Please regard these lists as a guideline for what you might wish to pack for your visit to Tanzania.
- General
- Mountain
- Camping
Footwear
- Sturdy, comfortable shoes, preferrably waterproof. They will get dirty.
- Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
- Comfortable, breathable socks
Clothing
- Shorts, mid-thigh or longer
- Lightweight, breathable pants
- Short-sleeved shirts, cool and breathable
- Long-sleeved shirt or sweater for evenings
- Rain racket and pants or rain poncho
- Swimwear
Baggage
- Day pack, for you to carry
Other
- Water bottles, and water purification tablets or purifier
- Bottled water is also available for purchase on safari
- Sun hat with brim
- Sunglasses
- Bandana (for dust, etc.)
- Money ($400 or more in cash, including some small U.S., Euro, or Tanzanian bills)
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Camera, film/disks, mini-tripod
- Video camera, tapes
- Maps, guidebooks
- Batteries
- Binoculars
- Notebook, pencil, and pen
- Pocket knife
- Electricity adapter (Tanzania uses UK-style 3-pin sockets, 240V AC)
- Energy bars, hard candy, snacks, and comfort foods
- Playing cards, games, books, frisbee, football, kite
- Chocolate or pens for village children, momentos for guides and other travellers
- Umbrella, particularly useful in the rainy season, can be purchased in the market for around $2
- Plastic bags and zip-lock bags for waterproofing
- Sewing kit
- Business cards
Toiletries
- Toilet paper (and baggie to carry used paper while walking)
- Small towel
- Soap
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Handi-wipes (moist towelettes for cleaning)
- Hand sanitizer
- Lotion
- Glasses, contacts, solution
- Comb, mirror
Documents
- Passport
- Yellow fever certificate (see the Visas page for more information)
- Tanzania Visa (see the Visas page for more information)
- Medical insurance
- Vaccination records
- Airline tickets
- Cash, credit cards
- Maps, guidebooks
- Make copies of passport, TZ visa, airline tickets/schedule.
Leave a copy with someone at home and put a copy in a separate place in your luggage.
First Aid
- Ibuprofen, Paracetamol/Aceteminophen, or Aspirin
- Throat lozenges
- Bandaids/Plasters
- Sunscreen (SPF 15+)
- Lip balm with sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Disinfectant, Antiseptic cream
- Bandages and tape
- Diahrea medicine
- Antihistamines
- Melatonin (1-3mg) or other sleep aid
- Malaria pills (talk to your doctor)
- Antibiotics (talk to your doctor)
- Prescription drugs (talk to your doctor)
Gifts for Guides, Locals
- Shoes
- Any warm clothing
- T-shirts
- Hats
- Nerf football, frisbees
- Candy
- Pens
Packing for your flight to Tanzania
- U-shaped neck pillow (blow-up)
- Books/magazines
- Toiletries
- Snacks
- Choice of music
- Eye shades, ear plugs
- Melatonin or other sleep aid
- Critical items (in case baggage is delayed)
If you will be trekking on the mountain, there are specific items that you may wish to consider in addition to the General packing list.
You will usually carry a small number of items in your day pack, but a porter will carry the rest of your equipment. The pack that the porters carry is limited to 15 kg (35 pounds). If you need more than this, you will need to get an extra porter at $5/day.
Baggage
- Day pack, for you to carry
- Large duffel bag or backpack, for porters to carry
- Plastic bags
Clothing
Kilimanjaro can get very cold, so you need suitable cold weather clothing.
You will need separate clothes for hiking in the day, for relaxing in the evening and for sleeping. Remember that clothes can get very wet on some trips.
Your inner layer of clothing should be designed for cold weather (not cotton). The next layer should be insulating and warm. The top layer should be waterproof but breathable.
- Shorts, for first and last day only
- Pants, for hiking and for relaxing in the evenings
- Short-sleeved or T-shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts, for hiking and for relaxing in the evenings
- Long underwear
- Fleece jacket or wool sweater
- Fleece pants
- Down jacket or ski parka (for temperatures well below freezing plus wind)
- Rain jacket, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
- Rain pants, needed in hot rainforest and cold snow
- Underwear
- Sport bras, for women
- Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair that can be layered)
- Wool or pile hat / balaclava
- Hand and foot warmers (chemically activated)
Footwear
- Boots / Trekking shoes for hiking during the day, preferably warm, waterproof, and with ankle-support – not too light and not too heavy. You are advised to wear these in before you travel. Some visitors even wear them on the flight!
- Tennis shoes or sandals for lounging in the evening
- Hiking socks for warmer conditions
- Wool socks for colder conditions
- Sock liners to wick away moisture
Sleeping
- Sleeping bag (Rated -25 degrees C/-10 degrees F or colder is recommended)
We will provide tents and foam sleeping mats.
Day packs
- Water bottles (We suggest carrying 2-3 litres. Start with full bottles – guides will provide boiled water for you during the trek or will sterilise water with tablets)
- Water purification tablets
- Sunglasses
- Sun hat with brim
- Camera
- Binoculars
- Ski or trekking poles
- Pocket knife
- Rain pants
- Rain jacket
- Add any other items you might need during the day, since you may not see your porters until the end of the day.
Back Pack
- Store electronics in sealed water-proof bags (double sealed if possible)
- Bring extra batteries as cold weather shortens battery life
- Wrap clothing in plastic bags
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping pad and repair kit
We will supply tents and foam sleeping pads at no extra cost.
