Pack for cold nights and changeable weather, and keep it light. Our porters carry your duffel, so it has to weigh 10 kg or less, and everything you’ll need during the day goes in your own daypack. This is the list our guides work from. If you’d rather not buy gear you’ll use once, we rent used mountain gear in good condition. For a final check in the week before you fly, use our final checklist.
How we weigh the duffel
Our porters carry no more than 20 kg each, which is why we ask you to keep your duffel at 10 kg or less. Weigh it at home. Clean clothes for after the climb and everything else you don’t need on the mountain stay at your Arusha hotel.
Clothing
Upper body
- Three warm layers made of wool or synthetic fabric that fit comfortably over each other, such as a long-sleeved thermal top, a sweater and a fleece or heavy wool shirt. Avoid cotton: it holds sweat and pulls heat from your body.
- Two synthetic T-shirts you don’t mind getting dirty
- A hooded waterproof, breathable jacket with sealed seams. Afternoon showers are common.
- Optional: a wind shirt, if your waterproof jacket isn’t breathable, and a poncho
Lower body
- One pair of quick-dry hiking shorts for the lower slopes
- One pair of long thermal bottoms, and one pair of loose insulating trousers to wear over them
- Waterproof trousers with sealed seams
- Optional: wind trousers and tights
- Underwear for the length of the climb. Quick-dry fabric is easier to wash and faster to dry.
Hands, head and face
- A warm hat or balaclava that covers your ears
- A brimmed sun hat. The equatorial sun is strong.
- Thin liner gloves plus thicker gloves or mittens. Layering lets you adjust on summit day.
- UV-rated sunglasses with a securing strap
- SPF 30+ sunscreen and SPF lip balm
- A bandana, which also protects your neck from the sun
Feet
- Waterproof or water-resistant, mid-weight hiking boots with a semi-stiff sole, broken in before you travel
- Camp shoes, such as trainers
- Several pairs of hiking socks, plus liner socks to limit blisters and keep your feet dry
- A pair of thermal socks for the coldest nights
- Gaiters
Sleeping and carrying
- Sleeping bag: rated for nights at or below freezing at the higher camps. We can rent one.
- Duffel bag: large enough for your climbing gear and clothes, with a small padlock for the zips. The porters carry it.
- Daypack: it should hang from both shoulders and have a waist belt, and it needs to hold your water, rain shell, warm layer, lunch and camera. Expect to carry 5–6 kg.
- Pack cover or a large plastic bag to line your daypack, plus Ziploc bags and plastic bags to keep clothes and your sleeping bag dry
- Trekking poles: optional, but we recommend them for the descent
Water and light
- Water bottles: wide-mouth plastic bottles. Skip hydration bladders, because the hoses and spouts freeze, crack and leak at altitude.
- Insulated flask for hot drinks
- Headlamp: a good LED one, with spare batteries. Cold drains batteries quickly, so keep them in your sleeping bag at night.
- Electrolyte or sports-drink powder. It’s hard to find in Tanzania and makes plain water easier to drink.
- You don’t need water purification tablets or a filter. We provide filtered water and carry iodine tablets for emergencies.
Personal items
- Toiletries, enough for the whole trip. Few are sold locally, so keep them simple and light.
- Wet wipes, hand sanitizer, soft toilet paper and a small microfibre towel
- Ear plugs
- Spare glasses, or contact lenses and solution
- A pocket knife with scissors
- Snacks you like, such as energy bars and sweets. Appetite fades with altitude, and familiar food helps.
- Herbal tea or non-caffeinated hot drink mixes if you prefer them
- A urine bottle for use in your tent at night
- A money belt for your passport and valuables
Electronics
- There’s no electricity on the mountain. Bring a charger or power bank for your phone and camera, and keep batteries warm.
- Pack a three-pin square plug adaptor for your hotel.
Documents and money
- Passport and Tanzanian visa, with photocopies kept separately
- Yellow fever vaccination record
- Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation and trip cancellation
- US dollar cash for tips and extras
Medical and first aid
- Talk to your doctor before you travel about altitude medication and malaria prophylaxis.
- Carry essential prescription medicines in your hand luggage, in case your checked bag is lost.
- Blister plasters or moleskin, plasters and bandages, antiseptic cream
- Painkillers, anti-diarrhoea tablets and anti-nausea tablets
- Eye drops, moisturising cream and a nasal moisturising gel
- Insect repellent for the lowlands around Arusha and Moshi
What we provide, so you don’t pack it
We supply filtered water, cooked meals, hot washing water delivered to your tent each morning, and a mess tent with folding chairs, tables and LED lighting. For what each trip price covers, see Kilimanjaro Includes/Excludes.
What to wear on summit night
The higher camps are near freezing or colder at night, and the final ascent is colder still, especially in wind. Wear a thermal base layer, two insulating layers, insulated trousers, your waterproof shell, a warm hat over your ears and mittens over liner gloves. Keep your headlamp batteries warm. For the full night, read Summit Night on Kilimanjaro.
Rent it instead of buying it
We rent used mountain gear in good condition, including sleeping bags, jackets and trekking poles. Email info@jaribuafrica.com with what you need and your sizes before you travel.
FAQ
Can I use a hydration bladder?
No. Hoses and spouts freeze, crack and leak at altitude, so bring wide-mouth bottles.
Should I buy or rent my gear?
Rent anything you’ll only use once, such as a sleeping bag or a heavy jacket. Buy boots and pack because they need to be broken in.
Do I need to bring water purification tablets?
No. We provide filtered water.
