During my trip to Tanzania I climbed the mythical Kilimanjaro, using the Machame trail. I therefore had the chance to cross the 3,840 meter high Shira Plateau.
The camp is the meeting point between the Machame and Shira routes. At this altitude there is almost no vegetation at all. Clumps of giant ragwort, a local plant, appear here and there. But little by little, the landscape becomes lunar. Here, you are above the clouds. This is the last stage before you pass the 4,000 meter cap. It's often at this height that the first signs of altitude sickness appear. I can't tell you how important it is to go really slowly (pole pole, in Swahili, are the key words) and to drink lots of water - at least 3 liters a day per person. It's only the second day, the hardest are yet to come, but at this stage you are well on your way to conquering the ascent.