gaiters, sleeping bag (3 season+), floor mat, water bottle (2 litre+), water purifying tablets, headtorch, batteries, bulbs, first aid kit, penknife, lighter, sunglasses, sun cream (factor 15+), lip salve, towel and wash bag, money belt, map, whistle, toilet paper, plastic bags.
Optional items: camera, binoculars, altimeter, compass, notebook and pen, ear plugs, waterproof pack cover, spare pair of prescription glasses.
Insurance
It is wise to take out a good insurance policy. When researching insurance policies, make sure that you mention that you are going to climb Kilimanjaro. Although this may result in an increase in your premium, it will at least ensure that you are covered in case of an accident on the mountain. Make sure that you take a copy of the policy and that it is accessible to a friend or family member.
Health considerations
‘We were turning into geezers. Ratty beards sprouted. Fingers swelled. Faces grew puffy and wrinkled. Our rest steps slowed to funereal pace. We got gaseous … Why do people put themselves through this wringer?’
Tom Dunkel
FIRST AID KIT
Plasters
Blister kit
Bandages (both cotton gauze and elastic)
Knee supports
Antiseptic cream
Aspirin or paracetamol
Throat lozenges
Imodium
Iodine tablets
Sun cream
Lip salve
Safety pins
Scissors
Wet wipes
Insect repellent
Sterile needles
Any prescription medicines that you would usually take in your home country
First-time visitors to Africa can easily become obsessed with concerns regarding their health. While the potential dangers of trekking in a developing country can seem overwhelming it is important to prevent these worries from becoming obsessive. In reality, Tanzania isn’t a particularly dangerous country and very few travellers experience anything more than an upset stomach. In order to minimise the risks of becoming sick, have the requisite inoculations before leaving home, make sure that you carry a first aid kit and adopt a sensible attitude to food and hygiene while on the trek.
Pre-trek health
It would be sensible to safeguard against the following:
Diptheria and tetanus – usually a combined vaccination that is initially administered in three injections and is then topped up every 10 years.
Polio – usually administered during childhood, requires a booster every 10 years.
Hepatitis A – Havrix injection lasts for 10 years if you have a second booster shot after six months. Short term administration of gamma globulin provides immediate protection for up to six months.
Typhoid – recommended for most parts of Africa. Available as an injection or as capsules to be taken orally.
Tuberculosis – usually administered during childhood. The risk to travellers is low in Tanzania.
Rabies – although there is a low risk of contracting the disease, it should be considered if you plan to spend more than a month in Tanzania, particularly if you propose to work with animals. It is a three-part injection that requires two booster injections upon being bitten.
Yellow fever – recommended for travel in areas where the disease is endemic, including Tanzania. Only becomes effective 10 days after it has been administered. It is a good idea to carry proof of your vaccination, especially if you are entering the country overland.
Meningococcal meningitis – recommended for travel to parts of Africa, including Tanzania, particularly if you intend to stay for several months or work among the local population. Not necessary for short stays in the country.
Malaria – the risk on Kilimanjaro itself is low since much of the mountain is too high and cold to support mosquitoes. However, there is a risk of contracting malaria elsewhere in Tanzania and you should consult a GP or medical professional to gauge the risk posed to you. Your medical history, age and destination will all influence the advice given to you. Some anti-malarial medication is reported to have unpleasant side effects. Regardless, when on the mountain, especially in the forest and on the lower slopes, take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Cover exposed skin and use a repellent spray in the evenings to decrease the chances of being bitten.
Porters descending towards the Saddle to approach Kibo (Rongai Route, Mawenzi Tarn Hut to Kibo Huts)
There are a number of steps that you can take before you even leave your home country to improve your chances of remaining healthy. For fully up-to-date health advice and for information as to which inoculations are necessary, contact the Department of Health Helpline (tel 0800 555 777). Alternatively contact the Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad (MASTA) (tel 01276 685 040, www.masta-travel-health.com) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) (www.who.int). If you would prefer to talk to someone face to face, approach your GP or try visiting the Nomad Travellers store and medical centre in STA Travel in London or the British Airways Travel Clinic, also in London (see Appendix B for contact details).
Remember to plan ahead when getting vaccinations. Some vaccinations need more than one injection and others can not be administered together. Currently, Tanzania makes no requirements for visitors to show proof of immunisation, although in the past travellers have had to show a certificate of vaccination against yellow fever (this practice has officially been stopped – although you may still wish to have the vaccination).
On-trek health and safety
The majority of individuals who set off to climb Kilimanjaro complete their trip without any undue mishap. With the application of a bit of common sense and care, the mountain shouldn’t pose an undue threat and the worst that will happen to you is that you have to deal with a blister. However, Kilimanjaro must not be underestimated and its very real dangers should be taken seriously. In 1884 Harry Johnston prematurely wrote that on Kilimanjaro ‘… the most serious obstacles arise from mist and cold which would scarcely deter a cockney from ascending Snowdon’. He later noted on his climb to around 4850m that at one point he felt ‘as if I would never more regain the force to move, and must remain and die amid this horrid solitude of stones and snow’.
Although the path is generally well trodden and you are accompanied by a guide, the route to the summit passes through some wild and forbidding terrain. An accident here can have serious consequences. The national park authorities are understandably cagey about the exact death toll on Kilimanjaro, but it is likely
