Mt. Kilimanjaro Climbing Packing List
Everything you should know about gear for climbing the highest mountain in Africa – Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania
Despite that of the “Seven Summits” – highest climbs on all seven continents – Kilimanjaro is considered the easiest, this expedition shouldn’t be taken lightly.
Packing your Kilimanjaro kit is one of the most important steps on the way to a successful climb. The Web is full of travel recommendations, however, most of them inevitably fail to explain why a certain piece of equipment is a must-have while others may be left at home.
We have compiled our packing guide so that even a complete novice could use it as a reference, though some recommendations might be obvious to seasoned mountain climbers.
On Kilimanjaro you will be trekking through four different climate zones (rainforest, moorland, alpine meadows, and Arctic desert). At the lower altitude of tropical rainforest, the weather is mostly humid and hot, while in the summit zone it is snowy, windy and frosty. In addition, while the temperature is usually high during the day, it can drop to the freezing point at night.
You should be properly prepared for all of these conditions.
Our Specialist are the best and we are confident that no other travel company can match our expertise in helping you plan your trip.
Our goal is to help all our clients climb Kilimanjaro safely and have a really enjoyable trek. To do this we operate our own Kilimanjaro climbs so we control every aspect of your trip. We don’t just take your booking to climb Kilimanjaro then sub-contract your safety and enjoyment to someone else. If you book with us you climb Kilimanjaro with us.
Warm winter hat
Neck gaiter or scarf – We recommend bringing a neck gaiter or bandana as it can get dust on Kilimanjaro
Sun hat – Choose a hat that is wide-brimmed for protection
Sunglass – Choose a pair of high UV protection glasses as sun intensity above 4,500m is very high.
Headlamp – You will need a headlamp with good light output for any late night toilet journeys, and importantly for summit night. We also recommend having extra batteries (AAA batteries)
Lightweight Gloves – We recommend this for the lowers slope
Warm gloves or mittens – For the cold nights and for the summit we recommend heavyweight gloves
Trekking boots – We recommends using a mid-weight trekking boots with good ankle support. We also recommend it to be waterproof
Gym shoes/sandals – To wear around camp after a day’s trek.
Socks – We recommend bringing 3-4 pairs of outer socks and 2-3 pairs of liner socks. We also recommend bringing one x thick thermal socks for summit night.
Gaiters – We recommend this to keep your trousers clean from getting wet and muddy or dusty conditions.
Micro-spikes/crampon – Not always required, but there are special periods when the mountain receives an excessive amount of ice near the summit.
Thermal base layer – 1 thermal base layer, ideally made from merino wool.
Short-sleeved shirt: 2 lightweight, moisture wicking short sleeved shirts are sufficient.
Long sleeve shirt – 2 or 3 light or medium weight, moisture wicking long sleeve shirt.
Fleece or soft shell jacket – A mid-weight fleece jacket is ideal for Kilimanjaro
Insulated jacket – A good quality and warm down or primaloft jacket is required for the cold nights and summit push.
Hard shell outer jacket – A windproof hard shell outer jacket to protect you from the elements
Poncho – As Kilimanjaro, weather is unpredictable then poncho is recommended.
Leggings – 2 Thermal or fleece base layer for your legs
Trekking trousers: 1 medium weight trekking trousers is recommended.
Hard shell trousers – Wind proof will protect yourself from the elements
Sun and lip screen – High sun protection factor sunscreen and lip protection balm is recommended
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Personal medicines and medical kit – Recommend bringing Paracetamol and Imodium at a minimum
Extra bag – For your extra luggage that will remain at hotel
Packing cubes: Useful for keeping items organized within your duffle bag
Camera and spare batteries
Plug Adapter – A plug adapter for charging your devices in the hotels before and after the trek. We recommend adapter type G.
Personal snacks: Boiled sweets, nuts, energy bars and dried fruit are all a good for Kilimanjaro.
Towel – lightweight, quick-dry
Portable power bank and extra one if possible
You can hire the required gear on the spot when you arrive in Tanzania.
Those who don’t want to bring the whole bulk of their climbing equipment to Tanzania can always hire it on the spot from our rental shop. And it’s more pocket-friendly to hire from us than to buy new.
For first-time climbers or anyone who doesn’t have their own climbing gear, renting is a much more affordable choice than investing in top-quality gear you may only use one time. We are the only company in the region to provide our clients with gear from such brands as The North Face, Marmot and Red Fox straight from our own store, the biggest in the Kilimanjaro region. All equipment is clean and in perfect condition as we renew our stock twice a year.
Avoid buying the cheapest gear.
There’s no need to spend a fortune on buying branded clothes and footwear, and yet low quality items should not be an option either, no matter how attractive the price. After all, it is your safety and comfort at stake. On today’s market you can find plenty of high-quality alternatives at affordable prices.
Have comfort knowing that you are working with a responsible and professional brand with outstanding industry experience and exceptional client feedback.
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