KILIMANJARO PACKING LIST
During a day on Kilimanjaro the temperatures can easily range from the high 20’s (centigrade) right down at night to -15c. To cope with this huge range in temperature your clothing and kit strategy needs to be based around combining lots of thin layers that you build up and take off as the weather demands. Kilimanjaro National Park operates an absolutely strict limit of 15kg per porter for your main equipment bag, which includes your sleeping bag. This is more than sufficient for your needs on the mountain. Your bag will be weighed before you leave the hotel to start the climb and if it is overweight you will have to take items out and leave them at the hotel.
Travel Documents:
- Valid passport and visa
- International health card with yellow fever vaccinations
- Travel insurance
- Medical insurance
- US$ cash / Credit Card, please be aware that supplement of 3.5%-5% will be applicable to every transactions when paid by credit card.
Essential Items:
- Duffel bag – large enough to keep all hiking gears and clothing which will be carried by the porters also you will require extra luggage that will be left at the hotel for safari clothing and other items.
- Day backpack – between 20 – 35 liters, large enough to carry your water, camera, rainy jacket, picnic lunch boxes, snacks & warm clothing
- Sleeping bag
- Walking stick
- Water bottle / containers
- Kilimanjaro map (available at books store / mountain gate)
High Altitude Gear:
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof jacket (external wear like Ventex)
- Waterproof, breathable and windproof pants (external wear)
- Polar fleece (middle layer)
- Thermal underwear (under layers)
- Mittens or warm gloves
- One pair thermal socks
- Balaclava
- Gaiters
- Thermal water flask
Hiking Gear:
- Shorts
- Hiking pants
- Regular underwear
- T-shirts
- Rainy jacket or Poncho
Footwear:
- Water resistant semi-stiff hiking boots – mid weight boots work great
- Simple shoes for wearing during the night at the camps – e.g. sneakers, running shoes, etc.
- Socks – several pairs for the climb
- Liner socks – to keep your feet dry and limit the risk of blisters
Equipment:
- Sun hat / cap
- Collapsible ski stick (optional but highly recommended)
- 2 Water bottles with capacity to carry at least 3 – 4 liters at once)
- Head lamp, good strong one with spare batteries and an extra light bulb
- Sunglasses
- Torch
Personal Items:
- Toilet kit (soap, tooth brush, toilet articles, wet wipes, etc.)
- Towel
- Sun screen and lip protection
- Money belt for passport and valuables
Medical and First Aid Supplies:
- Headache tablets
- Altitude sickness
- Diarrhea – Imodium
- Nausea – Valoid
- Malaria – Prophylaxis
- Water purification tablets
- Painkillers
- Muscular sprains
- Abrasions blisters and cuts – Plaster, bandages
- Antiseptic cream
- Flu and colds
- Eye drops
- Insect repellent
Optional Items:
- Camera, video camera, tapes, battery packs and tri-pod
- Binoculars
- Pocket knife
- Notebook & pencil
- Plastic bags for keeping wet clothes
- Energy snacks and sweets