The Shira Route, a less-traveled path near Shira Ridge, closely resembles the Lemosho route and is, in fact, its predecessor on the western side of Kilimanjaro. Lemosho is essentially an enhanced version of the Shira route.
Despite its scenic diversity and beauty, the Shira Route has some drawbacks, notably its higher starting altitude, quickly accessible by vehicle. This could lead to altitude-related symptoms for climbers camping at 11,800 feet on the first day.
Beginning with a lengthy drive from Moshi to Shira Ridge, the route skips the rainforest zone, and the trek officially starts on Shira Ridge. It then traverses the entire Shira Plateau in a relatively flat hike from west to east. The path continues beneath Kilimanjaro’s Southern Ice Field on the Southern Circuit before the final ascent from Barafu. The descent follows the Mweka route.
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The only difference between the two occurs, of course, in the first two days. With Lemosho, you start your walk in the forest. With the Shira Plateau Route, however, you usually take a car all the way up to the plateau. As a result, you miss out on the finest forest on Kilimanjaro.