Shira Route starts at 3,600 meters and is therefore not ideal for trekkers who have little or no experience of high altitude trekking.
The Shira Route is practically identical to the Lemosho Route. In fact, Shira was the original route before Lemosho was created to improve the route start point. Where as Lemosho Route starts at the Londorossi Gates, the Shira Route bypasses this and begins further north and higher up at the Shira Gate.
On the first day hikers trek from Shira Gate to Simba Camp which is at a very similar altitude, allowing trekkers to acclimatise before joining the Lemosho Route on day two at Shira Camp 2.
The high starting point is however a major negative for this route and some trekkers experience altitude sickness from day one as their bodies haven't had enough time to acclimatise.
After Shira Camp 2 the route joins the Machame Route via Lava Tower, and then descends to the Barranco Camp via the Southern Circuit. Like the Machame, Umbwe and Lemosho Route, ascent to Uhuru Peak is made via Barafu Camp and up the southern slopes of Kibo.
The Shira Route can be completed in six or seven days.
Maps and illustrations showing the path of the migrating herds should be used as a general guide and a good way to choose the location of your hotel, camp or lodge. However, as with anything in nature, the actual day to day pattern is unpredictable. Wildebeest are remarkably unpredictable!