Packing for Kilimanjaro can be stressful, but with the right packing list, you can be prepared and have all the right gear that keeps you warm. For summit day, you'll want to wear 4 to 5 layers of clothing on both top and bottom. Staying warm and dry during your climb to Kilimanjaro's Uhuru Peak cannot be overemphasized. Your summit success depends upon it.

Kilimanjaro Packing List: Clothing

Wind/waterproof jacket: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Down jacket: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Inner fleece jacket or vest: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Summit Pants: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Rain pants: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Long-sleeved shirt(s) Mens Womens | Men's Outlet Women's Outlet
Moisture-wicking Thermal Underwear:
Mens Top Mens Bottom | Mens Outlet Top | Mens Outlet Bottom
Womens Top Womens Bottom | Womens Outlet Top | Womens Outlet Bottom
Inner gloves | Outlet Inner gloves
Gloves | Outlet gloves
Mittens | Outlet mittens (to wear over gloves for summit day)
Sunhat | Outlet Sunhat
Hat/Beanie | Outlet Beanie
Balaclava | Outlet Balaclava
Long Gaiters
Underwear: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet | Womens Outlet

** Note: You should always have your waterproof jacket, rain pants and daypack raincover with you. Mountain weather can change instantly and you'll wish to keep dry. For summit day, you'll want to wear 4 to 5 layers on both top and bottom. At the summit, Uruhu Peak, night time temperatures can range between 20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius).

Kilimanjaro Hiking Shoes or Boots

Waterproof hiking boots: Mens Womens | Mens Outlet Womens Outlet
Comfortable shoes to be worn around camp Mens Womens | Outlet slippers
Hand, foot, body warmers
Sock liners | Outlet sock liners
Synthetic or wool socks of varying weight: Knee-highs for summit day | Outlet socks
Trekking poles | Outlet trekking poles

* Hiking shoes or boots: Boots! Hiking boots will give you more support and provide protection while walking thru snow and ice on the summit. Gore-tex / waterproof boots are necessary. It will rain in the rainforest and you do not want wet shoes or socks. Wet shoes or socks will give you blisters.

Kilimanjaro Sleeping Bag Recommendations:

4 Seasons Sleeping bag for 0 to -10 F | Sleeping bags Outlet
Sleeping pad and repair kit (for all routes except Marangu): Mens Womens | Sleeping pads Outlet
Sleeping bag liner | Outlet Sleeping bag liner
Small camp sleeping pillow | Outlet camp pillow

Having the right sleeping bag for your Kilimanjaro climb, can also impact your ability to be motivated to reach the summit. You'll want a mummy sleeping bag to keep you warmer. A lot of heat can be lost when your head gets cold. A sleeping bag made of synthetic fiber is better than down. When down gets wet, it stays wet and does not dry out. You do not want a wet sleeping bag. You'll want a sleeping bag that is rated to -10 F. A sleeping bag liner can add up to 25°F of warmth to a sleeping bag. The sleeping pad as well, should be chosen based on warmth. Women’s sleeping pads are shorter (66 inches is typical), and many add extra insulation at the hips and feet. This is important for women, as women lose extra body heat at the hips and feet.

** Note: Temperatures are really cold in the evenings, so dress warm while sleeping, more than one layer if necessary and make sure that your sleeping bag is rated to-10 F. Highest sleeping altitude is 15,000 feet. Night time temperatures while sleeping can range between 33 and -6 degrees Fahrenheit (1 to -21 degrees Celsius). Sleeping with a hat on will keep your body from losing heat. Filling an empty nalgene bottle with hot water and placing in your sleeping bag will help to stay warm. In addition, having an emergency space blanket can help to trap body heat in.

Kilimanjaro Backpack | Duffel Bag

Large duffel with raincover - packing restrictions 20 kg (44 lbs) or less: Pack light!
Daypack with raincover | Outlet daypacks

Toiletries, Personal Items and Medications

Insulated water bottle or insulated camelback that will not freeze.
Empty nalgene bottle : Fill with warm water and place in sleeping bag to keep warm
Water purification tablets
Diamox or similiar high-altitude, Cipro (anti-diarrhea), cold-flu tablets, ibuprofen, Ricola herb drops
First-aid kit
Insect repellent for use lower on the mountain
Headlamp /Flashlight with extra batteries | Outlet headlamps
Camera with extra batteries
Empty nalgene bottle : Fill with warm water and place in sleeping bag to keep warm
Sunblock and lip balm
Sunglasses: Mens Womens | Outlet sunglasses
Spare glasses or contact lenses
Waterproof phone case
Waterproof bags for: passport, yellow fever certificate, electronics and extra money
Plastic bags for organizing
Pack towel, biodegradable soap
Hand-sanitizer and toilet paper

Food
Food/snacks: You will be provided with 3 meals: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a tea time snack. However, if you have any favorite foods, snacks or drinks: such as Starbucks travel coffee packets , shot bloks, energy bars, sports drink powder, you should bring them. Instant coffee, tea and hot chocolate (Milo) is provided, but may not be what you are accustomed to.

Important:
Cash, passport, credit cards, yellow fever vaccination card, emergency contacts
$200 US Cash for emergencies
Tip for guide, assistant guide, cook and porters: ATM's are sparse. Let your local guide know if you need to stop at the ATM before leaving for the hike.

Optional:
Mp3 player for summit hiking in the dark
Solar charger
Small calculator
Ear plugs to help you get a good night's rest
Emergency space blanket

Other Packing tips:
Do not overpack. You will not need a change a clothes for every day.

Kilimanjaro Rental Gear:

It is possible to show up with nothing at Kilimanjaro and rent everything you need to hike. Kilimanjaro Park, hotels and tour operators have standard equipment available for rent. However, it is used and there are no quality guarantees. Many times, zippers can be broken, and items can be worn out well past normal life expectancy. It is definitely not as nice as having your own clothes and gear. Much of your summit success depends upon your clothing and gear keeping you dry, warm and comfortable. However with that said, if your luggage is delayed one day at the airport and you need to start your hike, rental gear will suffice until your luggage is delivered to you on the mountain. Yes, this has happened! There is only one flight per day in to Kilimanjaro airport (JRO), late at night around 8 pm. If your luggage does not arrive, it can be picked up by your guides and porters, and brought to you two days later, wherever you are at on the trail. For this reason, it is a good idea to wear or pack your hiking shoes, and a change of clothes in your carry-on.

Kilimanjaro Summit Night Temperatures:

Summit night will be unbelievably cold. Temperatures could be as low as -20 Fahrenheit. When you add windchill factor, it will be even colder. Summit day hike starts at midnight. It may not seem that cold at the start, but it will get colder. Dress in layers. Put on hand/toe/body warmers and all layers before you start. You will not be able to find anything in your backpack in the dark, when you are cold or are experiencing the slow-moving effects of high-altitude. You should be wearing 4 to 5 layers on both top and bottom on summit day. At the summit, Uruhu Peak, night time temperatures can range between 20 and -20 degrees Fahrenheit (-7 to -29 degrees Celsius).

Preparing for the Cold: Use all Lithium batteries in electronics and lights. Carry extra batteries close to your core. You can expect batteries to have 1/4th the lifespan.

Put hot water in an insulated bottle. It will cool off as you hike. Add a bit of honey if you wish. Many camelbaks will freeze.

Insulated thermos work better than regular Nalgene’s. But Nalgene’s can be used if you put it inside a wool sock with a hand warmer.

Bring DRY food for snacks. Anything crunchy or crumbly is good. If it is soft, it will freeze.

For contact wearers, bring extra contacts and glasses and keep them near your core and warm.

Kilimanjaro Altitude Sickness Prevention / Medication

Preventing Altitude Sickness: The best ways to prevent altitude sickness is climbing slowly, and taking it easy the first 1 to 2 days to adjust to higher altitude. Do not consider doing this hike without taking Diamox, or another prescribed medication to prevent high-altitude sickness. Staying well hydrated is the most effective way to minimize the symptoms of high altitude. Avoid alcohol and caffeine the first 48 hours. Participate in only mild exercise for the first 48 hours. A diet high in carbohydrates can reduce both the onset and severity of altitude sickness. Because carbohydrates require less oxygen to metabolize, they are the preferred energy source at elevation. Travelers consuming 70% or more of their calories from carbs have shown to acclimate more readily than those who do not. Taking ibuprofen before a trip to the mountains may help some people avoid the headaches and nausea that come with altitude sickness. But do not take it, instead of diamox. Having a high-altitude exposure at more than 9,000 ft (2,750 m) for 2 nights or more, within 30 days before the trip, is useful.

Taking Diamox: This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters). Please refer to the CDC guide on Altitude Illness for additional information. The medical name for diamox is Acetazolamide. CDC recommended dose is 250 mg twice per day. Prescription dose can vary widely by doctor and manufacturer. If you have a chance to try out your dosage ahead of time, above 10,000 ft, it will help greatly to know whether the side effects/dosage are too strong for you. In which case, the dosage may need to be adjusted for you. However, do not consider doing the hike without taking it at all. Some diamox is always better than no diamox. And as always, the more days that you take to climb Kilimanjaro, the better the chance of summit and the greater the chance that you do not experience altitude sickness.

Kilimanjaro Tipping:

The following are daily rates the group as a WHOLE is recommended to tip per staff member:
* Guide $20 a day
* Assistant guide $15 a day
* Cook $15 a day
* Porter $10 a day
* Waiter $5 a day, plus porter wage at $10 per day

Number of climbers and number of staff:
1 climber: 1 guide, 3 porters, 1 cook
2 climbers: 1 guide, 6 porters, 1 extra assistance guide, 1 cook
3 climbers: 1 guide, 9 porters, 1 extra assistance guide, 1 cook
4 climbers: 2 guides, 9 porters, 1 extra assistance guide, 1 cook, 1 waiter
For every extra climber will usually be 1 to 2 porters extra, and there will be another guide every extra climbers
The number of porters need can vary, based on the number of kilograms to carry in total.

An APPROXIMATE AVERAGE Total Tip per hiker: $250 - $300 USD

Many hikers will also tip more, for special/outstanding customer service, such as carrying your backpack to the summit. It is not required, but feel free to tip directly to any guide/porter/cook, that went out of their way on your Kilimanjaro experience. Extra tipping is not included in the total tip for the group.

Donations: Many hikers donate their used clothing and equipment from their hike to their porters and guides, at the tipping ceremony. As hiking gear is expensive and it wears out quickly, all donations are greatly appreciated.

Kilimanjaro Toilet Tents:

Some companies provide a private toilet tent, with a sit-down toilet, at lunch and overnight campsite for all Kilimanjaro trails. Not all tour companies do this without charging an additional fee. Public squat toilets are available on the trail during the day and at campsite. The squat toilets at campsite can be up to a mile away from campsite, depending upon the campsite. The private toilet tent may not look like much, but it is a small luxury on the trail. Being able to sit down when you have tired legs, not having to trek too far to get to the toilet, and having a private butler (porter) cleaning it out and stocking with toilet paper regularly are some simple basic pleasures that cannot be understated.

Best route for climbing Kilimanjaro

Mt Kilimanjaro has the highest peak (Uhuru Peak) in Africa at 19,341 feet (5,895 metres). There are six different trails for reaching the summit of Uhuru Peak.

Of all of the possible trails to take to arrive at the summit, two have a higher probability of successful completion than the rest. These are the Lemosho and Machame trails.

Lemosho covers 42 miles over 8 days, and has the greatest elevation gain of all the trails. However, this gives you more time to adjust to altitude, which gives you the highest chance to successfully reach the summit.

The Machame route covers 37 miles over 7 days, and has a summit success rate second only to Lemosho.

The Marangu route route, nicknamed the "Coca-Cola" route, is the most direct and popular way to the summit. It is the only trail with huts along its route, complete with solar lights and bunk beds, which means you do not have to sleep in a tent. Despite its popularity, this is definitely not an easy trail; in fact, it has the lowest summit success rate of all possible routes.

If your goal is to reach the summit of the mountain, we recommend hiking on one of the two trails that have the highest summit success rate. These are the Lemosho and Machame trails.

Whichever route you prefer to use, approaching the summit will be a challenging and rewarding experience. The air is very thin and very cold. Oxygen is not necessary, but use of a medication that prevents altitude sickness (such as Diamox) is recommended. Headlamp batteries will freeze, water will freeze, you will freeze, and the view is spectacular.

For after Kilimanjaro climb relaxation, head to Zanzibar. Uroa Bay Beach Resort (pictured below) is an excellent resort, priced reasonably, at normal hotel room prices. Resort has their own private beach, pool, and luxurious accommodations. Staff is friendly, eager to please, and will serve you drinks and food expeditiously. Resort is quiet and far away from normal sightseeing activities. Day trip tours are recommended for sightseeing, or you may enjoy just relaxing by the pool or on the beach of the resort.

For additional Kilimanjaro trip planning:
View the African destination guide.