Planning guide

Packing lists

One list for safari, one for the mountain. Pack light, and warm for the early mornings and the summit night.

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On safari

Safari packing list

Clothes

Neutral colours: khaki, olive, beige
Light long-sleeved shirts and trousers against sun and insects
A warm fleece or jacket for early drives and the crater rim
Comfortable closed shoes and sandals
Swimwear if your lodge or Zanzibar has a pool

Gear

Binoculars, one pair per person if you can
Camera with a zoom lens and spare batteries
Power bank and a universal adapter (UK-style sockets)
Head torch for campsites
Soft duffel bag (essential on bush flights)

Health

Malaria tablets if your doctor advises them
Insect repellent with DEET
High-SPF sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, hat
Personal medicines in your hand luggage
Yellow fever certificate if you need one

Documents & money

Passport valid six months after you leave
Printed e-visa or US dollars for a visa on arrival
Travel insurance details
Recent, undamaged US dollar notes for tips (older notes are often refused)
Copies of tickets and your itinerary

Luggage

Bags and weight on safari

Use a soft duffel bag. On fly-in safaris, bush planes usually allow about 15 kg per person including hand luggage. Leave extra bags at your hotel or with us in Arusha.

Read the full packing article

On the mountain

Mountain trekking packing list

For Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Nights near the summit drop well below freezing, so warm layers matter more than anything else.

Clothing layers

Thermal base layers, top and bottom
A fleece mid layer
Hiking trousers and a quick-dry shirt
Waterproof jacket and trousers
Insulated down jacket for summit night

Warmth and sleep

Four-season sleeping bag (rated −10 °C or lower)
Warm hat, gloves and buff
Warm socks, two or three pairs
Liner gloves under warm gloves

Feet

Broken-in waterproof hiking boots
Gaiters for mud and scree
Light shoes or sandals for camp
Blister plasters

Gear

Daypack of about 30 litres
2–3 litres of water capacity
Trekking poles
Head torch with spare batteries
Dry bags or plastic bags to keep clothes dry

Sun, health and water

Sun hat, sunglasses, high-SPF sunscreen
Lip balm with SPF
Water purification tablets
Personal medication and a small first-aid kit
Ask your doctor about altitude medication

Extras

Snacks and energy bars for the long days
Wet wipes and hand sanitiser
Small towel and toiletries
Camera and a power bank (no charging on the mountain)
Cash for crew tips at the end of the climb

Porters and luggage

Bags and weight on the mountain

Pack what the porters carry in one soft duffel bag of about 15 kg, and carry a daypack yourself with water, snacks, a warm layer and rain gear for the day.

Leave everything you don’t need on the mountain at your hotel or with us in Arusha. Ask us if you need to hire a sleeping bag, jacket or poles in Arusha.

Kilimanjaro and Meru climbs

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