WHAT TO CARRY WHEN HIKING KILIMANJARO NATIONAL PARK
Mount Kilimanjaro doesn’t experience wide temperature changes from season to season due to it’s proximately to the equator, instead the temperatures on Mount Kilimanjaro are determined more do by the altitude and what time of day it is. Therefore every climber/hiker is expected to be prepared before climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with the following.
Thermal Shirts
This is the first base layer that will help with your sweat out to be insulted by the second layer of your clothes when hiking Kilimanjaro. It is also great to wear in a tent at night.
Fleece Jacket
This is the second layer that you can wear on top of the thermal shirt. The fleece jacket will act as insulted to help maintain your body heat and keep you warm while you are hiking as well as when you are in a mountain hut.
Down Jacket
A down jacket is extremely important for the summit night as you will be going against extreme mountain wind, deep cold and even snow in subzero temperature.
A down jacket can be your third layer while you put the outer shell jacket on top or vice versa as long as it keeps you warm and mobile since you are going to have to hike it in for 8 hours on summit night.
Thermal Long Pants
You are going to need this for summit day as you will be hiking in subzero temperature for 6 hours before sunrise. It is also great for when it is extra cold in the tent at night. For women, leggings are perfect for this as you can wear them while hiking as well.
Hiking Pants
The pants you hike in have to be breathable, lightweight and easy for you to move around in so proper hiking pants are recommended. You can just pack one of these pants to keep your pack light or add another just in case.
Waterproof Rain Pants
For something light and easy to put on, you can also bring another pair of lightweight waterproof rain pants just in case so you can keep it in your day pack at all times and you can quickly put it on when it starts pouring without having to get your hard shell trousers from your large backup.
Hiking Shoes
Depending on how experienced you are in hiking on high-altitude Mountains for multiple days on end, you can choose to wear something as simple a slow-cut hiking shoes or go for a more comfortable, high-ankle pair of hiking boots for Kilimanjaro.
Sandals
Trust me, the last thing you would want to do after a long day hiking in boots is to have to put it on every time you want to go to the toilet while camping in a tent at night on Kilimanjaro so be sure to pack sandals with you as well.
Wool Socks
When it is cold outside, your body heat will often escape from your peripherals first and the best material to prevent that from happening is wool. To keep your feet warm while from hiking, I highly recommend you pack some wool socks to wear outside when you are hiking.
Wool Gloves
Again, to keep your hands warm get wool gloves to prevent the heat from escaping from your peripherals while hiking when it’s cold outside or at night in a tent.
Wool Beanie
Your ears are also one of the places on your body that will easily get cold so be sure to pack a wool beanie to warm your ears and protect them against strong winds while hiking.
Neck Gaiter
A wool scarf is also recommended to help maintain your body heat in cold weather. With long pants, a wool beanie, socks and gloves the only area left where your body heat can escape is through your neck so get a wool scarf and wear them when it’s cold outside.
A large Backpack
This is where you will keep everything you do need during the hike but you might need when you’re camping. Your porters will be carrying this bag so make sure it is picked well and not too heavy.
Snack Bars
Snack bars are delicious, nutritious, and cheap; they are great for when you want to quickly replenish your energy while hiking.
First-Aid Kit
Bandages, painkillers, disinfectant wipes (the next best thing from showers), and tiger balm are always in the first-aid kit that I have with me when I go on a hiking trip. If you have personal medication, be sure to pack those too