A packing list for hiking the 2nd tallest mountain in Tanzania at 14,980ft.

You will have porters on this trek who will carry your main bag so you will only have to carry a day pack while you hike.

Musts:

• Passport
• Visa (if applicable)
• Hiking permit/park permit
• Wallet with cash for tipping your crew
• Determined attitude

Okay, onto the list!

Clothing

• 1x Merino wool sun hoodie
• 1x Quick dry pants
• 1x Merino wool leggings
• 1x Merino wool tee
• 1x Merino wool jacket
• 1x Down jacket
• 1x Waterproof rain jacket
• 1x Waterproof rain pants
• 2x Merino wool socks

Summit day clothing
-you want a separate, clean outfit for this day!

• 1x Pair of quick dry pants
• 1x Merino wool tee
• 1x Merino wool thermal top
• 1x Merino wool thermal bottoms
• 1x Pair Merino wool socks

Toiletries

Teeth kit:

• UL toothbrush (or a more reasonable Travel toothbrush)
• Toothpaste tabs (or tiny airplane tubes)
• 4x Tooth flossers (clean and reuse)
• 1x Bite guard (how I optimized traveling with one)

Others:

• SPF 50 Face moisturizer (decanted into a lip gloss tube)
• Tinted sunscreen in a 1 oz tin or smaller (for my face)
• Sunscreen stick (for everywhere else)
• SPF lip balm
• Lanolin lip balm (The best for chapped lips. I decant it into lip gloss tubes)
• Baking soda deodorant (decanted into a small tin)
• Diva cup 
• Hair Kit: hair brush, 1x hair clip, 2x hair ties (great for thick hair!)
• 1x Pack of shower wipes (no running water available)

First Aid

• 4x Bandaids (different sizes)
• 1x “Swiss army knife” (never had an issue in airports)
• Assorted meds in a 1 oz. tin or tiny zipped baggies
  • Imodium, gas x, Pepto, Tums, Tagamet
  • ibuprofen, Excedrin, melatonin
  • Altitude sickness medication (prescription needed)
• 1’ of anti-blister tape (Wrapped around a q tip) or Compeed (if needed)
• 1x Contact lens container (With hydrocortisone cream and bug balm)
• Electrolyte chewable tablets 
• 1x Travel bottle of hand sanitizer

Miscellaneous

• 1x Bum/waist/fanny pack 
• 1x Wallet
• 1x Pair sunglasses (Polarized and UPF protection! I put them on a lanyard)
• 1x Sleeping bag liner

• Sleep kit: 1x eye mask, 1x set ear plugs
• 1x Travel towel (The best of the best. Not all are made equally!)
• 1x Kula Cloth (For those who squat to pee)
• 1x Mini S biner (To clip Kula cloth to pack)

• 1x Hero clip (Keeps my bag off the ground or the bathroom floor)
• 9’ of paracord (Makeshift clothesline and other uses)
• 2x Safety pins
• 2x 32 oz. water bottles

Electronics 

– packed in this 1L drybag

• 1x Power Bank
• 1x 6’ charging cable 
• 1x Rechargeable Headlamp

Things worth renting from your tour operator

Most tour operators will have gear you can rent. This helps a lot if the hike is only a part of your trip, or if you don’t currently own any gear. My tour company had everything from water bottles to rain pants and headlamps. They want you to be comfortable, safe, and prepared on this trek, so ask to see their rentals list.

This is what I rented:

• Sleeping bag (32* or less)
• Trekking poles (with sturdy straps)

Baggage

• Waterproof daypack (for what you need during the day)
• 40-55L Duffel bag (everything else-porters carry this)

eSIM

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I loved packing only what I needed on this hike to the tallest peak of my life (so far). I recommend following all the safety guidelines and checking out other packing lists to make sure you bring what YOU need.

Remember, less is more!

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