Prepare for Kilimanjaro
Everything to sort out before the climb – gear, training, route choice, booking, and what happens when you land in Tanzania. Seven clear steps, in the order you'll actually need them.
7 STEPS · FROM DECISION TO TRAIL
Preparation is half the summit
Kilimanjaro is not a technical climb – but it is a serious high-altitude trek, and how it goes is largely decided before you leave home. The right gear keeps you warm at 5,000 metres; a few months of steady training makes summit night manageable; the right route gives your body time to acclimatize.
This guide walks you through the whole journey – from the first honest question of whether the climb is for you, to the moment you meet your guides in Arusha. Read it in order, or jump to the step you need now.
Your preparation, step by step
Each step below is a full guide of its own. Together they cover everything our climbers ask before an expedition:
STEP 1 / 7 – GEAR
Gear & packing list
What to bring, what to leave at home, and what you can rent in Arusha instead of buying. The full layered clothing system, sleeping kit, and the small things people always forget.
Training for the climb
STEP 2 / 7 – TRAINING
You don’t need to be an athlete – you need endurance. How fit is fit enough, and a simple 8–12 week plan built around long walks with a pack on your back.
Should I climb Kilimanjaro?
STEP 3 / 7 – IS IT FOR ME
An honest look at what the mountain asks of you – altitude, cold, long days on your feet – and who the climb is (and isn’t) for. Read this before you commit to anything.
Choosing your route
STEP 4 / 7 – ROUTE
Machame, Lemosho, Rongai, Marangu, or the Northern Circuit – the routes differ in scenery, crowds, and acclimatization profile. How to pick the one that fits your time and experience.
Booking your climb
STEP 5 / 7 – BOOKING
Dates, deposits, and what’s included in the price – plus the paperwork: visa, insurance, vaccinations. What happens between “Book” and your departure day.
Final preparations
STEP 6 / 7 – FINAL PREP
The last two weeks before departure: documents, medication, packing your duffel, and the checks we run through with you before you fly to Tanzania.
Arrival in Tanzania
STEP 7 / 7 – ARRIVAL
Landing at Kilimanjaro International, the transfer to your hotel, and the briefing and gear check with your guides on the evening before the climb begins.
