of both approaches
8-day itinerary with proven Lava Tower acclimatisation day
Less crowded than Machame β more expedition feel
Summit success rate of ~88β92% for well-prepared trekkers
The Shira Plateau β at 4,000m, one of the most remote and dramatic landscapes on Kilimanjaro.
The 8-day Shira climb
The Shira itinerary is condensed compared to Lemosho but retains the critical Lava Tower acclimatisation day (Day 3) that is the primary driver of its summit success rate. The Day 2 rest on the Shira Plateau is also essential β use it well.
Day 1 β Arusha to Shira Gate to Shira Camp 1
Arusha to Shira Gate (3,500m) by 4WD. Register with Kilimanjaro National Park and meet your crew. The Shira Route begins at a substantially higher...
The first views of Kibo from Shira Gate β the summit looks closer than it is.
Day 2 β Shira Camp 1 to Shira Camp 2 (Cathedral)
A short day designed for acclimatisation. The trail climbs gently to Shira Camp 2, also called Cathedral for the natural rock formation that domina...
The Shira Plateau at noon β 4,000m of open moorland with views to Mt. Meru and beyond.
Day 3 β Shira Camp 2 to Lava Tower to Barranco Camp
This is the key acclimatisation day. You climb to Lava Tower (4,600m) β your highest point of the climb so far β then descend to Barranco Camp (3,900m) for the night. This 'climb high, sleep low' profile is the most effective tool against altitude sickness. Lava Tower is barren and windswept; Barranco is in a sheltered valley with endemic vegetation.
Theε Tower at midday β you feel the altitude here. The descent to Barranco is a relief.
Day 4 β Barranco Camp to Karanga Camp
Day 4 begins with the Barranco Wall β a 300m scramble that is the most technical section of the climb. Not rope-climbing technical, but steep enoug...
The Barranco Wall at sunrise β hands on rock, eyes on the horizon, Africa spread out below.
Day 5 β Karanga Camp to Barafu Camp
Short. Steep. Cold. Barafu Camp sits on an exposed ridge directly below Kibo crater. You arrive by early afternoon. Guides will brief you thoroughl...
The last hot meal before the summit. The Milky Way visible overhead before the cold becomes total.
Day 6 β Summit Night and Descent to Mweaki
Departure between 23:00 and 01:00. The climb to Uhuru Peak (5,895m) takes 6-8 hours via Stella Point or the direct Barafu ridge. At dawn on the roo...
Standing at Uhuru Peak as the African sun rises over the Serengeti 5,000m below.
Day 7 β Mweaki to Arusha
Wake in Mweaki after the longest night of your life. Descend to the gate, receive your summit certificate, and drive back to Arusha. A hot shower a...
Summit certificate in hand. Your body is tired. Your mind is transformed.
Day 8 β Rest and Recovery in Arusha
Rest day in Arusha. Sleep late, eat well, and let your body adjust to altitude again β you are still at 1,400m but your system is recovering from e...
Cold beer by the pool at your Arusha lodge. The mountain behind you. The safari ahead.
The Safari
The 3-day Northern Circuit safari β the perfect recovery
After eight days on the mountain, the Northern Circuit is exactly what your body needs. You are tired, elated, and running on summit adrenaline. Three days in Tarangire, the Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater β in a private Land Cruiser with your own guide β is the ideal close to an extraordinary Tanzania trip.
Day 9β10 β Tarangire National Park
Two full days in Tarangire β Tanzania's elephant park and one of the most reliably rewarding wildlife destinations in East Africa. The park is named for the Tarangire River that draws massive herds during the dry season, but wildlife is excellent year-round. Lions, leopards, buffalo, giraffes, and enormous elephant families are virtually guaranteed. The landscape of ancient baobab trees and open savanna is unlike anything else on the northern circuit.
Elephant families moving through the Tarangire River at dusk β Africa's most iconic wildlife moment.
Day 11 β Serengeti National Park
Enter the Serengeti β 15,000 square kilometres of endless plains and the stage for the Great Migration. Depending on the season, your guide positions you where the herds are most active. Even outside migration season, the Serengeti's resident lion prides, leopards in the acacia trees, and cheetah on the open plains make it the finest safari park in Africa.
Wildebeest on the move β the sound of thousands of hooves on hard-packed earth is primal.
Day 12 β Serengeti to Ngorongoro Crater
Morning game drive in the Serengeti before the drive to Ngorongoro (2β3 hours). Descend into the crater for an afternoon game drive β the world's largest intact volcanic caldera has the highest wildlife density in Tanzania. Lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, hippo, flamingos, and the endangered black rhino are all regular sightings. The crater floor is compact enough to see an extraordinary amount in a single afternoon.
Black rhino on the crater floor β fewer than 100 remain in Tanzania and Ngorongoro holds most of them.
Tarangire elephants and Serengeti leopards β the Northern Circuit delivers the Big Five.
Climb first, safari after β the logic is solid
Every element of this itinerary is sequenced intentionally. The summit comes first while your body is still fresh from sea level. The safari follows during your recovery phase β active recovery, not passive bed rest. Here is why:
Your fitness is best at the start
The summit push requires your best physiological condition. Starting the climb on Day 1 when you are fully rested gives you the best possible chanc...
Safari is active recovery
Sitting in a comfortable vehicle, watching wildlife, breathing fresh air β this is the ideal recovery activity. It keeps your body moving without t...
The summit high makes everything more vivid
There is nothing quite like watching a lion pride after you have just stood on the roof of Africa. The safari feels richer after the summit. Every...
You have already done the hardest thing
After the summit, there is no more anxiety about whether you can do it. You know what you are capable of. The safari becomes pure enjoyment without...
What's included β full list
Mountain
All Kilimanjaro park fees (8 days)
8-day Shira Route itinerary
Tent camping all 8 nights on the mountain
All mountain meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
ethically employed lead guide
Assistant guides (1 per 4 climbers)
Full porter crew (all gear carried)
Sleeping mat and basecamp bedding
Emergency oxygen and first aid kit
Summit certificate
Safari
All park fees: Tarangire, Serengeti, Ngorongoro
Private pop-top 4WD Land Cruiser
Professional safari guide (sole use)
Tented camp accommodation (3 nights)
All meals on safari
Arusha lodge (2 nights: pre and post climb)
All airport and ground transfers
Pre-climb briefing in Arusha
Post-safari celebration dinner
Not included
International flights, Tanzania visa ($52), travel insurance (mandatory), tips for crew (~$364β$416 per climber), personal gear, vaccinations.
Total Combo Price
$4,368/person
12 days Β· 8-day Shira + 3-day Northern Circuit Β· Solo traveller pricing on request
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Shira Route differ from the Lemosho Route?
The Shira and Lemosho Routes are closely related β the Shira joins the Lemosho at Shira Camp 1. The key difference is the starting elevation: Shira begins at Shira Gate (3,500m) while Lemosho starts at Londorossi Gate (2,100m) and spends two extra days ascending through rainforest. Shira is therefore a more condensed itinerary better suited to trekkers with prior high-altitude experience. If you are new to high-altitude trekking, Lemosho is the better choice for the superior acclimatisation profile.
Why choose Shira over other Kilimanjaro routes?
Shira is the original high-altitude route β it was the first route to approach Kibo from the west before Lemosho became the standard. It is less crowded than Machame and offers a more remote, expedition-style feel, particularly on the Shira Plateau. For trekkers with prior altitude experience who want a slightly shorter but more challenging itinerary, Shira is an excellent choice. The views from the Shira Plateau at altitude are among the best on the mountain.
Is the Shira Route suitable for first-time climbers?
The Shira Route's high starting elevation (3,500m) makes it less suitable for first-time Kilimanjaro climbers compared to Lemosho or Machame. Altitude sickness risk is higher when starting at elevation without the gradual ascent days that Lemosho provides. If you are fit and healthy with no prior altitude experience, we typically recommend Lemosho as the better first climb. If you have trekked at altitude (4,000m+) previously, Shira is a superb option.
Why do the safari after the climb and not before?
After summiting Kilimanjaro, your muscles ache, you have had very little sleep, and your body is in recovery mode. The pace of a game drive β sitting in a comfortable vehicle, spotting wildlife, moving between locations β is low-impact and aids active recovery. You are also at your most alive after the summit. Everything feels more vivid. The wildlife on safari benefits from that energy in a way that is difficult to describe but immediately obvious when you experience it.
What is the total price for the Shira + Northern Circuit safari?
Our 11-day Shira + Northern Circuit safari is priced from $4,368 per person based on two people sharing. This includes: all Kilimanjaro park fees (8 days), 8-day Shira climb, all camping and mountain meals, all safari accommodation (tented camps), private Land Cruiser with professional guide, all park fees for Tarangire, Serengeti, and Ngorongoro Crater, and airport transfers. Excludes: international flights, Tanzania visa ($52), travel insurance (mandatory), tips for crew, and personal gear.
Can I extend the safari portion of the trip?
Yes β we can extend the safari to include additional days in the Serengeti (three full days is our recommended minimum), a visit to Lake Natron, or a fly-camping night in the crater highlands. These extensions are priced per person per day and can be added to any itinerary. The most popular extension is a third day in the Serengeti, which significantly increases big cat sightings β particularly leopards and cheetahs.
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