The shira plateau Which stretches out for around 13km to the west of the snowy Kibo summit, is actually a caldera.
That is to say, it’s a collapsed volcanic crater. So when you are walking on the plateau, you are actually walking on the remains of the first of Kilimanjaro’s three volcanoes to expire.
The Shira Plateau
event happened about 500,000 years ago, after which it filled by the lava and debris from the later Kibo eruption.
The plateau has a reputation for its fauna, largely thanks to its proximity to Amboseli national park in Kenya. From this park, herds of elephant, eland and buffalo known to wander up the mountain’s slopes.
Indeed, while writing the first edition of the Kilimanjaro guide book, back in the early 2000s, accompanied by an armed ranger on this route in case of any encounters with predators.
That said, you will be very, very lucky to see any evidence of wildlife existing on the plateau. True, you may see the odd hoof-print,
and maybe even the occasional sun-dried lumps of poo. But as for seeing an actual animal, other than a monkey or mouse – well, that’s unlikely.
So while the proximity of Africa’s finest wild beasts adds a certain frisson of excitement to the walk, don’t
choose it in the hope of seeing animals. Because it’s an awful long way to come just to see some desiccated elephant dung.
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