Climbing Packing List

Packing list for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Clothing
• Shorts
• Hiking trousers (2)
• Warm trousers (1)
• T-shirts
• Thermal bottoms – protects outer layers from moisture (at least 3)
• Thermal tops – protects outer layers from moisture (at least 3)
• Fleece jackets – worn on top of thermal top for more warmth and wind protection (1)
• Fleece trousers – worn on top of thermal top for more warmth and wind protection (1)
• Wind and waterproof jacket (1)
• Down jacket (1)
• Rain jacket (1)
• Rain trousers – Insulation layer (1)
• Warm hat – protection from the cold (1)
• Gloves – protection from the cold (1 pair)
• Glove liners – protection from the cold (1 pair)
• Balaclava – protection from the cold on the summit (1)
• Warm socks (at least 2 pairs)
• Light weight socks (at least 4 pairs)
• Gaiters – protection from water and mud (1 pair)
• Scarf
• Poncho, big enough to cover daypack
• Cloth bags (eg drawstring gym bag), for separation and waterproofing of gear (note that plastic bags are banned in Tanzania)
• For women: Sports Bra (Preferably synthetic)

Footwear

• Sneakers – for travel and easy walking
• Hiking boots
• Sandals for base camp, they should be large enough for socks

Equipment list

• Day pack with waterproof cover
• Back pack
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner
• Trekking poles (1 pair)
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle/camelBak
• Head torch
• Thermos

Personals

• Soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, Q-tips, floss, hairbrush
• Toilet paper
• Wet wipes
• Ear plugs
• Nalgene bottle to pee; helps when you don’t want to leave your tent during the cold nights
• Towel – preferable microfiber as these dry faster
• For women: Tampons/sanitary towels
• For women: Feminine hygiene wipes
• For women: Panty liners can help keep underwear fresher longer

Personal food items

Note: we provide three meals a day prepared by your personal chef, so this is purely if you wish to have some extra snack while hiking.

• Granola bars
• Candy bars Healthy meal bars
• Fruit juice supplements
• Ginger cookies or tea bags; helps reduce Acute mountain sickness (AMS)

Medical Items

• Lip Balm or Chap sticks or Vaseline
• Water purification tablets
• Small personal first aid kit (should be simple and light); Aspirin, first aid tape, plasters (band aid)
• Anti-diarrhea tablets
• Skin blister repair kit (antiseptic cream)
• Acute mountain sickness (AMS) tablets such as Admil/Acetazolamide/Diamox – Diamox is highly recommended with minimum side effects, but be sure to try them before hand to be sure if there aren’t any allergic reactions.
• Analgesics; Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol etc.
• Cough and cold medicine
• Sore throat medicine such as strepsils
• Antibiotics for stomach infections (advice with your doctor)
• Elastic knee support especially for those with knee problems during steep gradients
• Malaria medicine
• Insect repellent with Diethyltoluamide (preferably 30%) can be worn both during the night and during the day for protection from yellow and dengue fever carrying mosquitoes.

Note: For contact lenses wearers, bring extra supplies. As there is a lot of dust, you might want to bring glasses as a back-up.

Extras

• Pocket Knife
• Cloth bags for keeping dirty or wet gear (note that plastic bags are banned in Tanzania)
• Large Ziploc bags for storing mobile phones, journals, medical certificates etc.
• Base camp entertainment such as playing cards, iPods etc.
• Camera – you will need to sleep with your camera during the night and place it in your jacket during the day.
• Extra cash in small bills preferably for small items, gratuities and for tipping as well.
• Cloth pegs so as you can hang your wet clothes behind your backpack for drying if you wish to do so.
• Matches
• Insulating tape also for repairs
• Watch preferably cheap and luminous for the summit trail
• Journal and pen
• Extra batteries and memory cards

Packing list for climbing Mount Meru

Clothing

• Shorts
• Hiking trousers (2)
• Warm trousers (1)
• T-shirts
• Thermal bottoms – protects outer layers from moisture (at least 3)
• Thermal tops – protects outer layers from moisture (at least 3)
• Fleece jackets – worn on top of thermal top for more warmth and wind protection (1)
• Fleece trousers – worn on top of thermal top for more warmth and wind protection (1)
• Wind and waterproof jacket (1)
• Down jacket (1)
• Rain jacket (1)
• Rain trousers – Insulation layer (1)
• Warm hat – protection from the cold (1)
• Gloves – protection from the cold (1 pair)
• Glove liners – protection from the cold (1 pair)
• Balaclava – protection from the cold on the summit (1)
• Warm socks (at least 2 pairs)
• Light weight socks (at least 4 pairs)
• Gaiters – protection from water and mud (1 pair)
• Scarf
• Poncho, big enough to cover daypack
• Cloth bags (eg a drawstring gym bag), for separation and waterproofing of gear (note that plastic bags are banned in Tanzania)
• For women: Sports Bra (Preferably synthetic)

Footwear

• Sneakers – for travel and easy walking
• Hiking boots
• Sandals for base camp, they should be large enough for socks

Equipment list

• Day pack with waterproof cover
• Back pack
• Sleeping bag
• Sleeping bag liner
• Trekking poles (1 pair)
• Sunglasses
• Water bottle /camel back
• Head torch
• Thermos

Personals

• Soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, Q-tips, floss, hairbrush
• Toilet paper
• Wet wipes
• Ear plugs
• Nalgene bottle to pee; helps when you don’t want to leave your tent during the cold nights
• Towel – preferable microfiber as these dry faster
• For women: Tampons/sanitary towels
• For women: Feminine hygiene wipes
• For women: Panty liners can help keep underwear fresher longer

Personal food items

Note: we provide three meals a day prepared by your personal chef, so this is purely if you wish to have some extra snack while hiking.

• Granola bars
• Candy bars Healthy meal bars
• Fruit juice supplements
• Ginger cookies or tea bags; helps reduce Acute mountain sickness (AMS)

Medical Items

• Lip Balm or Chap sticks or Vaseline
• Water purification tablets
• Small personal first aid kit (should be simple and light); Aspirin, first aid tape, plasters (band aid)
• Anti-diarrhea tablets
• Skin blister repair kit (antiseptic cream)
• Acute mountain sickness (AMS) tablets such as Admil/Acetazolamide/Diamox – Diamox is highly recommended with minimum side effects, but be sure to try them before hand to be sure if there aren’t any allergic reactions.
• Analgesics; Ibuprofen, Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol etc.
• Cough and cold medicine
• Sore throat medicine such as strepsils
• Antibiotics for stomach infections (advice with your doctor)
• Elastic knee support especially for those with knee problems during steep gradients
• Malaria medicine
• Insect repellent with Diethyltoluamide (preferably 30%) can be worn both during the night and during the day for protection from yellow and dengue fever carrying mosquitoes.

Note: For contact lenses wearers, bring extra supplies. As there is a lot of dust, you might want to bring glasses as a back-up.

Extras

• Pocket Knife
• Cloth bags for keeping dirty or wet gear (note that plastic bags are banned in Tanzania)
• Large Ziploc bags for storing mobile phones, journals, medical certificates etc.
• Base camp entertainment such as playing cards, iPods etc.
• Camera – you will need to sleep with your camera during the night and place it in your jacket during the day.
• Extra cash in small bills preferably for small items, gratuities and for tipping as well.
• Cloth pegs so as you can hang your wet clothes behind your backpack for drying if you wish to do so.
• Matches
• Insulating tape also for repairs
• Watch preferably cheap and luminous for the summit trail
• Journal and pen
• Extra batteries and memory cards