The Ultimate Guide to Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Gear List

• Sleeping Bag: The most common ones used are the three or four season sleeping bags. Make sure they are warm and if you can, get a thermal liner for your bag, preferably fleece. Note that these can be rented as well. Do check if your operator or agency is include a sleeping mat as well.
• Water Bottles: You will need to drink about 4 to 5 litres of water a day to combat and keep altitude sickness at bay. For this I recommend that you take at least two different bottles: A CamelBak and a Nalgene water-bottle. The CamelBaks are excellent as they require the minimum effort and interaction with your hands, something that you will definitely appreciate when your hands are freezing on the upper reaches of the mountain. They also encourage you to drink regularly. Their disadvantage is that the water in the hose tends to freeze on the upper reaches of the mountain, and you will need to employ tricks to avoid this. You can get just the reservoir and put that in your daypack, or buy the hydration pack .
  The Nalgene bottle is particularly useful as it can store boiling water without worrying about carcinogenicity. You will be given hot water at night. Put this in your Nalgene bottle and use it to warm your sleeping bag. The same water is used for drinking the next morning. Other advantages are that they have a wide mouth and can be filled up quickly – again useful when your hands are freezing. Also, since they have been a staple of hikers’ kits for years, there are many accessories, like water filters , that screw on directly onto your Nalgene bottle.
• Water Filter / Purifier tablets: Though many operators / agencies ensure that the water you drink is purified, it is essential that you are sure on this. You will be drinking about 4 litres of water a day.
• Sunglasses: This is an essential piece of equipment as the light on the upper reaches of Mt Kilimanjaro can be extremely bright, especially when there is snow around. Do not forget to carry these as snow blindness is a real danger.
• Head Torch: Prefer a head torch over a traditional hand held torch. They are especially advantageous on the climb up Mt Kilimanjaro because they leave your hands free. You can fully appreciate their usefulness when you are in your tent and need to move things around or take out clothes and on your summit attempt as you leave around midnight.
• Sunscreen: Once you cross the cloud cover, the sunlight gets pretty intense. Make sure that you carry a sunscreen with a high SPF. I recommend an SPF 40 sunscreen .
• Rucksack and Daypack: Loads on the trail are distributed in two bags. Most of your gear will go into your rucksack. This is usually carried by the porters on their head inside a gunny bag or a sack which protects it from rain and dirt. This usually holds all your equipment that you will not be needing on the trail.
  Your daypack, on the other hand, is what you will be taking on the hike with you. Make sure it has everything that you need on the climb up Kilimanjaro, but yet isn’t heavy. My daypack consists of the following things:
  • Water
  • Medical Kit and Water Purifier
  • Toilet Paper
  • Camera
  • Spare batteries
  • Spare Cap
  • Sunscreen
  • Food (prepared by the cook)
  • and Snacks (self) – energy bars, chocolate, lemon sweets (I find tangy, citrusy sweets help me with altitude)
  • Tape

It also contains anything that I’m not using immediately, but I need during the day. These include hiking poles, raincoat, iPod, sunglasses, towel (especially when drying it on the outside of the backpack with some clips), a trowel – for burying excrement and keeping the trail clean, a pillowcase, a whistle and any one of the layered clothing like jackets that I am not currently wearing. I also keep my iPhone in my backpack.

It is important to have the right clothes. Without them you will be exceedingly uncomfortable and may result in you not being able to summit. Layering is important.

• Trekking Boots: Spend money here. It is of essence to make sure that they fit you well. You should have enough room to wear these with two pairs of socks, as it is quite probable that you will be wearing an extra pair of thick socks on the final ascent up Mt Kilimanjaro. Make sure that they have ankle support as you don’t want to have a twisted ankle halfway through your trek. Wear your boots enough and break them in before you depart for Tanzania. Also, wear them on the flight and save some of your weight quota on the flight.
• Jackets
  • Down Jacket – This is the best piece of clothing for staying warm when hiking. An added advantage of a down jacket on Mt Kilimanjaro is that it is light and packs compactly. Do make sure you buy one that will go over all your other clothes. You may even end up buying one a size bigger than you otherwise would have.
  • Waterproof Jacket – Essential if you are planning on hiking Kilimanjaro when there is probability of rain. This jacket ensures that you will not be freezing because of the light rainfall on your final summit push. As with the Down jacket, make sure it goes over everything else that you will wear.
• Socks – I recommend a couple of pairs of thick hiking socks (an extra pair in case one gets wet) and a pair of regular ones. You can also take a thin pair and a thick pair. Sock liners are really useful as they allow you to extend one pair of socks to two without adding much weight.
• Thermal Underwear
• Trousers
  • Trekking trousers – It is important that you do not take jeans. They are uncomfortable while trekking and take forever to dry if they get wet.
  • Waterproof Trousers – In case it rains.
• T-Shirts – Take a few depending on the number of days you are trekking
• Hats – Sunhat and Warm thermal hat
• Gloves – I have found two gloves to be the ideal. Keep a thin but thermal pair . Useful as they’ll let you more use your walking sticks and camera without having to take them off. Also, take a thicker pair for the freezing summit night.
• Rain coat / Poncho: can be purchased in Arusha or Moshi as well. There are cheap variations available and should be sufficient for the trek. Test them out and ensure that they fit over all your clothes and your backpack.
• Shorts – For the initial part of the trek.
• Bandana: Or a large handkerchief is very useful for keeping the sun off your neck, as a makeshift dust mask, and an additional layer for your head and ears on the final summit attempt.

• Diamox – a brand name for Acetazolamide. Dexamethasone is also an alternative.  Some research is being done to study the effectiveness of Ibuprofen as well. The research is positive, but generally points to relieving symptoms rather than the underlying cause.
• Antimalarials – Malarone – though some suggest it interferes with Diamox. (As read in One Step at a Time) As mentioned earlier, taking antimalarials is to combat the chances of contracting malaria before and after your climb, rather than during
• Aspirin – Always helpful to have, though if you are experiencing headaches at higher altitude, it’ either your body reacting to the lower oxygen content, or a slight side effect of your altitude medication
• Paracetamol – A general painkiller. Do consult your doctor about the appropriate dosage at altitude
• Chapstick / Vaseline – The air on the higher altitudes is dry and the high winds suck the moisture out of your lips. A highly highly recommended part of your kit
• Sterilized Needles – in case you require a shot in Tanzania, insist on your own needles!
• Plasters / Band-aids
• Antiseptic Cream / ointment – for minor cuts, nicks and bruises. I usually take Boroline and a bottle of Old Spice.
• Instant Ice Packs – the squeeze and cool variant
• Lens Fluid – If you wear contact lenses
• Lozenges – the dry air causes minor irritations in your throat. These prevent it from getting worse.
• Water flavour powder / electrolytes – Since you’ll be drinking about three to four litres of water, it is essential to replace your electrolytes. Carry a few to be on the safer side.

• Trekking Poles – can be rented, extremely useful on the descent. Prefer the telescopic variant
• Earplugs – some camps are noisy and they will be especially useful then
• Gaiters – can be rented
• Sandals
• Camera Equipment
• Batteries
• Shoelaces / String
• Clothes Pegs
• Penknife
• Tape
• Water Purifiers

Mt Kilimanjaro is Big. If fact, it is so big, that it changes the climate around itself and has it’s own weather  system. Mt Kilimanjaro, in terms of weather, is a huge huge obstruction to the trade winds that bring along with it, precipitation. When moisture laden winds encounter an obstruction, there are two ways they can go – around the obstruction or over it. It is usually a combination of both. Mt Kilimanjaro, however, is so big that it forces these winds to go higher, which results in them cooling. These form the basis of rain or snow on and around the mountain. These patterns are studied in detail by scientists and, interestingly, paragliders.

Mount Kilimanjaro has it’s own mini climate. Seen during the trek to the summit

Due to the location and topography of Tanzania, the seasonal trade winds that collide with the mountain follow the following pattern:

• End March to May – The South-East trade winds that travel long distances over the Indian Ocean. These collide with Mt. Kilimanjaro, their first major obstacle, and result in heavy rains on the southern side of the mountain.This leads to the season known as the Long Rains, which is the main rainy season on Kilimanjaro. An interesting consequence of this is the lush forest cover found on the southern slopes
• May to October  – Dry winds from the north-east hit the mountain during these months. They effectively ensure that the weather is dry (yet cold) as they are strong winds.
• November to December – The same winds from the north-east, which have already lost much moisture traveling over the African landmass, result in the Short Rains. The rains are usually concentrated on the Northern end of Kilimanjaro. These are are much less intense, as is reflected by the comparison of vegetation on the northern and southern sides of Mt Kili.
• January and February – As the winds recede, the rains gradually withdraw and this leads to a second, dry period during these months.

These are the general conditions that lead to the weather conditions on Kilimanjaro, but in reality, the weather here is quite unpredictable. You may find weeks in April, where it doesn’t rain. Or a lowering of pressure may force the cloud cover higher, resulting in rains (or snowfall) on the upper reaches of the mountain.

This forms a small, but important, part of the weather ecosystem of the region. For more information on broader rain patterns and how they will influence your climb.

At 5895 m, celebrating a successful ascent to the Uhuru Peak

The highest point on Mt Kilimanjaro is Uhuru peak. It has an official height of 5895m and this is prominently displayed in all the marketing materials and on top of Uhuru itself. There is some debate on the actual height, as this figure comes from the British Ordnance Survey in the 1950s. The Official German figures before 1950 put the height at 5892m.

Surveys conducted by the Karlsruhe Institute along with UCLAS in Arusha using GPS techniques puts the height at 5892.5 m. This study was conducted in 1999 and subsequent studies in 2008 have put it at an even lower figure of 5890.8 m.

The peak of Kilimanjaro used to be even higher due to the large quantities of ice and snow, but the current official estimated put it at 5895 m, about 4m higher than what the latest studies show.

Because of the thousands (between 30 and 50 thousand) of people who attempt climbing Mt Kilimanjaro every year, it is assumed that Mt Kili is a safe mountain. This isn’t helped by those attempting to climb the mountain in a unique fashion, whether it’s cycling, skiing down, or even walking backwards! These feats are extraordinary and should be respected as such, but this in no way should make you assume that climbing Mt Kilimanjaro is easy. It is not.

The main villain on Kilimanjaro is the Altitude, and his henchman is the Cold. KINAPA, which is the official Kilimanjaro National Park Authority, claims that one in four people fail to reach the summit and have to turn back due to AMS. One in Four. About a thousand people have to be evacuated every year.

Unofficial figures put the death toll on Kilimanjaro at approximately 10 people per annum. There are other reports that claim upto 30 deaths on the slopes of Kilimanjaro every year. Till official figures are released, there is no way of pinpointing exactly how many deaths on Kilimanjaro occur every year.

Almost all of these, with the exception of freak accidents, are related to AMS and Altitude Sickness. Porters comprise of the majority of those who die on the slopes of Kilimanjaro every year. This is attributed to the altitude, the cold and the lack of proper clothing that is available to these poor folk.

The authorities do make attempts to reduce casualties. Guides are now expected to be trained in reacting to anyone showing signs of AMS. They take this seriously and with thousands of people vying for the honour of being a lead guide, the spots go to the ones who demonstrate the maximum proficiency in their profession. Trekkers are registered every evening when they reach the campsite and the better agencies even monitor their health.

A part of the park fees comprises of a $20 component labelled Rescue Fees. This small fee helps them maintain a bare minimum of infrastructure, including stretchers, oxygen tanks and medical kits, which is utilized in escorting down those unable to make it to the summit. Helicopter evacuation is still not possible at all locations on the mountain. There are just three points – Shira, Barranco and Horombo, where evacuation by chopper is possible on Kilimanjaro and all of these are about five hours from the summit by stretcher.

Altitude and AMS

Altitude sickness is the most common problem, and something you are sure to encounter to some degree or another when climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. Altitude sickness is experienced when your body fails to adapt to the thinner air on higher altitudes. Do know that everyone, unless they’ve acclimatized immediately before climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, will experience the symptoms of altitude sickness!

Almost all of the trekkers who are evacuated down the mountain do so because they are suffering from AMS. AMS stands for Acute Mountain Sickness and is the formal name for altitude sickness. AMS is your body failing to adapt in time to account for the thinness of air. Since the air is thinner (by over 50% at the top of Mt Kilimanjaro), it requires more breaths to fill your lungs with oxygen. If the air is 50% thinner, you will need twice as many breaths! This is what happens when people experience irregular breathing due to AMS. Your body, having failed to adapt, tries a second method of breathing faster to get more oxygen to your vital organs – your brain, your heart, your muscles. When your vital organs don’t get enough oxygen, they malfunction.

This is why your guides and porters will call out “Pole, Pole” with regularity, in an effort to stop you from gaining altitude too fast. When your body detects that you are gaining altitude, it will initiate some changes. You will start to breathe faster and deeper, your body will produce more red blood cells, as these carry oxygen from your lungs to your heart, thus leading to thickening of your blood. Since these physiological changes take time, it is best to give your body fair warning. Thus, the mountaineers’ age old adage of climbing high and sleeping low. This simply alerts your body that there is a lack of air pressure, and hence lesser oxygen, and give it enough time to produce more red blood cells. This is also why we recommend our readers to take, at least six, and ideally eight days for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

AMS is usually classified into three categories, depending on the severity. Mild, moderate or severe. Most trekkers will experience some form of mild or moderate AMS. For these, the solution is to take care and ascend very slowly. Diamox helps. This is also why you are recommended to drink almost four litres of water. Daily. Mild AMS feels like a bad hangover. Headache, nausea, a bad mood and lack of appetite are common symptoms. Moderate AMS is more serious. Those suffering from moderate AMS will be constantly out of breath, may throw up and the headache is splitting and will not abate.

If anyone is suffering from severe AMS, DESCEND IMMEDIATELY. Besides those mentioned above,  symptoms include slurred speech, sleepiness, confusion and coordination problems. One of the ways this is treated is the Gamow Hyperbaric Bag (which increases the pressure inside and thus mimics the pressure at lower altitude), but descending is the best option.

Preventive measures that can be taken to avoid AMS are diamox pills or Oxygen Systems like ALTOX.

KPAP is a nonprofit organization, that assists porters of the climbing companies that voluntarily collaborate with their Partner for Responsible Travel Program. To understand the reason why they exist or what they are trying to achieve, it is essential to know about the Porters of Kilimanjaro and their lives.

KPAP helps porters by providing them with proper clothes for their trek.

In short, the porters on Kilimanjaro, will do the same trek as you, but carrying your luggage, without proper clothes or shoes, eating one meal a day and sleeping ten people to a tent meant for four. They negotiate the extremely tough terrain on Mt Kilimanjaro, regularly, but have no access to even the basic necessities of life. Furthermore, since there are way more porters looking for jobs, than trekkers looking for porters, they end up with the short end of the stick, not even getting a fair wage for their efforts. KPAP is an offshoot of IMEC (International Mountain Explorers Connection) that looks after porters welfare and fights for their rights in other such tourist spots around the world. Some of the information I have received here, is courtesy of Ms. Karen Valenti, who runs KPAP from Moshi. Other information is from their website and other sources on the web.

The main aim of KPAP is to improve the working conditions of Porters on Mt Kilimanjaro. They have four major ways in which they achieve this. (the following points are derived from the project details in their manifesto):

• Clothing Lending Program: Many porters are poorly outfitted for the physical rigors of climbing and can suffer due to inadequate protection from the extreme weather found on the mountain. KPAP provides mountain climbing clothing, donated to the organization, at no cost to the mountain crew.
  All mountain crew – guides, assistant guides, cooks and porters – working with all tour companies are welcome to borrow KPAP’s kit for use during a climb. Individuals are required to leave an item of value or letter of reference as a deposit, which can be retrieved once the washed clothing is returned.
  This is something I really liked. They allow anyone, regardless of which company they work for, to utilize their clothing on the mountain. In 2015 they lent clothing for 3,523 climbs, which goes to show just how much their services are required and how dire the circumstances of the porters on the mountain are.
• Porter Education Classes: KPAP’s educational curriculum includes classes in English, HIV/AIDS Awareness, Money Management, certification in First Aid, and instruction in Porters Rights through a grant from the Foundation for Civil Society.
  The Conversational English classes allow porters to learn simple communication skills and advance to higher positions within the climbing company, thus offering advancement and taking them out of the cycle of poverty.
  KPAP also teams up with local HIV/AIDS outreach organizations in an effort to supply porters with the awareness and knowledge required to prevent the spread of AIDS.
  What I found interesting was that Guides and Porters have been trained as First Aid Instructors and Beginner English Teachers, thus beginning a community of awareness and spreading knowledge. These same Instructors now help to teach KPAP’s classes to other porters and crew.
• Public Education: According to KPAP, the public education component of their program has been instrumental in bringing about improvements in the working conditions. Climbers are provided with fundamental information important in choosing a socially responsible climbing company. The major points they discuss and advocate for are:
  • Wages – Porters should be paid the last formally agreed upon 15,000 Tanzanian Shillings (equivalent to US $10) a day, regardless of the routes traversed.
  • Maximum Load – The loads carried by the porters should not exceed 20 kg. They advocate that the porter carries 20 kg for the company and their own gear in addition to this.
  • The Porters should be outfitted with proper clothing and equipment and should have proper shelter and sleeping equipment.
  • Porters should be given access to adequate water and at least two meals a day when climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro.
  • An ailing porter should receive the same treatment as provided for a sick climber.
• Partner for Responsible Travel Program – This is KPAPs program that monitors climbing companies to ensure that the minimum guidelines for the treatment of porters is being met and fair and ethical standards are established.