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Kilimanjaro packing list Items on this list have been chosen to maximize your comfort and safety while hiking on the mountain. If you have any questions about items on the list, or about the suitability of your own equipment, please contact us, or a reputable mountaineering equipment dealer.
FOR THE HEAD AND FACE:
Pile or Wool hat: Bring one that covers ears, a balaclava type is excellent.
Shade Hat: Visor hats with good brims are essential for protection from the equatorial sun.
Sunglasses: Essential for eye protection in the tropics, at altitude. Bring a good quality pair, preferably with an IREX protection rating of 100. Attachable side shields are necessary, or bring glacier glasses.
Sunscreen: Bring plenty of complete sun block with a protection factor of 15 or more. Unless you have spent time in equatorial sun you will probably underestimate the amount necessary, so bring lots.
Lip Balm: With SPF rating of 15 or more.
Bandanas: Tied around neck they give good sun protection. Cleaning glasses, as wash clothes, etc. They dry very quickly.
FOR THE UPPER BODY LAYERS:
For climbing the mountain we recommend you have three warm layers for the upper body. Items must be made of wool, synthetic or pile. Make sure all layers fit comfortably over each other and supply good insulation. A good combination is a long underwear top, a sweater, and a pile jacket or heavy wool shirt. Cotton items do not provide adequate insulation and are completely useless when damp.
T-Shirts: Two T-shirts that you don’t mind getting dirty while on the mountain. Synthetic is best.
Rain Parka: Afternoon showers are common in East Africa, especially on the mountain. Bring a good parka of Gortex or waterproof nylon that has been “seam sealed”.
Wind Shirt: (optional if you have Gortex rain gear) A nylon wind shell (not waterproof), roomy enough to fit comfortably over all upper body layers. Gortex is good for both this wind shirt and for the rain coat.
Poncho: (Optional) Quick and handy protection for body and rucksack. Poor protection in windy rain.
Gloves or Mittens: Wool or pile. One pair of heavy mittens and a light pair of gloves work well.
Mitten Shells: One pair to go over your mittens. These are for use against the winds sometimes encountered in the crater and on the way to the summit.
FOR LOWER BODY LAYERS:
Quick Dry Hiking Shorts: 1 pair. Good for hiking at lower elevations on the mountain.
Long Underwear Bottoms: One pair. Wool or synthetic.
Wool, Bunting or Pile Pants: One pair that fit loosely and are comfortable. These are essential to be worn over the long john bottoms.
Rain Pants: Bring a good pair of rain pants of Gortex or waterproof nylon that has been “seam sealed”.
Wind Pants: (optional if you have Gortex rain pants.) One pair. These are used often on the mountain for protection against wind. They should be breathable nylon and roomy enough to fit comfortably over wool or pile pants.
Tights: Lycra or polypropylenes type are comfortable to hike in, provide good warmth on cool misty days, dry fast and prevent sunburn.
Undergarments: Enough for the duration of the trek.
FOR THE FEET the Kilimanjaro packing list :
Thin Socks: Two pair of synthetic socks to wear under heavy wool socks. These help to prevent blisters and keep feet dry.
Thick Socks: six pair of heavy wool or synthetic socks to wear for warmth with hiking boots.
Hiking Boots: One pair medium weight hiking boots large enough to be comfortable with one liner sock and one heavy wool or synthetic sock.
Gaiters: One pair of either high or low gaiters made of breathable material to keep dirt and snow out of your boots.
Tennis Shoes or sandals: These are to wear in camp after a day of hiking.
FOR SLEEPING:
Sleeping Bag and Stuff Sac: On the mountain temperatures can get down to zero degrees Fahrenheit at night so bring a warm bag.
Sleeping pad: A closed cell foam camping mattress is ok. An inflatable Therma-Rest type is more comfortable.
FOR DRINKING:
Water Bottle: Two, one liter wide-mouthed plastic bottles at least.
Water Treatment: We will filter your water with a Katydyne water filter. For emergencies we recommend you bring two bottles of “Potable Aqua” or a “Polar Pure”, crystal iodine in a bottle, to treat drinking water. Filtration pumps are also effective, but costly and rather bulky.
Water Flavoring: Wyler’s lemonade, Tang, Gatoraid, etc. These mixes are hard to come by in Tanzania and encourage you to drink.
FOR CARRYING YOUR GEAR:
Frame less Pack: A medium size comfortable pack with some support is adequate to carry personal gear. The pack should fit properly and have a good waist belt. Side pockets are recommended for soft packs. Personal loads with camera gear, water for the day and warm clothes are often between 15 and 20 pounds.
Pack Cover: Something waterproof to cover your pack with when hiking in the rain. Otherwise, bring a large plastic bag to line the inside.
Duffle/zip Bag: Medium size for mountain gear. This will go into our mountain bag that the porters will carry.
Duffle/zip Bag: Large enough to hold your non-mountain gear. This will meet you at the hotel after the climb.
Plastic Bags: Several, to double bag your sleeping bag and clothes on the mountain. It can rain every afternoon.
FOR PERSONAL HEALTH AND COMFORT:
Toiletries: Bring enough for entire trip. Keep simple and light. Few toiletries are available in Tanzania. Bring enough for all your needs.
Flashlight and/or Headlamp: Important on summit day and handy in camp. Plenty of batteries.
Personal First Aid and Drug Kit: Please see attached recommended list above.
Trail Munchies: Although plenty of snack food is provided, trekkers like that taste of home in their pack. Touted as an important accessory by those who have brought them in the past!
Hot Drink Mixes: We will provide plenty of coffee, cocoa and tea, but non-caffeinated drinks are not readily available here. Bring a supply of your favorite herbal teas.
Towel: For wash up in camp, a small one is fine, or you can use a bandana.
Towelettes: Such as “Wash ‘n’ Dries” for general hygiene.
Spare Glasses: For contact wearers in dusty conditions and any eye glass wearer while on vacation.
Umbrella: Very useful against rain and sun. Most guides use one.
We will have gauze, tape, aspirin, medicated soap, antibiotic ointment, antacid tablets, some antibiotics, pain killers, eye treatments, anaphylaxis kit, Imodium, compazine and Diamox. Because of liability problems, prescription drugs will only be dispensed in emergencies. We suggest you bring the following medical items. Please discuss this with your physician.
Intestinal disorders: Compazine, 25mg rectal suppositories; for severe nausea, vomiting. Imodium, to decrease diarrhea and cramping. Tetracycline, Cipro or Bactrim antibiotics: for initial treatment of severe diarrhea. Activated charcoal has proven to be an effective first stage treatment.
Cuts and scrapes: It’s wise to bring a supply of “Bandaids” to treat those abrasions that sometimes occur.
Infections: Antibiotic ointment for cuts and abrasions.Erythromycin or Amoxacillin tablets for skin or soft tissue infections.
Blisters: It is wise to bring your own small supply of blister treatment items to insure that you avoid letting any blister get out of hand. “Second Skin” and moleskin are recommended
Headaches: Tylenol and tylenol with codeine** to help relieve possible altitude headaches. Nothing stronger than codeine should be taken for fear of masking potential severe altitude problems while on the mountain.
Insomnia: Halcion** 15mg tablets. In high altitude mountaineering restlessness is not uncommon and sleep is very important. Halcion is a light sleeping pill, we do not recommend using any sleeping pills above 15,000 feet. We have also found Melatonin to be very helpful for jet lag.
High Altitude Sickness: Diamox (acetazolamide) 250mg tablets to be taken twice a day from 13,000 feet to the top. This drug is widely used in high altitude mountaineering and is highly recommended.
