What To Pack For Your Mount Kilimanjaro Hike

Packing your Kilimanjaro kit is one of the most important steps on the way to a successful climb. We have compiled our packing guide in order for first-time climbers and experts to use as a reference.

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 these conditions.

Having the right and quality gears and equipment is vital to successfully summit Kilimanjaro. We at Lake Zone Climbers & Safaris go the extra mile to ensure you have the right gear and equipment before you start the hike. We have added an option to rent ALL the gears and equipment on our itineraries here at the base of Kilimanjaro so you don’t have to spend any extra bucks to buy or rent them elsewhere. This allows you to travel light and hassle-free.

Our local chartered flights to Zanzibar for clients who require a beach holiday as an extension after having the hiking Kilimanjaro have a maximum luggage allowance of 15kg only. It is more pocket-friendly to hire from us than to buy new equipment or luggage weight may not allow you to bring all that you need. We have a wide variety of quality gears and equipment for you to try on and choose from based on your comfort and what you prefer.

If you’ve decided to add the rent gear, then just let our team know what you’d like to hire so we can arrange for you to try them on at your Pre-Climb Briefing. Alternatively, every single gear and equipment can also be hired on an individual basis.

PACKING LIST

Technical Clothing

Upper 

1 x Waterproof jacket, breathable with hood.

1 x Very Warm insulated jacket, synthetic or down (this can be rented locally if required for $18).

1 x Warm jacket, fleece, soft-shell or down.

1 x Light fleece or gilet.

2 x Long sleeve base layer t-shirt, moisture-wicking fabric. Upper thermals. 

3 x Short sleeve t-shirt, moisture-wicking fabric.

Lower 

1 x Ski pants / Summit pants 

2 x Hiking trousers.

1 x Shorts (optional).

2 x Long leg base layers, moisture-wicking fabric. Lower thermals. 

5 x Underwear, moisture-wicking fabric.

2 x Sports bra (as required).

Headwear

1 x Brimmed or peaked hat, for sun protection.

1 x Warm hat.

1 x Balaclava or wind buffer. 

Handwear

1 x Very warm gloves or mitts / Summit gloves (waterproof recommended). These should be able to fit over the light gloves below.

1 x Gloves, light fleece or trekking gloves. Liner gloves.

Footwear

1 x Hiking boots or shoes, warm, waterproof (make sure boots are well-fitted and are ‘worn-in’ to prevent blisters).

 4 x Trekking socks, wool or synthetic.

1 x Thick Merino wool very warm trekking socks or ski socks for the summit day. These could also be layered over the above for extra warmth.

Accessories

1 x Sunglasses or goggles with UV protection.

1 x Backpack cover, waterproof (optional)

2 x Water Bottles (e.g. Nalgene style – 1 to 2 litres) or 1 water bottle plus 1 x ‘Camelbak’ hydration bladder (3 litres) 

1 x Pee bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night (optional but recommended)

1-3 x large plastic trash bags to keep gear dry and separate.

Equipment

1 x Sleeping bag, warm, four seasons/comfort rating of – 12C°C 

1 x Cotton sleeping bag liner (optional but recommended for those renting sleeping bags or for extra warmth).

1 x Trekking poles, collapsible (highly recommended) 

1 x Head torch, with extra batteries.

1 x Large backpack or duffel bag, 70L-90L, for porters to carry your equipment. Max. 15kg. 

1 x Daypack, 35 – 40L, for you to carry your personal gear.

Other

Basic toiletries.

Prescriptions.

Sunscreen – factor 50+ is required due to the extremely high UV strength on the mountain.

Small bottle of moisturiser

Lip balm with UV protection.

4 x pairs of ‘hand warmers’ for summit day and cold nights. 

3 x pair of foot/toe warmers for summit day and cold nights. 

Ear plugs and eye mask for camp.

Personal first aid kit, including blister plasters, paracetamol, ibuprofen and rehydration treatment.

Hand sanitizer.

Wet wipes (recommended).

Small face towel. 

Hot water bag (recommended). 

Personal snacks, lightweight, high calorie (optional, but consider 1 or 2 bars/small snacks per day). We recommend bringing a variety of snacks.

Electrolytes, powder or tablets (optional).

Camera (optional).

Portable charger (optional).

Book, card game or similar (optional)

Paperwork

US Dollars for tipping the local crew at the end of the trek. $125 – $250 USD per trekker is recommended

Passport.

Visa.

Personal travel insurance documents.

"Also we hiring all kinds of mountain gears"