The Shira Plateau ride

The park's second bike route is on the Shira Plateau, on the western side of the mountain. The plateau is what remains of the oldest of Kilimanjaro's three volcanoes (see The mountain: cones and glaciers). It is a ride with no summit, and the park ride that suits a family best.

The route

The park's guidelines set it out. The ride starts at Londorossi Gate (2,250 m7,382 ft) or at the Morum Picnic Site and crosses the plateau via Shira 1 (3,505 m11,499 ft) to the Shira Cathedral. It returns to the Morum Picnic Site and goes down the rescue road to Londorossi Gate. The full loop is 44.7 km.

The first part follows the same approach as the Lemosho route: see Londorossi Gate to Mti Mkubwa and Mti Mkubwa to Shira 1 for what the forest and the plateau are like. Starting from the Morum Picnic Site, up on the plateau, skips the climb from the gate and leaves you most of the day at altitude.

A day trip, with an early start

Operators run it as a single day from Moshi or Arusha. Londorossi is a long drive from either town, and the park allows riding only between 6.30 am and 6 pm, so an early start matters. Some operators offer two days instead, with a night closer to the gate so the riding can start first thing.

Altitude

Most of the ride is above 3,500 m11,483 ft. A day up there and a night back down is the "climb high, sleep low" pattern that helps acclimatization. That makes the ride a sensible warm-up before a climb (see Acclimatization days and hikes). It also means headaches and breathlessness are normal, and the usual warning signs of altitude illness apply: read Altitude and acclimatization.

Children

Children of 10 and over may ride in the park up to 3,700 m12,139 ft, accompanied by adults. That limit is in the park's guidelines. Shira 1 is at 3,505 m11,499 ft and parts of the plateau are higher, so ask the operator where the turning point for a child will be before you book.

Cost

The park's cycling fee for the day comes on top of the day's conservation fee: US$50 per person for non-residents in the tariff that ran to 30 June 2026. The operator charges for bikes, guide and transport. See Cycling on and around Kilimanjaro for the rules every park ride follows.