EQUIPMENT PAGE
| Recommended Mountain Clothing |
Recommended Mountain Equipment |
| Warm, wind proof jacket with hood - | Good warm sleeping bag* |
| Waterproof jacket and over-trousers | Water bottle (2 to 3 litres) |
| Walking trousers, shirts, pullover | Water purification tablets and filter |
| Warm underwear | Wash kit, towel, toilet paper |
| Walking socks | First aid kit ( including blister plasters, lip slave, headache pills, sun cream, personal medication) |
| Good comfortable walking boots | Torch with extra batteries |
| Trainers (for evenings) | Sunglasses |
| Gaiters | Walking pole(s) glasses |
| Warm Gloves | Rucksack or duffel bag |
| Sun hat Warm hat or balaclava Scarf |
Routes other than Marangu, you will need a tent with insulated sleeping mat. |
* It is recommended that trekkers bring their own personal sleeping bag as bags available may not be warm enough. A four seasons sleeping bag is recommended.
TREKKERS TIPS: It is good indeed to line all rucksacks and duffel bags with a large polythene bag and the contents into small individual polythene bags. It is also advisable to have a small day sack to carry your raincoat, camera, packed lunch and items of a personal nature.
GREAT IDEA: A poncho is a good idea as it covers you and your day sack keeping everything dry if it rains.
Equipment Hire
For trekkers who are not fully kitted out, the following used equipment is available for hire from the Mountain Inn Hotel.
All prices in US Dollars
| Equipment | Prices |
| Anorak | $10.00 |
| Balaclava | $5.00 |
| Battery | $2.00 |
| Duffel bag | $20.00 |
| Gaiters | $5.00 |
| Gloves | $5.00 |
| Mountain Boots Bag | $20.00 |
| Pouch | $10.00 |
| Rain Coat | $10.00 |
| Rain Trousers | $10.00 |
| Rucksack | $20.00 |
| Sleeping Bag (not four season) | $20.00 |
| Socks | $2.00 |
| Walking Stick | $10.00 |
| Sunglasses | $5.00 |
| Torch | $10.00 |
| Thick Sweater | $10.00 |
| Underwear Trousers | $10.00 |
| Water bottle | $5.00 |
| Tent | $10.00 (per person per day) |
| Mattress | $3.00 |
Remember to bring with you:
Headache tablets, – Torch with extra batteries, Sun-protection cream – Some sweets and Chocolates.
HEALTH REGULATIONS:
An anti-malaria drug is strongly recommended. Yellow Fever vaccine and any others that your doctor may recommend.
VISA: Can be obtained from your respective embassies/high commissions in your country or upon point of entry on arrival.
INSURANCE: Medical Travel Insurance is best purchased from your country of origin. Often you can get these details from the Travel Agent where you are purchasing your air ticket – they often have agreements with various insurance programs.
ALTITUDE SICKNESS is what causes most people to fail to accomplish their goal to reach the top.
It is normal for climbers to feel symptoms caused by high altitude sickness. These include headaches, weakness, nausea and even vomiting. Many climbers do not o beyond a certain amount of discomfort, yet all must be aware of the risk of PULMONARY OEDEMA. This is an abnormal accumulation of liquid in the lungs and is usually fatal if it is not treated. Luckily it does not strike many climbers. The symptoms are:
- a greater shortness of breath than expected plus a general feeling of weakness.
- an irritating dry cough which is frequently accompanied by blood stained sputum.
- bubbling noises in the chest.
- a change of face colour, lips, tongue, nose, ears and nails may be tinged with pale blue.
TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL CLIMB:
Anybody with a respiratory infection, sore throat, cold, cough or high temperature should never climb above 2750m (a little above Mandara Hut).
Use the recommended tourist routes and climbing schedules suggested by your organiser. Overnight stops at huts along the route allow your body time to acclimatise to the increasing altitude. To add an extra night to acclimatize is highly recommended.
Do not underestimate the effect of high altitude. Rushing the climb exhausts the climber, diminishes his chance of achieving his goal and increases his chances of being struck by a serious attack of high altitude sickness. Walking at a slow, steady pace is definitely recommended.
It is important to keep dry and to take regular rests. When resting, use extra garments to maintain warmth.
Carry no less than 1.5 litres of fluid with you. Drink regularly and as much as possible. It is better to drink more than you feel like having. This is because the increased breathing in the thin dry air of the mountain sucks water out of the body along with the perspiration engendered by the exercise. Your water intake should be between 4 to 6 litres per day, depending on altitude.
Listen to the advise of your guide.
