Gear List and Travel Guide

Technical Clothing

• 1 - Waterproof Jacket, breathable with hood
• 1 - Insulated Jacket, synthetic or down
• 1 - Soft Jacket, fleece or soft-shell
• 2 - Long Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 - Short Sleeve Shirt, light-weight, moisture-wicking fabric
• 1 - Waterproof Pants, breathable (side-zipper recommended)
• 2 - Hiking Pants (convertible to shorts recommended)
• 1 - Fleece Pants
• 1 - Shorts (optional)
• 1 - Long Underwear (moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 3 - Underwear, briefs (moisture-wicking fabric recommended)
• 2 - Sport Bra (women)

Headwear

• Gloves, warm (waterproof recommended)
• 1 - Glove Liners, thin, synthetic, worn under gloves for added warmth (optional)
• 1 - Hiking Boots, warm, waterproof, broken-in, with spare laces
• 1 - Gym Shoes, to wear at camp (optional) 3 - Socks, thick, wool or synthetic
• 3 - Sock Liners, tight, thin, synthetic, worn under socks to prevent blisters (optional)
• 1 - Gaiters, waterproof (optional)

Accessories

• 1 - Sunglasses or Goggles
• 1 - Backpack Cover, waterproof (optional)
• 1 - Poncho, during rainy season (optional)
• 1 - Water Bottle (Nalgene, 32 oz. recommended)
• 1 - Water Bladder, Camelback type (optional)
• 1 - Towel, lightweight, quick-dry (optional)
• 1 - Pee Bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night (highly recommended) Stuff Sacks or Plastic Bags, various sizes, to keep gear dry and separate

Equipment

• 1 - Sleeping Bag, warm, four seasons
• 1 - Sleeping Bag Liner, for added warmth (optional)
• 1 - Sleeping Pad, self-inflating or closed-cell foam

Paperwork

• Trip Receipt
• Passport
• Visa (available at JRO)
• Immunization Papers
• Insurance Documents

Do I Need Travel Insurance?
Absolutely. Climbers are strongly advised to obtain travel insurance immediately after booking their trip. Trip deposits are non-refundable and balance payments are only partially refundable. Therefore, it is prudent for you to protect your investment against trip cancellation, interruption, delays and unforeseeable expenses. Travel insurance covers expenses such as :

• Trip cancellation, interruption or delays
• Emergency accident and sickness
• Lost, damaged, stolen or delayed baggage

24-hour emergency medical assistance

At a minimum, the insurance should protect you against trip cancellation and trip interruption, should you need to cancel your trip due to circumstances such as training injuries or sickness or emergencies. Ideally, insurance should cover high altitude trekking (not to be confused with "mountaineering" or "mountain climbing" which most insurance will not cover) and all medical and repatriation costs. Keep your proof of insurance on your person at all times.

We recommend that you obtain the Adventure Travel Protection Plan which provides coverage for high altitude trekking, trip cancellation, interruption and delay; lost, stolen and damaged baggage; medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation; and luggage delay, for a low cost. You can purchase the Adventure Travel Protection Plan online through Travel Guard website

The most common mistake that climbers make is that they over pack and bring way too much gear.
Be selective in what you take with you. Please note that our porters are limited to carrying 35 lbs (15 kg) of your personal belongings. If you have excess weight, you will be required to hire an additional porter. Although you are expected to bring everything you need, most gear and equipment may be rented, subject to availability. All extra luggages, items you will not use on your climb, such safari clothing, gear and equipment, can also be safely stored at the hotel.

Checked luggage on airplanes can get lost or delayed on the way to Tanzania. Therefore, you should prepare for this possibility by wearing or carrying on the items that are essential to your Kilimanjaro climb. While most clothing, gear and equipment can be replaced in Tanzania prior to your climb, there are some things that you should not and cannot.

We recommend that you wear one complete hiking outfit on the plane, including a long sleeve shirt, hiking pants, underwear, socks, sock liner, and hiking boots. In your carry on baggage, you should bring your backpack, waterproof jacket and pants, insulated jacket, snacks, toiletries, medications, camera and all paperwork. Make sure you wear/carry your hiking boots; wearing a different pair of boots on your climb will likely cause blistering.

The best exercise that you can do to prepare for Mount Kilimanjaro is hiking.

There are training regimens on other operator's sites which entail strict, extensive, cross-training programs, featuring hiking, running, biking, swimming, weight training, etc. Do not be alarmed by this. Those programs are excessive and unnecessary to sufficiently prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro. The best and perhaps only exercise you need to do is to hike - period. After all, that is what you will be doing on the mountain. Ideally, you should try to hike as much as possible on hills or mountains to simulate ascension on Mount Kilimanjaro. Doing day hikes is superb training. For those who do not have access to trails, but have membership to a gym, you can train very productively on a stair master machine. If you have no access to trails or a gym, then try to walk as much as you can, with extended walks on the weekends.

You should start training for climbing Kilimanjaro at least two months prior to your departure

If you've never hiked before, you should start with shorter time intervals, a slower pace, and no weight (in your day pack) and then gradually increase all of the above as your fitness level improves. Remember that on Mount Kilimanjaro, you will walk slowly for prolonged periods, and carry probably no more than 20 lbs in your day pack. Therefore, in your training, it is better to increase the time interval/distance and keep a slow pace than to shorten the time interval/distance and increase the pace. Try to train three times a week, for at least one hour per session, at a minimum. If you can do day hikes for four to six hours, with moderate elevation changes (~1,500 ft/460 m) while carrying a 20 lb pack, or if you can walk on a Stairmaster for 1-2 hours, at 30 steps per minute while carrying a 20 lb pack, then you're probably ready for the real thing.

Your longest/hardest workouts should be performed two to four weeks before your departure. For the last two weeks, you should taper off your training and in the final days, rest so that your body has time to recover before your actual climb. In addition to walking/hiking, you can also supplement your training with exercises such as running or cycling, which will increase your aerobic capacity.

Recommended Vaccinations and Preventive Medications

The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to East Africa. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water; or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
• Hepatitis B, especially if you might be exposed to blood or body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11-12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
• Malaria: your risk of malaria may be high in all countries in East Africa, including cities. See your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial drug.
• Meningococcal (meningitis) if you plan to visit countries in this region that experience epidemics of meningococcal disease during December through June.
• Rabies, pre-exposure vaccination, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling, or engaging in certain occupational activities.
• Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold by street vendors
• Yellow fever, a viral disease that occurs primarily in sub-Saharan Africa and tropical South America, is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. The virus is also present in Panama and Trinidad and Tobago. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers to endemic areas and may be required to cross certain international borders (For country specific requirements, see Yellow Fever Vaccine Requirements and Information on Malaria Risk and Prophylaxis, by Country.). Vaccination should be given 10 days before travel and at 10 year intervals if there is on-going risk. · As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults.

Malaria
Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Humans get malaria from the bite of a mosquito infected with the parasite. Your risk of malaria may be high in all countries in East Africa, including cities. All travelers to East Africa, including infants, children, and former residents of East Africa, may be at risk for malaria. Prevent this serious disease by seeing your health care provider for a prescription anti malaria drug and by protecting yourself against mosquito bites.

All travelers should take one of the following drugs:

• Aovaquone/proguanil,
• Doxycycline,
• Mefloquine, or
• Primaquine (in special circumstances)

Yellow Fever
A certificate of yellow fever vaccination is required for entry into Tanzania when arriving from countries other African countries and Asian countries.

Food and Waterborne Diseases

Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. Food and waterborne diseases are the primary cause of illness in travelers. Travelers' diarrhea can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which are found throughout East Africa and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis).

To stay healthy, do...

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or, if hands are not visibly soiled, use a waterless, alcohol-based hand rub to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help prevent disease transmission.
• In developing countries, drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, learn how to make water safer to drink.
• Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your health care provider for a prescription.)
• To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot, even on beaches.
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.
• Protect yourself from mosquito insect bites
• Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats when outdoors.
• Use insect repellents that contain DEET (N, N-diethylmethyltoluamide).
• If no screening or air conditioning is available: use a pyrethroid-containing spray in living and sleeping areas during evening and night-time hours; sleep under bed nets, preferably insecticide-treated ones.

Do not…

• Do not eat food purchased from street vendors or food that is not well cooked to reduce risk of infection (i.e., hepatitis A and typhoid fever).
• Do not drink beverages with ice.
• Avoid dairy products, unless you know they have been pasteurized.
• Do not swim in fresh water to avoid exposure to certain water-borne diseases such as schistosomiasis.
• Do not handle animals, especially monkeys, dogs, and cats, to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague). Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccination if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure in rural areas.
• Do not share needles for tattoos, body piercing or injections to prevent infections such as HIV and hepatitis B.
• Avoid poultry farms, bird markets, and other places where live poultry is raised or kept.

Visa :
Can be applied at the point of entry.