Did you know: There are waterfalls on Kilimanjaro?

Some of our most "frequently asked questions" are about what to pack for Kilimanjaro.  Here are my top 5 tips.

Day Pack
In the day pack, take along water, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain pants and jacket at a minimum. Add any other items you might need during the day because you may not see the porters until the end of your trek for that day. Make sure you have everything in plastic bags, have a water proof cover for it, or have a rain poncho to protect it from getting wet.  I usually keep my camera in a separate plastic bag to be safe.

Gaiters
These cover your boots and lower legs.  I recommend these at the very bottom of the mountain if it is muddy and also on summit day so that you don't get pebbles in your boots which can cause blisters.

Socks
I don't regularly wear sock liners while hiking, but I make an exception on a multi-day trek.  You don't want blisters!  You will need wool or other warm socks for summit day.

Warm Clothing
On summit day, I wear just about everything I packed.  My legs have long underwear, fleece leggings, zip-off hiking pants, and rain/shell pants.  On top, I have long underwear, turtleneck, wool sweater or fleece, down jacket, and rain/shell jacket.  For my extremities, I have sock liners, wool/thick socks, hiking boots, glove liners, super warm mittens, neck gaiter, thick hat, and wrap around sunglasses.

Water Bottles
I recommend bringing a Camelbak and 2 Nalgene-style water bottles.  A Camelbak is much easier to drink from while hiking.  Water bottles are nice in camp.  On summit day, put your water bottles inside your jacket so that they don't freeze.  The Camelbak will freeze.  If you can wear your Camelbak inside your jacket that helps, and also blow the water back into the pouch to keep the hose from freezing too quickly.

Packing Tips for Kilimanjaro >>

Travel Packing Advice >>

Who wouldn't want to summit the worlds' tallest freestanding mountain under a full moon?

The next Kilimanjaro Marathon is scheduled for February 27, 2011. There is a full marathon, a half-marathon, and 5k fun run, so there is something for everyone.

Zanzibar Music Festival

A great way to finish your trip to Kilimanjaro is the Sauti za Busara, Zanzibar's popular music festival is scheduled for February 9-13, 2011.

Featuring top-quality musical performances by more than 400 established and upcoming artists (40 groups in total), Sauti za Busara has already established itself as one of Africa's leading music festivals. It is an event that unites people in celebration.

The main stage of the festival is within Stone Town's historic Old Fort. Performances run from Thursday through til Sunday, starting in the late afternoon, and continuing virtually non-stop into the evening, with the final band taking to the stage around midnight.

More on Zanzibar Island >>

Did you know: You go through several biomes on Kili?

Sometimes the best advice comes from our clients who have climbed Kilimanjaro.  Here are my top 5 picks!

"Be in the very best physical shape you can be. I was also drinking 3-4 liters of water per day which I would highly recommend.  Eat as much as you can, I do believe it can make a difference. I tried to continually breath deeply, especially when we came to a stop. In summary, I believe it comes down to 'mind over matter.' And fortunately for me, and our group as a whole, everything worked out."

"For Kili, I suggest paying a little extra for another porter to ensure yourself a private toilet. The toilets on the mountain are terrible! This was a life saver for me! As for packing, I suggest bringing a disposable camera for summit day. Some of the digital camera rechargeable batteries would freeze at the top! Also pack hand/toe warmers for summit push. For Safari, definitely bring a bandana or facial mask to protect you from the dust! Bring lots of wet wipes, toilet paper, hand sanitizer for both trips!"

"Be prepared for cold. I expected it to be cold at the top but it was cold from day 2 on."

"The mountain is very dusty. Bring extra wipes for cleaning at the end of the day and maybe even paper towel to clean your gear.  Summit night is really cold. Take extra precaution so the water bottle/hydration tube does not freeze. I used hot water which worked very well for me. Throw some hand warmers with camera batteries for summit ascent so the camera doesn't die quickly up at the top. Remember to enjoy your time at the summit and soak it in!!"

More Tanzania Advice from Clients >>

The trip was great. I had a wonderful time and made it to the summit. The guides, porters, and food were also excellent.
Melissa K., Idaho, 6-day Machame, June 2010

The trip was great - my experience with AWR was very good. My guide, Fred Minja, was superb - I have already recommended him and AWR to several people. Thanks for a great experience!
John B., California, 7-day Machame, June 2010

Kilimanjaro was great- the guide was fantastic and I would highly recommend him, as were the assistant guides/cook/porters.
Kevin K., California, 6-day Machame, May 2010

The trip exceeded my expectations. The team led by Freddy and Tino were awesome. Very friendly and efficient. Great guys. The overall experience was great fun. I would recommend your trips to anyone.

The guides and porters singing happy birthday to me when we reached Uhuru - it was my 40th. That was fun. The walk back down along the glacier at sunrise was fantastic too. As well as the dancing and singing when we reached the final gate. The team were really great guys - that really made the difference. We also were very lucky and had great weather - I have fantastic photos of Kili, Mawanzi and the climb.
Benoit B., 7-day Luxury Rongai trek, January 2010

More Tanzania Testimonials (and favorite moments and stories) >>

Did you know: You have porters and cooks to carry your bag and cook your meals?

Congratulations to Make A Difference Now on their successful climb in June!  All 8 climbers summitted on July 11, 2010 on the 6-day Rongai Route.