What To Pack

Climbing Gear

Baggage

Day pack, for you to carry:

Large duffel bag or backpack, for porters to carry
Plastic bags for storage, including a small plastic (zip lock) bag to help prevent camera lens from fogging
Extra luggage can be stored for free at the hotel in Arusha we recommend you carry all valuables with you

Clothing

You will need clothes for hiking during the day, lounging in the evening and for sleeping
Layers are important as temperatures vary greatly
Your inner most layer should be made of wicking material (no cotton)
The next layer should be insulating and warm
Your top layer should be waterproof, but breathable
Shorts, for first and last day as temperatures are fairly warm on those days
Pants, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
T-shirts or short-sleeved shirts
Long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and for lounging in the evenings
Long underwear
Fleece pants
Fleece jacket/wool sweater
Down jacket or ski parka (for temperatures well below freezing plus wind)
Rain jacket (or poncho)
Rain pants
Sport bras, for women

Cold Weather Accessories

Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair that can be layered)
Wool or pile hat
Balaclava/neck gaiters
Hand and foot warmers (chemically activated)

Footwear

Be sure to break in your shoes before the hike
Trekking shoes for hiking during the day, preferably warm, waterproof, and light
Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
Gaiters
Hiking socks for warmer conditions
Wool socks for colder conditions
Sock liners to wick away moisture

Sleeping

Sleeping bag rated 0 degrees F (about -17 degrees Celsius) or colder is recommended
Sleeping tents are provided (included in tour price)
Foam sleeping pads are provided (included in tour price)
Therma-rest sleeping pads (you may bring your own in case you prefer this over foam pads)

Other Items

Water bottles and camelback (2 – 3)
Purchase 3 liters of bottled water before commencing the trek (your driver will stop at a supermarket in Arusha or Moshi)
Your guides will boil water for you along the route
Water on the mountain is fetched from the natural springs. The water is rich in minerals. We recommend bringing Gatorade or other drink mixes to help mask the taste
Water filter or iodine purification tablets
To prevent water from freezing on summit day, keep your water source inside your jacket
For those using camelbacks, blow air back into the bladder after each sip and drink often
Sun hat with brim
Sunglasses
Money (for tipping, personal items, souvenirs, etc. USD cash is preferred
Ski or trekking poles
Headlamp
Camera, memory cards, tripod
Video camera, memory cards
Bring extra sets of batteries for headlamp/flashlight and camera as cold weather shortens their life
Notebook, journal, pencil and pen
Pocket knife
Electricity adapter
Energy bars, hard candy, snacks and comfort foods
Playing cards, games, books, Frisbee, football, kite
Chocolate or pens for village children, mementos for guides, porters, and other climbers
Umbrella, particularly useful in the rainy season, can be purchased in the market for about
Sewing kit
Business cards
Alarm clock
Calculator (for currency conversion)

Toiletries

Documents

Yellow fever certificate
Medical insurance
Address book
Vaccination records
Airline tickets
Cash, travelers’ checks/checks, credit cards
Maps, guidebooks
Make copies of passport, TZ visa, airline tickets/schedule, and travelers check numbers
Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a separate place in your luggage

First Aid

Packing for your flight to Africa