Practical Information

This list is built from years of guiding climbers up Kilimanjaro and Meru — it covers what you're responsible for bringing yourself. Camping equipment, tents, and food are provided by Tanzania Travel Company; everything below is personal gear.

Head & Face

• Warm hat — wool or pile, covering the ears; a balaclava works well.
• Wide-brimmed hat — for sun protection at the equator.
• Sunglasses — good quality with strong UV protection; side shields or glacier glasses recommended.
• Sunscreen — SPF 15+, bring more than you think you'll need.
• Lip balm — SPF 15+.
• Bandana — for sun protection, cleaning glasses, and quick washing; dries fast.

Upper Body

• 2 T-shirts — synthetic, ones you don't mind getting dirty (no cotton on summit day).
• 3 warm layers — wool, synthetic, or pile (e.g. long-underwear top, sweater, pile jacket). Cotton loses its insulation when damp, so avoid it.
• Rain parka — seam-sealed Gore-Tex or waterproof nylon; afternoon showers are common.
• Wind shirt (optional if your rain jacket is Gore-Tex) — roomy enough to layer over everything else.
• Poncho (optional) — quick cover for you and your pack, though not much use in windy rain.
• Gloves and mittens — one warm pair, one lighter pair, plus a mitten shell for wind near the summit.

Legs

• Hiking shorts — quick-dry, for lower-elevation days.
• Long underwear bottoms — wool or synthetic.
• Fleece or pile pants — loose-fitting, worn over the long underwear.
• Rain pants — seam-sealed Gore-Tex or waterproof nylon.
• Wind pants (optional if your rain pants are Gore-Tex) — breathable, roomy enough to layer.
• Tights — Lycra-type, comfortable for hiking and good for cool, misty days.

Feet

• Thin liner socks — 2 pairs, worn under heavier socks to prevent blisters.
• Thick wool or synthetic socks — around 6 pairs.
• Hiking boots — medium-weight, broken in, roomy enough for a liner sock plus a thick sock.
• Gaiters — to keep dirt and snow out of your boots.
• Camp shoes — something light to wear after the day's hiking.

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag — warm, four-season; night temperatures on the mountain can drop to freezing.
• Sleeping pad — a closed-cell foam mat is fine; an inflatable pad is more comfortable.

Drinking

• 2 one-liter wide-mouth water bottles.
• Water treatment — purification tablets or a filtration pump; East African water isn't unsafe so much as unfamiliar to your system.
• Flavoring/electrolyte mix (optional) — makes treated water easier to drink and is hard to find locally.

Carrying Your Gear

• Daypack — comfortable, with a good waist belt, for what you carry yourself each day.
• Pack cover or large plastic bag — to keep your daypack dry in the rain.
• Duffel bag for the mountain — this is what your porter carries; keep it within the porter weight limit below.
• Second bag for storage — a smaller, lockable bag for anything you leave at the hotel during the climb (label it clearly).
• A few plastic bags — to double-bag your sleeping bag and clothing against damp.

Personal Health & Comfort

• Toiletries for the full trip — few are available on the mountain.
• Earplugs, for peaceful rest in shared tents or huts.
• Headlamp or flashlight, with spare batteries — essential for summit night.
• A simple pocket knife (pack it in your checked luggage, not hand luggage).
• Snacks from home, if you have a favorite trail food.
• Your own tea/coffee, if you prefer something other than what's provided.
• A small towel and wet wipes for general hygiene.
• Spare glasses, if you wear contacts or prescription lenses.
• A compact umbrella — genuinely useful against both rain and sun, and something most guides carry themselves.

Personal First Aid Kit

We carry a group medical kit on every climb (gauze, tape, antiseptics, pain relief, and altitude medication among them), but prescription items can only be dispensed in emergencies. We recommend discussing the following with your doctor before you travel:

• Diamox (acetazolamide) — widely used for altitude sickness prevention; typically 250mg twice daily from around 4,000m to the summit.
• Imodium and a broad-spectrum antibiotic — for traveler's diarrhea.
• Painkillers — for altitude headaches; avoid anything stronger than mild painkillers, as it can mask signs of altitude sickness.
• Blister treatment and plasters — for cuts, scrapes, and blisters.
• A mild sleep aid (optional) — restlessness at altitude is common, though we don't recommend sleeping pills above roughly 4,500m.

Please discuss all of the above with your doctor before departure, particularly Diamox and its interaction with any medication you're already taking.

Before You Fly

Checked luggage can occasionally be delayed. Wear one full hiking outfit on the plane — long-sleeve shirt, hiking pants, socks, and boots — and pack your daypack, waterproof jacket and pants, insulated jacket, medications, camera, and all your paperwork (passport, visa, immunization records, and insurance documents) in your carry-on.

Porters are limited to carrying 15kg (33lbs) of your personal gear — if you're over that, you'll need to hire an extra porter. Most gear can be rented locally if needed, and anything you won't use on the climb (safari clothing, extra luggage) can be stored safely at your hotel or with us until you're back down.

Getting Ready to Climb

The best training for Kilimanjaro is simply hiking — you don't need an elaborate cross-training program. Start around two months before departure, ideally on hills or trails that simulate the ascent; a stair machine works well if you don't have access to trails. Aim for three sessions a week of at least an hour, building toward four-to-six-hour day hikes with a loaded pack. Train in the boots and daypack you'll actually climb in, taper off in the final two weeks, and rest in the last few days before you fly.

Everyone should get a medical check before attempting the mountain — ask your doctor whether high-altitude trekking is suitable for your age, fitness, and any existing conditions, and whether your regular medications interact with Diamox. The minimum age for Kilimanjaro and Meru is 10; there's no upper limit, but the climb is strenuous, so anyone under 18 or over 60 should check in with their doctor first.

Walking safaris put you on foot alongside an armed ranger, so the dress code is about safety and staying inconspicuous, not just comfort.

• Sturdy, closed-toe boots — ankle-supporting hiking boots or shoes, broken in. No sandals or open shoes.
• Earth-tone clothing — khaki, olive, or tan. Avoid bright colors and white, which are too visible to wildlife, as well as dark blue or black, which attract tsetse flies in bush areas.
• Long sleeves and long trousers — even in the heat; protection against sun, thorns, and biting insects matters more than staying cool.
• Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.
• Insect repellent — particularly effective against tsetse flies, which are drawn to movement and dark colors.
• Small daypack — water, sunscreen, camera; your guide carries the rest.
• Binoculars — genuinely useful on foot, where sightings can be more distant than on a game drive.

Minimum age and fitness requirements vary by park and operator — we'll confirm what applies to your specific walking safari when we book it.

The most relaxed of the three — you're in a vehicle for most of the day, so comfort and layering matter more than strict dress rules.

• Neutral-colored clothing — khaki, olive, and similar tones are still preferable to bright colors or white, mainly for wildlife photography and blending into the landscape.
• Layers — early morning game drives in open-sided vehicles can be genuinely cold before sunrise, then hot by mid-morning; a light fleece or jacket you can shed is ideal.
• Wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
• Comfortable closed shoes — for rest stops, picnic sites, and short walks at lodges.
• Binoculars — worth bringing your own good pair rather than relying on the vehicle's.
• Camera with a zoom lens — and spare batteries or a power bank, since charging can be limited at remote camps.
• A scarf or buff — many park roads are unpaved and dusty.
• Insect repellent — especially for dawn and dusk game drives.