Kilimanjaro Gear List

Kilimanjaro Gear List

What you pack for your Kilimanjaro climb is vitally important to your health and the success of your trek. We've put together a comprehensive list of what to pack, and why. Please use this as a checklist in planning and packing for your Kili adventure.

Now that you've made the decision to climb the highest peak in Africa, it's time to prepare. We know that planning a Kilimanjaro packing list can seem a daunting task, so we've made it as easy as possible for you by putting together an extensive packing guide that you can follow! If you pack everything in our list, you can rest assured you'll be fine on your Kilimanjaro trek.

What do you need to climb Kilimanjaro?

Climbing Kilimanjaro is like hiking from the Equator to the North Pole in a matter of days, as you start the trek walking in a hot and humid rainforest and quickly ascend to a world of ice and glaciers. This means you need to pack hiking gear for all weather! We've put together a comprehensive Kilimanjaro packing list to help you with your Kilimanjaro preparation.

What's provided by African Scenic Safaris USA?

Ultimately, we want to keep you warm, safe and healthy! In fact, we feel so strongly about this that we included the following equipment in all of our Kilimanjaro packages at no extra cost:

Tents. We provide clients with high-quality, four-season mountain tents. Each tent sleeps two people, so please note that you'll be sharing your tent with one other. We also supply a toilet tent.

We also provide clients with the following items, but please note the rental fees attached to each:

Sleeping bag. You need a bag that can handle very cold conditions with a rental. We provide The North Face with four-season sleeping bags suitable for at least -20° C (-4° F).

A sleeping mat. We provide you with a padded mat with a rental that provides further insulation as well as a comfy sleeping spot.

Down jacket. We supply high-quality down jackets that can withstand temperatures up to -20° C (-4° F). These can be rented from African Scenic Safaris USA at $40 per jacket. We highly recommend these!

Trekking poles. We can rent you high-quality, collapsible trekking poles for $15.

We recommend you use our equipment for the above items as they adhere to our Kilimanjaro safety guidelines. You are, however, of course, free to bring your own if you prefer. If you would like to bring your own, be sure to add them to your Kilimanjaro packing list.

Carrying equipment

You need to bring the following carrying equipment to Kilimanjaro:

1. 1 daypack (between 35 and 45 liters)
2. 1 daypack rain cover
3. 1 duffel bag (between 65 and 100 liters)
4. 1 water bladder
5. 1+ water bottle

Footwear

1. You should pack the following footwear for Kilimanjaro:
2. Hiking boots
3. Gym shoes or sneakers
4. Gaiters (optional)
5. Inner layers

We recommend you pack the following inner layers:

1. 2+ base layers
2. 1 summit base layer
3. 1 middle layer
4. 3+ sports underwear
5. 2 thermal underwear
6. 2+ pairs of hiking socks
7. 1 pair summit socks
8. 1+ pair of sock liners (optional)

Down jacket

1. Waterproof jacket and trousers
2. Windbreaker
3. Hiking trousers
4. Down jacket

Accessories

Some important accessories to pack are as follows:

1. Sunhat
2. Warm hat (beanie)
3. Balaclava
4. Head torch and batteries
5. Gloves or mittens
6. Sunglasses

Technology

Some of the tech gear to consider packing is as follows:

1. Head torch and extra batteries
2. Camera
3. Cellphone
4. Powerbank
5. Binoculars

Practical items

To travel to Tanzania you also need the following:

1. Passport
2. Visa
3. Vaccinations

Additional items

We have a handful of suggestions of other bits and bobs you may want to add to your Kilimanjaro packing list. These aren't essential but can make your climb even more enjoyable.

1. Favorite snacks
2. Flavor Packets
3. Playing cards or other games
4. Book or e-reader
5. Journal and pen

Top Kilimanjaro packing tips

1. Keep important gear with you during flights when travelling by air, we recommend that you either wear your important trekking gear or carry it in your cabin bag. This way your Kilimanjaro climb isn't derailed if your check-in luggage gets lots or stolen. The main items we have in mind are your hiking boots, jacket, and any medication.
2. Have a pen and cash to hand save yourself some time at the airport by having a pen handy to fill out the visa form. Also have US dollars for your visa fee. Don't crinkle or fold the money.

Note that ATMs can only be found after immigration