About the mount kilimanjaro trail

The highest in Africa, 1 of the seven summits of the world
The highest free standing mountain in the world, stands on its own not part of a range mountains

The trails up the Kilimanjaro are well marked and maintained
Technical skills are not required with only few spots requiring use of hands and feet
the Barranco Wall, the Western Breach approach (now closed) and optional Lava Tower climb are few of the technical spots
Long drop public toilets (pit latrines), wooden structure built around a hole. Make sure you have toiletries, private portable toilets with privacy of a tent come with extra costs and are carried up the mountain
No shower facilities on the mountain, wet wipes are essential (however you will also be provided with warm water
Bad weather can complicate matters (loose, dusty, muddy, wet or snowy trail) be prepared to trek all types of weather (fog, rain, snow)
You will need to sign in once you arrive at each campsite at the big wooden building. In order to track the movements through the national park, all trekkers are required to sign their names in a book at each campsite upon arrival, one team member can sign in for the whole group, which can be helpful when there is a line for signing in. Passport numbers are not required.

Unless you hike through the Marangu, accommodation on the mountain will be tents brought up by your porters
Nighttime is going to be colder than you expect, bringing your own warm sleeping bag liner to complement the sleeping bag provided will go a long way towards helping you stay warm at night. It may also be a good idea to pack an aluminum bottle that can be filled with warm water before you sleep at night or even a hot water bottle. A warm balaclava that covers your face comfortably at night will also be a great help.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided with a chef who will cater to diet restrictions and meals to help your climb. Breakfast and dinner will be served in the “mess tent”
Water is collected from mountain streams and purified with tablets, Water will get refilled after breakfast and dinner every night. Bring your empty water bottles and camelbacks to the mess tent for breakfast and dinner and an assistant guide will refill your bottles for you with clean water.
Our advice: stop drinking once you arrive at camp for the night and only have a cup of tea with dinner (hopefully with a rehydration salt as well). Then, wait about 30 minutes to one hour after dinner to use the bathroom before bed and this will hopefully allow you to not need to get up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom (which will seem like one of the most tedious things you can imagine in the middle of a cold night at high altitude). Drink more when you first wake up and start moving instead (1 liter before breakfast if you can). This is easier to manage for using the bathroom at more convenient times.

Tip:carry at least 3 liters while hiking, water is only provided at the campsites

You are only to carry a few items that you can need to the next camp, everything else will be placed into your duffel bag and carried by the porters (maximum of 15kg). items you will need to carry in your day pack are waterproof gear, extra clothing, water, snacks, gloves, hat, Sunglasses, bug repellant, sun screen. Wipes etc.

There is an emergency medical helicopter evacuation service on the mountain, this service only provided by kilimanjarosar. It is recommended to have an insurance covering this service

For a successful helicopter evacuation on Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, one should acquire a travel insurance that covers medical evacuation 6000 meters above sea level, it is very important to ask your travel insurance provider to include this type of coverage within the policy that you purchase. Ensure your policy is not on a reimbursement basis.

If the patient evacuated is not medically covered by his/her travel insurance, the charges are between $5,200 and $5,800. These charges include helicopter evacuation and clinic.