A Taste of Kilimanjaro - 3 Days
(K3L)
WHY THIS ITINERARY?
A short 3 day trip to visit the Shira Plateau. For those that want just a taste of Kilimanjaro National Park and the Shira Plateau, this is the itinerary.
DESCRIPTION
Starting on the western side, this trip ascends through the Lemosho glades and onto the Shira Plateau. The first night is in the forest and the second on the Shira plateau at over 3500 meters.
HIGHLIGHTS
Lemosho Forest, the juniper forest, the Shira Plateau with stunning views of Kibo, walking across the Shira Plateau, 4 different vegetation zones.
ITINERARY
In Brief
Hike Distance – 11 miles / 18km
Vertical Gain – 5,315ft / 1620m
Drop – Nil
Trekking Time – 14 hours
In Detail
DAY 1 - KILIMANJARO FOREST
START – 6,890FT / 2100M
END – 8,695FT / 2650M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 4-6 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – AFROMONTANE FOREST
After breakfast you depart by vehicle to Kilimanjaro National Park. At the gate your crew finalise packing and after finishing with formalities you return to your vehicle for another 30 minutes or so until you arrive at the start of the Lemosho Trail. Today's hiking is through verdant afromontane forest and is steep in places. A picnic lunch is usually taken on trail during the hike before reaching Forest Camp for the night.
DAY 2 – SHIRA 1
START – 8,695FT / 2650M
END – 11,844FT / 3610M
DISTANCE – 4 MILES / 7KM
TIME – 5-7 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH
From the forested slopes of Lemosho you ascend through Podocarpus and Juniper forest and break out of the forest on to the heath zone and the Shira Plateau. A hot lunch is taken at Shira 1 Camp and the rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing and acclimatising to the new environment.
DAY 3 – MORUM BARRIER & OUT
START – 11,844FT / 3610M
END – 12,205FT / 3720M
DISTANCE – 2.5 MILES / 4KM
TIME – 2-3 HRS
CLIMATE ZONE – HEATH
An easy morning to finish off as you hike to Morum Barrier Gate where you are picked up and transferred to your onward arrangements with a packed lunch (note transfer to Arusha is around 3 hours, transfer for West Kilimanjaro airstrip is around 40 minutes).