“What equipment do I need for climbing Kilimanjaro or for an ascent of Mount Meru?”. The answer is not obvious to most people. Particularly, when they undertake an expedition such as the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro for the first time.
In the following section, we will therefore provide you with a comprehensive packing list for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. It is the result of our thorough research and examination of the topic. The packing list contains all things we found out about via diverse websites and the exchange with experienced mountaineers during our preparations. Overall, the list has proven very useful to us.
The packing list equally applies to both genders as well as all seasons and routes for the climb of Kilimanjaro. We have utilized the things described in the list during our seven-day tour along Machame Route in March. Depending on the number of days you will be en route, you can adjust the number of items of your clothing, equipment etc., respectively.
We originally wrote the packing list for Kilimanjaro, but it is also suitable for climbing Mount Meru, as the climatic conditions are similar. However, the ascent of Mount Meru only takes about half as long as the ascent of Kilimanjaro. Therefore, you can plan for less clothes to change. In addition, the temperature during the ascent of Mount Meru, even during the summit night, rarely drops below zero degrees Celsius and most of the time you walk less high than on Kilimanjaro, so you can pack a little less warm overall.
The packing list for the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Meru is subdivided into six sections:
- Clothing
- Trekking equipment
- Travel pharmacy & first-aid kit
- Cosmetics & toiletries
- Snacks and food supplements
- Documents and papers.
The web view presented here shows a summary of the packing list. The complete packing list you can download here in pdf format.
1) Clothing
Adequate clothing is extremely important for a successful ascent. That does not mean that it needs to be expensive clothing – but in any case, suitable! You require clothing suitable for temperatures between -20 and +25 °C (-4 and +77 °F). You will probably also walk in the rain and snow and through dusty terrains. Wearing several layers thus represents a good guideline regarding the question “How do I dress?”. An example to dress (from inside out at low temperatures): underwear, thin fleece, thick fleece or down jacket/softshell and windbreaker jacket/hardshell, hiking socks, leggings and trekking pants. Bear in mind that your clothing is fast-drying and breathable. For instance, a softshell (jacket) generally better protects against the wind compared to a fleece, however, is less breathable.
- Sports socks (thin) | 3-4 pairs
Breathable, prevention of blistered feet (low cut) - Hiking socks
| 3-4 pairs
Insulation of feet and prevention of blisters (high cut) - Wool socks | 2 pairs
Particularly for insulation of feet at night and on summit day - Underwear | As required
Classic, depending on the duration of the hike - Thermal underwear | 2 sets
Vest (if possible, long-sleeved) and trousers (best would be leggings); avoid cotton, for it does not dry fast; e.g. merino wool is very good - Short-sleeved T-shirts | 3 x
Particularly relevant at the beginning and the end of the tour; avoid cotton, for it does not dry fast - Long-sleeved T-shirts | 2-3 x
Particularly relevant at half-time of the tour, and good with a turtleneck; avoid cotton, for it does not dry fast - Fleece jacket
Advisable and, if possible, different degrees of heat (to be carried underneath the wind jacket / windbreaker) - Down jacket (thin) / Softshell
Comparable with the fleece jacket / -vest (to be carried underneath the wind jacket / windbreaker) - Wind jacket / Windbreaker (hardshell)
To be used during the tour and on summit day, should ideally be water-repellent - Trekking / Hiking pants (thin) | 1-2 x
Should dry fast, and have a zipper for detaching the legs - Trekking / Hiking pants (thick) | 1 x
Should be water-repellent, for you wear it on summit day (can also be ski pants) - Shorts | 1 x
Particularly relevant at the beginning and the end of the tour. Swimming shorts are suitable as well - Sweatpants | 1 x
For sleeping and for carrying in the evenings in the camps - Rain trousers | 1 x
To protect from water; can be relevant on summit day - Rain cape
It rains from time to time, especially in the afternoons; you should be able to cover your backpack with it - Rain gaiters
To protect your hiking boots from rain and dirt - Gloves (thin) | 1 pair
Can be fleece or leather gloves; rather thin gloves, depending on your personal preferences recommendable - Gloves (thick) | 1 pair
Indispensable, especially on summit day - Beanie / Woolly hat | 1 x
Relevant during the tour and on summit day - Hat / Cap | 1 x
Thin, for sun protection - Balaclava
Can complement or replace a scarf and is recommended for low temperatures - Scarf | 1 x
Recommended especially on summit day - Tennis shoes or sneakers | 1 pair
For the camps and the beginning and end of the tour as well as arrival and departure - Hiking boots
Should be ankle-high and of good quality, also water-repellent and worn in
| 3-4 pairs2) Trekking equipment
You are en route for several days, reasonably far from your usual standards and civilization. When it gets dark at nights, there is not sufficient lighting as there is in towns or in your home. Thus, prepare yourselves well (with adequate equipment, and also mentally) for the hike; if you do so, it will be great!
- Travel bag or backpack (60-80 liters volume)
For storage of your luggage during your tour (not to be taken on the mountain) - Daypack
For everything you need daily during your hike on the mountain (you carry it yourself) - Rain cover
To cover the daypack and protect from rain and dust. It was part of our backpacks (not a must) - Sleeping bag
Suitable for very low temperatures (up to -10 °C (14 °F)); type “sarcophagus” is recommended - Linen sleeping bag
Thin sleeping bag that is suitable for high temperatures. We have used it as inner part of the rented sleeping bag - Air mattress
Self-inflating, as complementation to the provided mats / air mattresses - Mat
To sleep on; as complementation to the provided mats / mattresses - Pillow (small)
Recommended, for pillows made of clothes help along only partially - Walking sticks / Trekking poles
Particularly helpful on summit day and during descent - Headlamp
For the ascent to Uhuru Peak in the dark and the time after sunset in the camps - (Small) Flashlight / Torch
For the time after sunset in the camps - Sunglasses
Should be of good quality and ideally have nose protectors integrated - Drinking bottle
A drinking bottle is in any case recommended, for it can also be used to clean your hands - Hydration pack
For direct water supply during the tour (very recommendable, but a second drinking bottle does the job, too) - Alarm clock
For the daily routine, respectively also component of a smartphone - Binoculars
- Camera
Including sufficient films / storage and batteries, for there is no opportunity to charge them - GoPro
To take shots easily during the tour, and during rainfall and in wind - Powerbank
For charging your smartphones and other electronic devices during your tour - Batteries
Depending on the needs of the cameras, headlamps etc. - Lighter
- Pocket knife
Can always become of use and you should carry one on you (attention: during your flight, do not place it in your hand luggage) - Superglue
- Plastic bags / Garbage bags
For worn clothes and litter - Resealable bags / Sachets
For toiletries and other small items - Padlock
To secure bags / backpacks - Umbrella
Small umbrella is well-suited - Thermos flask
Recommended to those of you who benefit from hot beverages, for instance on summit day
3) Travel pharmacy & first-aid kit
Hopefully, you will not need any or only few of these items. Speaking from experience and from exchanges with other travelers, however, we can say that a good first-aid kit is very important for the ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. When push comes to shove, this kit will decide if you can continue the ascent or not.
- First-aid kit
Basic equipment, such as compresses / dressing, band-aid, scissors, possibly tweezers, wound-healing agent, disinfectant, tape (Leukotape) - Wound and healing ointment
For treating abrasions or something similar (e.g. Bepanthen) - Pain relief gel
For treating muscular and joint pains, also tensions (e.g. Mobilat or Voltaren / Diclofenac) - Painkillers
Should be two sets, with and without antipyretic properties (e.g. paracetamol); among other things, they help with light symptoms of altitude sickness - Antibiotics
Broad-spectrum antibiotics, if possible - Antiallergic
In any case advisable, if you, for instance, react allergic to food (e.g. Cetirizine) - Gastrointestinal tract
One product against stomach cramps (e.g. Buscopan) and one product against diarrhea (e.g. charcoal tablets) - Electrolytes
To compensate salt depletion and water loss, e.g. also as dietary supplement during heavy perspiration (e.g. Hydralyte) - Insect repellent spray
Against mosquitos or other insects (we did not have any problems with insects up on the mountain); against insect bites you can use e.g. Soventol - Malaria pills
As standby medication to be taken orally if required (e.g. Malarone) - Tablets or drops for water purification
E.g. Micropur Classic (very recommendable, quantity depending on the duration of the tour; attention: they need 2h to take effect) - Clinical thermometer
- Nasal spray
- Band-aids for blisters
- Emergency blanket
Silver-golden blanket for emergencies
4) Cosmetics & toiletries
…yes, you will need those up on the mountain, for there are definitely opportunities to keep fresh during the hike.
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Facial moisturizer
- Hand lotion
- Deodorant / Antiperspirant
- Razor
- Dry shampoo
- Wet wipes | min. 10 wipes
- Disinfectant tissues | min. 10 tissues
As required, can complement wet wipes and disinfectant gel - Tissues | min. 2 packs
- Toilet paper | min. 1 roll
- Disinfectant gel
Can complement or replace a piece of soap - Soap
Can complement or replace the disinfectant gel - Mirror
Small, as required - Earplugs
- Sleeping mask
- Cotton buds
E.g. Q-tips - Small towel
For drying the face, hands etc.; should be fast drying - Washing glove
For washing the face etc.; should be fast drying - Sunscreen
With a high protection factor - Lip balm with sun protection
If possible, with a high protection factor - Toiletries bag
Ideally with a noose to hang up
5) Snacks & food supplements
During the hike, your body’s energy consumption is higher than usual, especially due to your constant movement and the adjustment of your body to the height. You should therefore make sure to be provided with sufficient nutrition. We practically had a good appetite at all times!
- Cookies | As required
Best would be something nutritious that gives you plenty of energy - Chocolate (bars)| As required
- Cough drops | As required
- Nuts and dried fruits | As required
- Dextrose | 1 pack
Also glucose or other energizers - Energy bars | As required
Muesli bars or something similar; we ate 1-2 bars a day - Energy gel | 1 pack
Can be used as a nutrition supplement - Multivitamin supplements |1 pack
Should include iron and zinc; additional vitamin supply can especially be useful at increased physical strain levels - Ginkgo tablets | 1 pack
They are said to prevent altitude sickness
6) Documents & Papers
Just like on most other journeys, they are very important!
- Vaccination certificate
To present in case of asked for when entering Tanzania (we did not need it) - Passport
Imperative! - Passport photos
You can take some to be on the safe side, but they are not required - Insurance certificate
Health insurance or other - Tickets
For flights, bookings etc. - Credit card
- Cash
At the beginning, we only had USD with us, and later withdrew Tanzanian Shillings at the ATMs; take sufficient cash for tips - Envelope
E.g. for safekeeping and distribution of tips - Visa
To be carried along in case you have organized it before departure; otherwise the process of a visa application on-site is uncomplicated (visa on arrival) - Telephone numbers / Addresses
Also emergency numbers / contacts
The packing list explicitly addresses the things you require for the ascent of Kilimanjaro. It is to be complemented as required with personal items and utensils (e.g. photos of friends and family, a travel journal, (card) games, earphones, or other things you feel attached to). Items, which you would also pack for another type of journey, and which will stay at your hotel during the hike (e.g. chargers for smartphones, laptops, goggles and such) are to be taken into consideration separately. Pack as much as is necessary and as little as possible, for you can take a maximum of 12 kg plus your daypack (approx. additional 5-6 kg) up Kilimanjaro. This is generally absolutely sufficient. The basic equipment, such as tent, sleeping mat, sleeping bag as well as cooking and eating utensils will most likely be provided by your tour operator or you can rent them on site (get this confirmed beforehand). They do not count to your 12 kg of luggage.
Depending on how you are equipped, you might have to spend more or less money on your equipment. But it is worth it! Besides, you can use many of these items in everyday life or for future activities. We have bought a lot of our equipment at Decathlon and Schöffel-LOWA, for instance, as they offered a very good price-quality ratio.
If you want to gain a better impression of what a classic daily routine on Kilimanjaro looks like, and which other things could be relevant for you personally, just check here. If you want to use the packing list for your preparations for climbing Kilimanjaro, you can download it here, and print it if required.
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Alex
Thank you for your kind words, that is our spirit!