Kilimanjaro Packing List: What to Bring, What to Leave Behind

What you bring on Kilimanjaro affects your summit chances. Gear that is too light leaves you dangerously cold on summit night; gear that is too heavy slows you down and exhausts your porters unnecessarily. This packing list is based on what our guides recommend — and have seen fail — on thousands of climbs since 2012.

Your porter carries up to 15 kg of shared equipment (tent, food, camp gear). You carry a day pack of 5–8 kg containing everything you need access to on the trail. Everything else goes in your duffel bag with the porters.

The Non-Negotiables

These items are essential for safety and summit success. Arrival without them is a serious problem.

Footwear

• Waterproof hiking boots — ankle-high or mid-high. Must be broken in (minimum 3 full hiking days before the climb). New boots are the most common preventable problem we see. Lace them with enough space to accommodate swollen feet at altitude.
• Gaiters — waterproof, covering ankle to mid-calf. Protects from mud in forest zones and scree on descent.
• Camp sandals or lightweight shoes — for wearing at camp. Your hiking boots will be wet and cold by day 2.
• Hiking socks — 3–4 pairs of merino wool or synthetic. Avoid cotton entirely. Liner socks inside hiking socks reduce blister risk significantly.

Clothing — Layering System

Temperature on Kilimanjaro ranges from 25C at the rainforest base to -20C on summit night. The layering system is the only way to manage this range.

• Base layer (2) — moisture-wicking long-sleeved top and leggings. Synthetic or merino. Avoid cotton — it stays wet and causes hypothermia.
• Mid-layer (1–2) — fleece jacket and/or down jacket rated to at least -10C. The down jacket is what keeps you alive on summit night. Do not under-invest here.
• Outer shell — waterproof jacket — fully waterproof and windproof (not just "water resistant"). Essential for the forest zone and for summit night wind. Bring both jacket and waterproof trousers.
• Softshell trousers — for hiking days. Not waterproof but breathable and warm.
• Warm hat — wool or fleece, covering ears. Brings one for sleeping and one for hiking.
• Balaclava — for summit night when temperature and wind combine.
• Gloves — bring two pairs: a thin liner glove for hiking days and a thick waterproof outer glove rated to -20C for summit night.
• Gaiters — already mentioned but worth repeating: essential for the scree and mud.
• Neck gaiter or buff — versatile for sun, cold, and dust.
• Short-sleeved shirts (2) — for warm lower sections (forest zone, days 1–2).

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag — rated to -15C or colder (comfort rating, not limit rating). This is the most commonly under-specified item. Rental is available in Moshi if you cannot bring one — ask us to arrange it.
• Sleeping bag liner — adds 5–10C of effective warmth and keeps your sleeping bag cleaner.

Trekking Equipment

• Trekking poles — strongly recommended. They reduce knee impact by 25–30% on descents. Collapsible for packing. Carbon or aluminium — aluminium is more robust for rocky terrain.
• Headlamp — summit night begins in darkness. Bring spare batteries and do not rely on your phone torch. Lithium batteries perform better in cold.
• Day pack — 20–30L, with hip belt to distribute load. Must fit all the items you carry on the trail. Rain cover included or purchased separately.
• Duffel bag — 70–90L for your porter bag. Must have a top-opening design (not a rucksack) for porter carry. A padlock for the zips is useful.
• Water bottles or hydration bladder — minimum 2–3L capacity. Hydration bladder tubes freeze on summit night — use hard-sided bottles and carry them inside your jacket close to your body.
• Water purification tablets or filter — as backup. We provide boiled and treated water at camp but purification tablets add a safety margin.

Health and Safety Items

• Sunscreen — SPF 50+. UV radiation increases significantly with altitude. Apply every 2 hours above 3,000m.
• Lip balm with SPF — lips are particularly vulnerable to UV and cold drying.
• Sunglasses — wraparound UV400 protection. Snow blindness is possible in open alpine zones.
• Personal first aid kit — blister treatment (moleskin, second skin), ibuprofen, paracetamol, antihistamine, diarrhoea medication (immodium), antiseptic wipes, and any personal prescriptions. Your guide carries a group kit but personal items matter.
• Diamox (acetazolamide) — if your doctor has prescribed it. See our altitude sickness guide for full details.
• Hand sanitiser — toilet facilities at camps range from basic to non-existent above Horombo. Sanitiser is essential between camps.
• Wet wipes — for cleaning up when shower facilities are unavailable (days 2–6 on most routes).
• Toilet paper — bring your own. Bring a small bag for used paper (leave no trace).

Nutrition and Hydration

We provide three cooked meals and hot drinks daily. However, having additional high-energy snacks available on the trail makes a meaningful difference, especially on summit night when appetite is suppressed by altitude.

• Energy bars and gels — 2–3 per day. Choose high-carbohydrate, easy to eat while walking.
• Nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate — 500g–1kg for the full climb. Calorie-dense and palatable at altitude.
• Electrolyte tablets or powder — add to water bottles. Altitude causes increased urination; electrolytes replace what you lose.
• Ginger sweets or tablets — effective for mild nausea at altitude. Not a cure, but useful.

Hygiene and Comfort

• Biodegradable soap and shampoo — for the camp shower option on Marangu (other routes have no shower facilities)
• Toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss
• Small towel — microfibre dries quickly
• Earplugs — camp sleeping can be disrupted by other groups and wind
• Eye mask — optional but helpful for the daylight sleeping hours before midnight summit push

Electronics

• Camera — phone camera is adequate but a dedicated camera with image stabilisation performs better at altitude. Bring a spare battery: cold depletes batteries fast.
• Power bank — 10,000–20,000mAh. There is no charging on the mountain above base camp. Keep it inside your sleeping bag at night to prevent cold-induced shutdown.
• Universal power adapter — Tanzania uses Type G (British) and Type D (Indian) sockets.
• Dry bags or waterproof cases — for electronics in the forest zone where rain is common.

Documents

• Passport — required for park gate registration.
• Printed booking confirmation — helpful but not mandatory if we have the reference number.
• Travel insurance policy document — with emergency contact numbers and your policy number. Medical evacuation from Kilimanjaro requires payment before assistance; insurance is not optional.
• Emergency contact information — written on paper, not just stored in your phone.

What Not to Bring

• Jeans or cotton trousers — cotton retains moisture, dries slowly, and is dangerous when wet and cold.
• Heavy technical climbing gear — Kilimanjaro does not require crampons, harnesses, or ice axes on any standard route.
• More than 3 days of casual reading material — weight adds up. Digital reading is efficient.
• More than two changes of hiking clothes — porters have weight limits. Pack essentials, not options.
• Bulky camera equipment — a tripod for the mountain is rarely practical; it is heavy and the summit conditions make stable tripod shots difficult.

Weight Guidance

Your duffel bag (carried by a porter) should not exceed 15 kg. Your day pack should weigh 6–8 kg when full. If you are over these limits, review your gear list item by item — almost every kit has things that can be left behind.