Umbwe Route

Electronic Gadgets

Some Electronic Gadgets should be in your backpack to make your trek smooth and enjoyable on the demanding trails of Kilimanjaro.

Listed below are some of the Electronic Gadgets fundamental for your Kilimanjaro trek:

Smart Phone:

Mobile phones are one of the most important things whether you want to connect to your family and relatives or clicking the breathtaking views of the majestic Kilimanjaro or listen to music or net surfing.

Power Bank:

Music player:

Music keeps you engage on your trek when you get exhausted in the harsh terrain of Kilimanjaro and lets you feel energetic and motivated.

Camera:

Camera helps you to capture the journey of your amazing adventures.

Food

Good food is necessary for your Kilimanjaro adventure. And we understand our hikers need a taste of home as they are moving in a strenuous trek.

For staying well-fed and hydrated, a typical food guide on Kilimanjaro includes.

Breakfast:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Fruits
• Fruit juice
• Scrambled eggs/omelet
• Sausage
• Toast
• Margarine
• Honey and jam

Lunch:

• Hot tea
• Coffee
• Chips
• Biscuits
• Sandwiches
• Pancakes with honey or jam, and fruits

Dinner:

• Soup
• Cooked meat or vegetarian meal (these include chicken/beef with rice sliced fresh carrots and green beans, mashed potatoes, and salads)
• Fruits, and fruit juice, and variety of hot drinks

If you have any dietary needs (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), please inform us prior your arrival, so that we can pan a well-menu.

Taking some vaccines are mandatory before visiting Tanzania.

The following vaccinations are recommended for travelers heading to Tanzania:

• Routine vaccinations: measles, mumps, rubella, polio, adult diphtheria and tetanus
• Yellow Fever
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid
• Cholera
• Rabies (If you are planning to interact with animals on your trip or participating in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking and other adventure travel activities)

Medical services in Tanzania are limited. You may fall ill at anytime, so a first aid kit should be taken containing basic things like bandage, cotton, some pain killers or any tablets you need.

Facts about Kilimanjaro Porters

• Kilimanjaro Porters spend 7 to 8 days in ragged clothes and shoes with 15kg on their head and back.
• Before you start your trek, they pack your equipment and race to set everything before your arrival to the next camp.
• They put your tent, cook and serve your food, boil water so that you can have a hot wash.

Support Staff Ratios

Normally we recommend 2 to 3 porters per hiker. This ratio with the equipment list will ensure your safety during the trek.

Weight limits for porters

The weight limit per porter is 15 kg (32 lbs) per climber. If your luggage weight more than that then you have to hire extra porter with extra pay.

Though the topic is very unpleasant, the questions regarding mountain toilets will come to mind before your climb.

The traditional loos are wooden huts. Trekkers feel little difficulty to use them. So those have been replaced?

Now there are two options for the toilet–

• • Trekkers can use the new improved toilets which are at each camp.
• • Can use a private toilet carried up by our porters. (the costs are little high).

Usually, trekkers prefer to use the private toilet.

What is a private toilet like on Kilimanjaro?

A private tent is clean, doesn’t smell. They are made from plastic, have a seat and flush mechanism. They are placed inside a little toilet tent. So privacy is well-maintained. The new Kilimanjaro toilets are also great. They are big and clean. They offer western-style toilet. The floors and walls are tiled. If the campsites remain busy, then they are not perfect.

Altitude Sickness

There are three altitude zones on Kilimanjaro – high altitude (2,500 – 3,500 metres), very high altitude (3,500 – 5,500 metres) and extreme altitude (above 5,500 metres). At high altitude and a very high altitude, there is a great chance to experience Altitude sickness. So a proper acclimatization strategy involves not going too high, too fast whilst also ensuring you don’t overexert yourself and remain well hydrated.

Let’s have a clear idea of Altitude Sickness.

What is Altitude Sickness

The feeling of sickness is caused by being at high altitude, when the level of Oxygen gets low.

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is otherwise known as altitude illness, hypobaropathy, Acosta disease, puna, and soroche.

High altitude trekking comes with obvious risks.

High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE), are your biggest concerns on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Facts about Altitude Sickness

• At higher altitudes, the number of oxygen molecules per breath decreases.
• Symptoms of altitude sickness include weakness, sleepiness, and lack of appetite.
• The main causes are climbing to a great height too quickly or staying at that height for too long.
• There are several treatments for altitude sickness, but the individual should first slowly descend.

Symptoms Of Altitude Sickness

• Weakness
• Lack of appetite
• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Swelling in hand, face and feet
• Insomnia
• Shortness of breath upon exertion
• Headache and fever

Treatment

• Stop ascending
• Take a good amount of sleep
• Take fluid more and more
• Avoid smoking
• Take pure Oxygen
• Take painkillers

Each of our treks is managed by a team of professionally trained trekking guide, cook and porters. Our guides and trek crew are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience to our clients. All our Guides have loads of experience and are well versed about the routes, natural history and cultural background.

All our staff of highly trained professional guides is here to make your journey as safe and secure as possible. Our Guides are medically certified and have abundant experience on Kilimanjaro and its environments.

We believe in customer loyalty and satisfaction, due to which we work hard to give the best experience to our clients so that they have a wonderful experience.