Passports, visas and other documents
There are three things you need to get into Tanzania
- a passport
- a Tanzanian visa
- a yellow-fever certificate
Passport
To enter Tanzania you will need a passport. Note that is must be valid for six months after you return from Tanzania, otherwise the airline will not allow you to board your flight to Africa.
Visa
Visas for Tanzania are required by visitors from most countries including the US, UK, most of Europe, Australia and South Africa. We recommend that you pick up a visa when you arrive in Tanzania.
Visas are available at Kilimanjaro, Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar airports, and the Namanga border crossing between Tanzania and Kenya. Note that at Kilimanjaro International Airport the fee that’s charged for a visa currently seems to be US $50 for all nations bar Americans, who have to pay double. You need to bring cash to pay for your visa.
If you’re going to buy your visa in advance from a Tanzanian consulate, you will need to provide a contact address in Tanzania when filling out their form. Just ask us what contact details to use and we’ll supply them to you.
Remember that, if you’re flying in and out of Kenya rather than Tanzania you will need a Kenyan visa too. If you plan to fly to Kenya and cross into Tanzania from there, you can return to Kenya using the same single-entry visa you arrived with providing your visit to Tanzania lasted for less than two weeks and that your Kenyan visa has not expired.
Yellow-fever inoculation certificate
You will need proof that you have had a yellow-fever jab if you are travelling via a country where the disease is prevalent. Officially you will need to have been in that country for at least 24 hours – though often staff at Kilimanjaro Airport will check that you have the certificate even if you were only passing through that country and were there for just a few hours. So often it’s worth getting anyway, just for peace of mind and to save any potential hassles at Kilimanjaro Airport.
Note that the regulations on this do change frequently, so it’s worth checking online to see if they’ve changed again since this was written. See under Medical Matters, below, for details.
Other documents
Bring a couple of passport photographs and a photocopy of your passport – in case you lose the original.
Flights
Flights are not included in the price of the trek and you will need to sort these out yourself. We give you an outline of services to Kilimanjaro Airport in the book. If arriving at Nairobi Airport, we can arrange a shuttle from Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta Airport or the centre of the city to Arusha (currently the cost is about US $35 one way). Just let us know in advance and we will do this for you.
Once you have booked your flights, please inform us as soon as possible with your arrival/departure details (flight number, time of arrival and departure), so we can book your airport transfers. If you are arriving by bus from within Tanzania or from Kenya, once again let us know the details of the journey so we can send a representative to meet you at the terminal or at your hotel if you are being dropped off there.
Medical matters
Inoculations
Sort out your vaccinations a few months before you’re due to fly. Note that it is compulsory to have a yellow-fever vaccination in order to enter Tanzania if you’re flying via a country where the disease is prevalent. Remember to collect a health card or some other written evidence from your doctor to prove you’ve been vaccinated.
Other recommended inoculations: Typhoid, polio, hepatitis, tetanus, and meningococcal meningitis.
Malaria
Your doctor will be able to advise you on what drug is best for you. Remember to begin taking them before you arrive and to complete the full course, which usually runs for several weeks after you return home.
Of course the best way to combat malaria is not to get bitten at all. A repellent with 30% Diethyltoluamide (DEET) worn in the evenings when the malarial anopheles mosquito is active should be effective in preventing bites. Note that, again, you won’t need to use these on Kilimanjaro
Insurance
You will need to buy insurance for your whole trip.
When buying insurance you must make clear to the insurer that you’ll be trekking on a very big mountain. Remember to read the small print of any insurance policy before buying, and shop around, too, for each insurance policy varies slightly from company to company. Details to consider include:
Remember to read the small print of any insurance policy before buying and shop around, too, for each insurance policy varies slightly from company to company.
Details to consider include:
How much is the deductible if you have to make a claim?
Can the insurers pay for your hospital bills etc immediately, while you are still in Tanzania, or do you have to wait until you get home?
How long do you have before making a claim and what evidence do you require (hospital bills, police reports etc)?
Remember the premium for the entire trip will probably double when you mention you are climbing above 5000m, even though you will actually be on the mountain for only a few days. However, you will need to be covered for your entire trip: there are just as many nasty things that can happen – indeed, many more – when off the mountain than on it; theft becomes a much bigger issue too.
A fitness regime
Though altitude sickness is the main reason why people fail to reach the summit – and this can strike you regardless of whether you are fit or not – there’s no doubt that you do need to be in reasonable condition to tackle Kilimanjaro, and will have a much more pleasant time on the mountain if you are fit and healthy.
An exercise programme for Kilimanjaro should be started about three months (two months minimum) before the climb itself. This should help to reduce body fat, improve aerobic fitness and also strengthen the muscles in the places where it really matters: the legs. We think it helps to concentrate on aerobic exercises one day (say three times a week) alternating with leg strengthening exercises for the other three days.
Aerobic exercise
Aerobic exercise is designed to improve oxygen consumption in the body. Thirty minutes to an hour of jogging, cycling, climbing stairs or even just brisk walking are all good aerobic exercise. Aim to exercise at 70% of your maximum heart rate for the best results.
Leg strengthening
Go to any gym and you’ll come across plenty of contraptions designed to increase the strength of your calves, thighs, hamstrings and buttocks. These are fine though the usual warnings apply: always read the instructions carefully before using any machine and never be too ambitious and overload the machine with too much weight. Either course of action could lead to serious injury and the cancellation of your trek altogether.
If you don’t have access to gym equipment, however, don’t worry: there are exercises that you can do without the need for machines. Lunges, where you take an exaggerated step forward with one leg, dropping your hips as low as possible while keeping your torso upright, are great for thighs, hamstrings and buttocks. A reverse lunge, which is the same as a regular lunge only you take a step backwards, until your forward thigh (ie the one you didn’t take a step backwards with) is parallel to the floor, is also good, particularly for the hamstring. Calf raises, where you position yourself with the front half of your feet on a platform, then gently raise and lower yourself on your toes so that your heel is alternately higher and lower than the toes, is also useful.
What to bring
How much are you allowed to bring?
The Kilimanjaro National Park has a maximum carrying weight per porter of 25kg, which includes the porter’s personal gear, which is assumed to be 5kg, plus 5kg of company gear (tents, food, cooking equipment etc). Thus the load they carry for the trekker should not exceed 15kg. This includes any equipment or clothing you have rented from us plus and special requests for additional / special food or clothing. Where the weight is in excess of 15kgs, additional porters can be arranged @ USD 10 per porter, per day for the duration of the trek.
Note that we supply sleeping mats to all of our climbers, so you will not need to bring one of those.
Also note that you are no longer allowed to bring plastic bags into Tanzania. Do not try to bring them into the country or you could face a heavy fine! This is a shame as they are useful for separating things in your rucksack and keeping them dry too. Bags that are clearly meant to be used more than once – and particularly zip-loc bags – are fine so maybe consider bringing those instead.
Basic Equipment
Duffle bag/ rucksacks
This is for carrying your main gear and normally will be carried by a porter. We recommend 60Liters – 80Liters water proof duffel bag/rucksacks
Daypack
You will need to carry your own daypack. 30-40L is sufficient.
Trekking poles
Trekking poles will reduce your joint pain. We recommend adjustable trekking poles.
Water bladder/bottles
Highly recommended with a capacity to carry 3 liters of water. Alternatively, you can bring two bottles 1.5L each. We would also recommend bringing an extra 1L bottle in addition to your water bladder.
Head Wear
Warm winter hat Neck gaiter or scarf
We recommend bringing a neck gaiter or bandana as it can get dust on Kilimanjaro
Sun hat
Choose a hat that is wide-brimmed for protection.
Sun glass
Choose a pair of high UV protection glasses as sun intensity above 4,500m is very high.
Headlamp
You will need a headlamp with good light output for any late-night toilet journeys, and importantly for summit night. We also recommend having extra batteries (AAA batteries)
Hands and Feet wear
Lightweight Gloves
We recommend this for the lowers slope
Warm gloves or mittens
For the cold nights and for the summit we recommend heavyweight gloves
Trekking boots
We recommends using a mid-weight trekking boots with good ankle support. We also recommend it to be waterproof
Gym shoes/sandals
To wear around camp after a day’s trek.
Socks
We recommend bringing 3-4 pairs of outer socks and 2-3 pairs of liner socks. We also recommend bringing 1 x thick thermal socks for summit night.
Gaiters
We recommend this to keep your trousers clean from wet and muddy or dusty conditions.
Micro–spikes/crampon
Not always required, but there are special periods when the mountain receives an excessive amount of ice near the summit.
Upper Body Wear
Thermal base layer
2 thermal base layers, ideally made from merino wool. One to wear on summit night and one to sleep in each night
Short sleeved shirt
2 lightweight, moisture wicking short sleeved shirts are sufficient.
Long sleeved shirt
2 or 3 light or medium weight, moisture wicking long sleeve shirt.
Fleece or soft-shell jacket
A mid-weight fleece jacket is ideal for Kilimanjaro
Insulated jacket
A good quality and warm down or primaloft jacket is required for the cold nights and summit push.
Hard shell outer jacket
A windproof hard shell outer jacket to protect you from the elements
Poncho
As Kilimanjaro weather is unpredictable then poncho is real recommended.
Lower Body Wear
Leggings
2 Thermal or fleece base layer for your legs.
Trekking trousers
1 or 2 medium weight trekking trousers is recommended.
Sleeping bag
Choose the warm sleeping bag that will keep you warm during the night.
Hard shell trousers
Wind proof will protect yourself from the elements
Toiletries And Other Stuffs
Sun and lip screen
High sun protection factor sunscreen and lip protection balm is recommended
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Wet wipes and hand sanitizer
Personal medicines and medical kit
Recommend bringing Paracetamol and Imodium at a minimum or any other..
Extra bag and padlock
For your extra luggage that will remain at hotel
Packing cubes
Useful for keeping items organized within your duffle bag
Camera and spare batteries for pictures
Plug Adapter
A plug adapter for charging your devices in the hotels before and after the trek. We recommend adapter type G.
Personal snacks
Boiled sweets, nuts, energy bars and dried fruit are all a good for Kilimanjaro, most clients like to bring candy from their home countries too.
Towel
lightweight, quick-dry
Portable power bank and extra one if possible
Rental Equipment
We can rent out a lot of (good quality) essential clothing and equipment. If there is anything you know you need, let us know as soon as possible (together, where necessary, with your size – small, medium, large, XL and XXL) and we will put the items aside for you. Rental equipment costs:
Summit jacket $5 per day
Sleeping bag $5 per day
Head-torch $1 per day
Large kit bag $5 per day
Gloves $2 per day
Walking poles $2 per day
Waterproof jacket/trousers $2/$2 per day
Daypack $3 per day