Everything You Need to Know

Essentials: broken-in hiking boots, thermal base layers, down jacket (rated to -10°C), waterproof shell, warm sleeping bag (4-season), headlamp, sun protection, and a 30-40L daypack. We provide a detailed packing list after booking. You can rent sleeping bags, trekking poles, and duffel bags from us in Moshi if needed. Don't bring cotton — it stays wet. Merino wool and synthetic layers only.

Yes. We offer high-quality rental gear at our Moshi office: sleeping bags ($5/day), down jackets ($4/day), trekking poles ($2/day), duffel bags ($3/day), and gaiters ($1/day). Everything is cleaned and inspected after each use. We recommend renting sleeping bags and jackets rather than flying with bulky items. Book rentals in advance during peak season.

A Yellow Fever certificate is required if you're arriving from a country with risk of transmission. Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and routine vaccinations are recommended. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended for Moshi and lower elevations, but not needed above 2,000m where mosquitoes don't survive. Consult your travel doctor 6-8 weeks before departure. We require travel insurance that covers high-altitude trekking up to 6,000m.

On camping routes (Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Umbwe), we provide private toilet tents at each camp — no shared long-drop toilets. No showers on the mountain, but we provide hot water bowls for washing. On the Marangu Route, the huts have flush toilets and running water at Mandara and Horombo. Kibo Hut has basic facilities. Bring wet wipes and hand sanitizer regardless of route.

Prevention is key. We monitor every climber twice daily with pulse oximeters. Our guides are trained to recognize symptoms early. We enforce a slow pace ("pole pole" in Swahili) and adequate hydration. If symptoms develop, we descend immediately — no exceptions. We carry emergency oxygen and Diamox (acetazolamide) on every climb. Our Lemosho Route's 8-day schedule is specifically designed for optimal acclimatization. Your safety always comes before the summit.

Plenty of carbohydrates, proteins, and fresh vegetables. Breakfast: porridge, eggs, toast, fruit, tea/coffee. Lunch: packed sandwiches, boiled eggs, fruit, juice. Dinner: soup, pasta or rice, chicken or beef, vegetables, dessert. We cater to vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and halal diets with advance notice. At high altitude, appetite decreases — we encourage eating even when not hungry. Afternoon tea with popcorn or biscuits is served at camp. No one goes hungry on our climbs.

There's no shame in not summiting — the mountain will always be there. If you need to turn back, an assistant guide will descend with you to the nearest camp while the group continues. Your safety is the only priority. Many climbers who don't summit on their first attempt return successfully later. We document what happened and help you plan a better strategy for next time. The mountain is not going anywhere.