Equipment & Clothing
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, although some recommendations might be obvious to experienced mountain climbers.
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.
Camping Equipment Supplied By Zafs Included in Our Camping Treks
- A 3-man tent per two people
- Quality Thick Mattresses
- Dining tent including tables chairs and eating utensils
- Never lose your deposit
Rental Equipment
Having the right and quality gears and equipment is vital to successfully summit Kilimanjaro. We at ZAFS 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 below is a list of equipment available. 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.
- Trekking Poles/Hiking Sticks
- Sleeping Bags
Hiking Sticks can be of use to you starting from day one whether you require them or not. Sleeping bags must be packed in your main equipment bag.
Clothing to required for the hike
Headgear
- Warm beanie style hat – knitted or fleece
- Neck gaiter or scarf. It can get dusty and windy as you ascend and a scarf or balaclava comes in useful for keeping you comfortable.
- Sun hat – preferably wide-brimmed for protection
- Sunglasses – high UV protection
Upper Body
Gloves or mittens – heavyweight, insulated, preferably water-resistant
Poncho – must be packed in your daypack every day as rain is sometimes unexpected
- Thermal or fleece base layer (x1)
- Long sleeve shirt/t-shirt – light or medium weight, moisture-wicking (x 2)
- Short-sleeved shirt/t-shirt – lightweight, moisture-wicking (x2)
Fleece/hoodie (x1) - Insulated jacket – this will be useful to you from day one to wear around camp and to protect you from wind, rain, and low temperatures at night.
- Warm hooded jacket/summit jacket – This jacket is meant to protect you against wind and drizzly rain before you reach the summit camp. On most of the Kilimanjaro days, it would be your third layer, after thermal underwear and a fleece jacket.
- Inner gloves – lightweight, fleece or quick-drying fabric
Feet
- Trekking boots – mid weight with good ankle support
- Training shoe or similar – to wear around campDaily trekking socks – one new pair for each day and two extra layers for summit
- Thermal trekking socks for summit night (x1 pair)
Equimeeetn to bring
- Small Rucksack or Daypack to carry water and personal items. Should be comfortable enough for you to carry several hours a day. If it is not waterproof we suggest getting a rain cover.
- Waterproof duffle bag – max weight when full should be 15kg. This weight restriction includes your sleeping bag, whether you brought one with you or rented one from us. Your duffle will be carried by your porter.
- Sleeping bag (4 seasons or -20 Deg C) and compression sack
- Insulated sleeping mat (optional) – we provide a comfortable foam mattress but many people like the additional comfort and warmth of a Thermarest sleeping mat
- Trekking poles
- Water bottle or hydration bag – must be able to carry 3.0L of water. Wide-mouthed bottle (minimum 1.0L) is required for summit night
- Headlamp (plus extra batteries)
GEARS AND EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE TO RENT
- Warm hooded jacket/summit jacket
- Waterproof trousers/summit trousers
- Upper thermal
- Lower thermal
- Gloves
- Gaiters
- Headlamp (batteries not included)
- Waterbottles
- Hiking boots
- Balaclava/warm scarf
- Sleeping bag
- Poncho/raincoat
- Duffel bag
- Camelback
- Warm hat
- Thick socks
OTHER ACCESSORIES
- Sunscreen and lip balm – high SPF
- Toiletries, including wet wipes and hand sanitizer – please carry all rubbish back off the mountain
- Camera and spare batteries
- Personal medication and first aid kit
- Personal snacks and energy bars – dried fruit and nuts are also good sources of energy
- Glucose powder or tablets
- Towel for wiping hands and face each day
- Pee bottle, if you prefer not to leave the tent at night
- Drybag (only required if your main duffle bag is not waterproof)