Packing for Kilimanjaro (and a post climb safari)

Packing for Kilimanjaro is no mean feat. You need enough stuff to span hot, humid temperatures all the way through to sub-zero, freeze your face off stuff, plus the possibility of a lot of rain. On top of this, you need to take a lot of miscellaneous stuff - what feels like a full medical cabinet and plenty of snacks. All of this adds to the weight. And the weight thing gets complicated. Your packing skills become a balance between how much things weigh versus their necessity.

So I have created this blog post and video to help you with your packing. I have done this before I have actually climbed Kilimanjaro, so there may be things I've packed that are completely superfluous and there may be other things I really should have more of. But this is my best guess as to what I will need. I hope you find it helpful. Let's start:

You need two bags: your backpack and your duffel bag. The porters will carry your duffel bag up the mountain for you and it mustn't weight more than 15kg. Your backpack will be your hand luggage for your flight/s, your duffel bag goes in the hold. If you are connecting from Nairobi Wilson Airport to Kilimanjaro Airport, you may be limited to just 15kg for all of your luggage combined for that flight. That is pretty tough going given how much stuff you need. In addition, you may have a third bag with spare clothes for the safari afterwards that you will leave behind at your hotel before you climb up. Weight for that needs to be factored in too. My stuff will be over the 15kg airline allowance by about 6kgs....

Some bag related considerations:

• Try to get a waterproof duffel bag. They weigh more but if the heavens open, your stuff will be better protected.
• Put your walking poles (if you're using them) in your hold luggage. Some airlines won't let you take them as carry on items.
• Put everything into dry bags or plastic bags within your duffel bag
• Some people pack items by day. As I don't honestly know what I will need each day as the weather isn't predictable and I've not been there, so I have grouped my items by their use (See the video)
• In your backpack (which is your hand luggage) keep your wet weather items and the clothes you will wear on day 1 (unless you're travelling in those already) so that should your hold bag go, missing, you have kit to wear. Same goes for wearing your boots on the plane - they don't add to your weight allowance and they can't get lost.

The video below (14 minutes long) explains what I am taking. 

I've probably got too many socks (but I'm paranoid about keeping my feet dry and warm and comfortable) and my big worry is whether I will be warm enough on summit night, but I've gone for many layers rather than one big coat as I typically get too hot when I walk. Beneath the video, I have created a packing list including what I intend to wear on summit night.

What I plan on wearing on summit night

• two pairs of merino wool socks (one thin, one thick), with feet warmers and my boots
• one or two pairs of thermal leggings depending on how cold it is, fleece lined trousers, waterproof trousers
• a base layer t-shirt, two merino wool long sleeve tops, a fleece, a fleece gilet, an insulated down jacket, a waterproof outer jacket
• two or three pairs of gloves depending on what is needed - plus hand warmers
• a fleece snood and fleece lined hat - plus my insulated jacket and waterproof jackets have hoods

What I have packed

Note that everything has been packed into dry bags in the following groups:

Sleep sack
I've put all of this into one bag so that when we arrive in camp, it's simple to set up my bed with everything I need for the night.

• Sleeping bag
• Inflatable sleep mat
• Inflatable pillow
• Unisex urinal (for middle of the night pees)
• Ear plugs and eye mask

Clothes sack

• 1 quick dry t-shirt
• 1 quick dry shorts
• 1 lightweight merino wool long sleeve hooded T-shirt
• 2 merino thermal leggings
• 2 merino thermal tops
• 1 fleece
• 1 fleece gilet
• 1 pair walking trousers
• 1 pair fleece-lined walking trousers
• travel towel

Underwear sack

• 2 sports bras
• 5 polyester knickers + 2 merino thermal knickers
• 10 pairs of socks (including liner socks, light/midweight and warm merino socks)

Hats & gloves sack

• 1 lightweight snood
• 1 fleece snood with lightweight fabric attached
• 1 lightweight summer cap
• 1 thick pair waterproof gloves
• 1 mid weight gloves
• 1 slim fit merino gloves

Washbag

• toothbrush and toothpaste
• dry shampoo & tiny hairbrush
• sponge, nailbrush and tiny nice smelling liquid soap 
• Deodorant
• Hand cream and face moisturiser
• Hand sanitiser
• Tissues, loo roll
• Wet wipes & feminine wipes
• Tampons, sanitary bags and panty liners

Medical bag

• Tummy meds: heartburn, diarrhea, constipation and rehydration meds, probiotics
• Pain relief: paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Anti-malarials
• Diamox for altitude sickness
• Piriton for allergy
• Creams: ibuprofen gel, insect bite relief, antiseptic cream
• Eye drops and nasal spray
• Chlorine tablets for water purification
• Ginseng for energy boost

Separate mini medical kit for daypack

• pain relievers
• plasters
• anti-chafe stick
• sunblock and SPF lip balm
• tissues
• diamox

In backpack

• 3L Osprey water pouch with insulated tube
• 2 x 1L nalgene bottles with insulating cover
• Waterproof trousers and jacket
• Gaiters
• Insulated down jacket

Safari bag

• 2 pairs of shorts
• 3 t-shirts
• fresh underwear
• fleece
• swimming costume
• (I will be reusing the walking trousers I travelled in as my longs, my insulated jacket for additional warmth and my camp shoes and boots for my feet)

Miscellaneous

• Passport with visas
• Itineraries & copy of insurance policy
• Yellow Fever vaccination certificate (if travelling in via Kenya and are there longer than 12 hours)
• Head torch and spare batteries
• Foam mat for sitting on
• Camp shoes 
• Walking poles
• Note pad and pen
• Spare set of boot laces
• Hand and foot warmers
• Camera
• Ipod nano, headphones, battery pack, phone
• Travel money