Kilimanjaro Equipment List

Equipment list prepared by summit Savannah

It is cold on Mount Kilimanjaro, especially at night or on the summit night. During the day the weather is manageable, but as soon as the sun goes down, the temperature drops very quickly. This list will help you bring the right equipment that will be useful on the mountain. Summit night will not be easy without the right equipment; it is cold and the lack of enough oxygen in our bodies makes us feel even colder. Therefore, it is important to be prepared for this kind of weather.

List of equipment:

• Hiking boots – they must be waterproof, mid-height, and cover your ankles. We recommend wearing oversized boots, good size to accommodate thick socks.
• Socks – six pairs of heavy socks and four pairs of liners (e.g. Smartwool).
• Gaiters – they must be waterproof.
• Running shoes – for wearing around the camp.
• Hiking trousers – two pairs.
• Long thermal underwear – two pairs for bottoms and two pairs for tops.
• Skiing trousers or summit trousers – only one pair.
• Rain trousers – waterproof with side zips for easy removal without taking off your boots.
• T-shirt – four long-sleeved and two short-sleeved.
• Rain jacket – waterproof (e.g. Gortex). Fleeces – two thick fleeces.
• Down jacket/puffy jacket/warm jacket for summit night – should be big enough to layer over other clothes.
• Gloves – down mittens for summit gloves and rainproof liners.
• Sunglasses – glasses that cover around the eyes with side guards.
• Balaclava – one pair.
• Buff – one pair.
• Beanie hat – warm one pair.
• Wide-brimmed hat/sun hat – one pair.
• Headlamp – one pair (Petzl is a good brand).
• Sun cream.
• Walking poles.
• Camelback – one that carries two to three liters of water.
• Water bottle – two Nalgene bottles.
• Mattress – not needed, we provide the best.
• Sleeping bag – warm enough, liners included- we provide the sleeping bags- are very warm.
• Travel towel,
• wet wipes,
• soap,
• hand sanitizer,
• small medical kit,
• chapstick,
• pocket knife not necessary.
• microspikes (weather dependent),
• 30-40liter daypack,
• duffel bag,
• walking sticks,
• sun lotion,
• rain cover for daypack,
• rain poncho,
• power charger (power bank for phone), solar battery packs.

we highly recommend bringing an extra pee bottle so that you do not have to leave your tent during the night. On the women’s side, it is also good to bring a shewee that can help you use an extra pee bottle.