Shira 1 Camp
Elevation: 3,510 meters above sea level
There are no buildings for sleeping at Shira 1 Camp, so everyone has to bring their own tents. Porters usually carry these for the climbers. The only structure around is a wooden cabin for the rangers, powered by solar energy, sitting on the western side of the camp.
The toilets at Shira 1 Camp are basic pit latrines, built like small wooden shacks spread out across the area with no real pattern.
Location
Shira 1 Camp is on the Shira Plateau, on the western side of Kilimanjaro. It’s one of three camps with similar names that are close together—Shira 2 Camp and Shira Cave Camp are the others. On the Lemosho Route, you come from Mti Mkubwa Camp before reaching Shira 1, and the next stop after is usually Shira 2 Camp.
The area around Shira 1 Camp is in the heath zone of the mountain. It gets a good amount of rain and strong winds, shaping the landscape with tall grasses and shrubs.
What It’s Like on the Lemosho Route
On both the 7-day and 8-day Lemosho treks, you get to Shira 1 Camp after leaving Forest Camp. The path takes you out of the thick forest into an open area with tall grasses, heather plants, and volcanic rocks covered in lichen. You climb through green, rolling hills, crossing a few streams, and reach the Shira Ridge. Then you drop down a little to Shira 1 Camp. It’s an 8-kilometer walk that takes about 5 to 6 hours, moving from 9,500 feet to 11,500 feet in the moorland zone. From the camp, you get an incredible view of Kibo across the plateau.
After Shira 1, the next stretch goes to Shira 2 Camp and then Moir Hut. You spend a full day crossing the Shira Plateau, walking east toward Kibo’s icy peak. The trail is gentle, passing moorland meadows near a stream where Shira 2 Camp sits. Then you keep going to Moir Hut, a quieter spot at the base of Lent Hills. This part covers 14 kilometers and takes 5 to 7 hours, climbing to 13,800 feet. The Lent Hills offer different paths to wander, helping your body adjust to the height. The Shira Plateau is one of the highest flat areas anywhere.
Shira 1 Camp is a windy, open place with big views—a perfect stop to rest and soak in the mountain’s beauty as you climb higher.
Why is it Called Shira?
The camp is named after the Shira Plateau and Shira Peak, one of Kilimanjaro’s three peaks, along with Kibo and Mawenzi.