Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Information

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Need to know Information on Mount Kilimanjaro

• Cotton shorts or cycling type good for hiking while at lower elevation

• T-shirt's for lower altitude only (first two days)

• Shade hat

• Warm wool hat or balaclava to protect against cold and winds

• Dark Sunglasses (wraparound) Protective against harsh UV rays at Higher altitude and ice glare

• Sunscreen factor 20 or more, oil based

• Hiking boots Well worn in, ideally leather upper, waterproofed.

• Lightweight shoes to wear in camp at night after a day hiking.

• Sleeping bag and Inner Sheet Rates - 5 degrees minimum (can be hired)

• Water bottle Minimum 2 litres, preferably 3 - sturdy hiking variety

• Purifying Tablets,  Aqua pure or Puritab - to sterilize all drinking water

• Powdered drink e.g. Clifton or game to make the water taste better 

• Socks Thin and thick pairs - Ideally a fresh pair daily (6 pairs) of Both. Thin socks help protect against blisters by extra support and dryness, Thick Socks - hiking socks for warmth and comfort.

• Warm Gloves/mittens , Inner Thermal or Woolen plus outer glove or mitts (waterproof)

• Day Pack , Around 35L to carry your daily items in (camera, Waterproof clothes, water etc, Ideally lightweight inner frame and tummy belt for support.

• Kit Bag for the Porters , Around 150L for the porters to carry your gear in, soft, sports bag - ideally canvas or waterproofed (dive bag).

• Thermal underwear, Preferably polypropylene or similar, with "Wicking" properties for the higher altitude. Top is more important than pants. Ladies stockings, or cycling pants are useful and warm.

• Pants, Tracksuit pants for cold days/evenings (two pairs)

• Waterproof pants, lightweight pants, preferably breathable 

• Jerseys/Fleece etc , all clothing should be layered for maximum warmth. Lightweight (eg fleece, wool polar neck, polartec) Layers usually thermal + 3 layers and a down jacket for the final ascent. During the rest of the hike, just one layers is required. Do not take heavy jerseys or jackets.

• Waterproof Jacket , Ventex/Gortex or similar. Breathable waterproof jacket - to cover your bottom (longish) for both rain and wind. Lightweight ideal, particularly at lower altitudes - then at higher altitude one layers  underneath, and it acts as a guard against the wind and cold. Must have a hood.

• Warm hat - should cover ears (Balaclava may be used for this job as well, just roll it up a little and wear as a beanie.

• Towel, Small towel for the climb only

• Face Cloth and Soap , for quick body wash to freshen up (no showers available)

• Wet ones, handy for freshening up, or wiping sticky hands 

• Torch (Flash Light), essential for both evenings in tents/huts and for final ascent.

• Spare batteries, for torch, camera/video. Cold weather tends to shorten the life of these.

• Pocket Knife, Always Handy

• Walking Stick, Adjustable ideal 

• Gaiters (to the knee) , Stops scree and mud getting into boots 

• Lip ice or Zinc Cream , To protect against the sun.

• Toilet Paper and matches , Please burn the toilet paper (not the bush) or take a small plastic bag to dispose of toilet paper on the return to camp.

• Trail Munchies, Bring along your favourites - chocolates, nuts, biltong, etc

• Garbage bags, Sufficient to wrap all your clothes inside your kitbag to protect against the rain etc at least 10.

• Small mirror, not essential but some people have suggested it 

• Small first aid kit, Have a suggested Medical kit list

• Book/diary/game/card/pen, in the evening at camp

• Camera and plenty of film, Take a spare battery

• Cash (USD), for tips at end of climb and a couple of celebratory drinks after.

• Contact Lens, take spares if you use them

• Glasses, Avoid metal rims, as they may freeze on your face in the extreme cold.

• Personal Toiletries, Toothbrush, paste, hairbrush etc

• Dubbin or waterproofing, to re-apply to boots during the hike (optional)

• Scarf, short woolen one to keep neck warm

• Spare kit bag (small), to leave your excess clothing at the hotel in the store room.

• It is often appreciated if you take old jerseys/tracksuits to give to porters/guides after your climb. Your international vaccination certificate must be taken with you.

MEDICAL LIST:

• Diamox 250mg: Altitude Sickness. Take a good supply!

• Imodium / Buscopan: Stomach Disorders

• Motillium 10 mg: Nausea

• Besenol: Headaches

• Basic antibiotic cream for cuts / blisters

• Supply of Elastoplasts.

• Zinc oxide cream - lip cream for sun

• "Rehidrat" salts

• Support bandage / anti-inflammatory for aching joints especially on descent.

• "Vitamist" natural spray products: Calmag to avoid cramping, Vitamin E to assist in the oxygenation process, Extend for muscle strength and stamina and B12 for energy.

TIPS

• Go Slowly, very slowly. There is nothing to do at the huts/camps, so why rush to get there? It is important to go extremely slowly on the first two days, even if you feel well.

• For those doing the Marangu Route, suggest to your guide that you go the longer route along the river en route to Mandara Hut - much more scenic, birds etc.

• There are no shower facilities at any of the huts/camps, your porters will supply you with warm water if required. No washing water at Kibo/Arrow Camp. Wet Wipes are quite useful.

• There are no opening windows in the huts (except Kibo) - to get air during the night you must leave the door open or you'll suffer from lack of air/sleeplessness, etc. If your hut partners object, move huts - you'll           increase your chances of getting to the top by getting good air and sleep.

• Walk high, sleep low - at both Horombo and Kibo (and on camping route this is also recommended), try to do a short evening stroll to a higher altitude (perhaps 500 ft higher) and then descend to sleep at the huts, this appears to help acclimatise.

• A stick/ski pole is very necessary - hire/buy up there or take with you.

• Thin socks inside thick socks really helps. 

It is recommended that you take a course of anti-malaria prophylactics prior to departure and during and after your trip. Please seek medical advice as to type and duration of prophylactic from your doctor. Please refer to your doctor for any further vaccinations that might be needed. 

Porters and Guides

We have qualified porters who have wealthy of experience with Mt Kilimanjaro for more than five years each. They have good communication skills and first aide handling. Friendly and dedicated team. Our porters are participants in Mt Kilimanjaro clean up Campaign  every year. Porters carry 18kg. of clients' equipment and rarely provide their own rucksacks.

Our guides are qualified with long experience in treks and climbs graduating from outdoor leadership school and Kenya wildlife Service and have participated in Mountain rescue  operations and are members to Mt Kenya Guides.

Special Hazards

Other than the Normal Mountain walking and climbing hazards the following should be taken note of on Mt. Kenya.

ANIMALS The forest zone contains large numbers of buffalo and elephant. These animals can be very dangerous, avoid walking at night through this zone and avoid straying off the main tracks.

GETTING LOST It is easy to stray off during descent. If lost avoid descending any further, particularly into the forest zone. Either wait for better visibility - if necessary spend the night where you are, or retrace your steps back uphill. Remember smoke attracts rescuers.

EXPOSURE A warm day can rapidly turn very cold as the clouds build up and rain or snow start to tall. Exhaustion and damp, sweaty clothes can cause a rapid body cooling and finally hypothermia. Have warm clothes handy and eat energy snacks regularly.

DEHYDRATION Fluid loss occurs rapidly at high altitudes accentuating altitude sickness. Drink copious amounts of fluids.

ACCIDENTS In the event of an accident help can be summoned at the permanently manned Ranger Post in Teleki Valley, at the Met. Station and at any of the three main Park Gates; all of these locations are in radio contact with each other and with Park Headquarters where the Rescue Team is based.

Medical Aspects
of high altitude mountaineering

You should carry your own first aid kit and be familiar with its use. Problems peculiar to the tropics and high altitudes need special attention.

Altitude Sickness: Problems result from the inability of the human body to adjust to a rapid gain in altitude and range from mild cases of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), experienced to some extent by most climbers, to the often fatal Pulmonary and Cerebral Oedemas, the latter being far less common. A slow pace and copious fluid intake (unless oedema is suspected) reduce the severity of Altitude Sickness. Dehydration, even mild, leads to thickening of the blood with increased possibility of pulmonary embolism or a thrombosis. Urine colour should be pale and the output copious. (Oedemas are the accumulation of liquid in a part of the body).

Symptoms of AMS include loss of appetite, headache, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, lassitude, weakness, a rapid pulse even at rest, insomnia, swelling of hands and/or face and reduced urine output. Climbers with severe symptoms must stop ascending and seriously consider descending to a lower altitude, since often a drop of as little as 500m. and a stay of a couple of days at that level will allow recovery. The drug DIAMOX can sometimes help or prevent or reduce the severity of AMS. With Pulmonary Oedema, additional symptoms may be noticed - shortness of breath, even at rest, gurgling, bubbly sounds in the chest and sometimes watery blood-tinged sputum. Skin may be cold and clammy, lips and finger nails bluish. With Cerebral Oedema, severe headache, hallucination and lack of co-ordination are additional symptoms. Treatment: IMMEDIATE DESCENT.

Pneumonia: This can kill, in some cases very rapidly. Symptoms include rise in temperature, pain in chest, shivering, rapid breath and dry cough sometimes with red mucus. Cure involves keeping the patient warm, getting him to lower altitudes, providing warm drinks and antibiotics, and by beating chest to encourage coughing.

Sun: At an altitude of 4,000m, only about 60% of the harmful UV sunlight is filtered out by the atmosphere. This can result in very rapid burning of exposed skin; lips are particularly badly affected. Good suncreams are recommended. Dark glasses with side panels should be worn when crossing snow to prevent snow blindness, even in misty conditions. Snow blindness is painful and feels like sand in the eyes; rest and eye drops help; great care is required to avoid rubbing eyes (bandaging?).

Hygiene: Do not pollute streams by washing yourself or catering-utensils in them. These are water supplies for you and other people. If there is no latrine dig a private hole for your excrement as far as possible from camps or paths, using an ice axe or stick, then refill it neatly. Do not leave rubbish lying around. Some, such as food and paper can be buried in well-vegetated zones, but tins, bottles, metal foil and plastics must be carried out.

Basic First Aid Kit: Aspirin or Paracetamol for headaches and fevers. Throat lozenges for dry throats. Lip salve. Crepe bandages, tape and gauze. Eye drops, e.g. Optrex. Soap for washing wounds. Mild disinfectant wash. Anti-Diarrhoea medicine, e.g. Imodium. A laxative. Diamox for mountain sickness; a side effect of this drug is a tingling sensation in the extremities. Stronger pain killer, e.g. Fortral or Sosogen. Antibiotics for pneumonia or other major infections. Water purifiers.

Information and recommendations contained in this section should be regarded as a guide only. More detailed information can be obtained from specialised publications such as ‘Medicine for Mountaineering’ (The Mountaineers, Seattle, USA).

Mount Kenya Map   |    Mount Kilimanjaro Map   |   

A Fitness Program for Mt. Kilimanjaro   |   A Typical 5 Day Menu on Mt. Kilimanjaro

Mt. Kilimanjaro Final Check List   |    Altitude Sickness

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