Mount Kilimanjaro Climbing Travel Guider
Kilimanjaro Food and Drinks
Daily Kilimanjaro Sample Menus
Our dining tent, equipped with comfortable chairs, is the perfect setting for our guests to enjoy various meals during their expedition on Kilimanjaro. You can expect to be served with a variety of meals each day, with the following menu providing an overview:
Breakfast typically consists of porridge, sausage, eggs, toast, marmalade, jams, and hot beverages such as tea, coffee, or chocolate. We encourage climbers to communicate their appetite to their guide but rest assured, we always provide sufficient food, erring on the side of caution if no particular preference is stated.
Lunch is typically a packed meal you can conveniently carry in your daypack. The meal includes boiled eggs, sandwiches, chicken portions, fresh fruit, and cold drinks. After a rigorous hike, we serve an afternoon tea with biscuits, peanuts, salted popcorn, and hot beverages.
Dinner is a grand affair, starting with soup, followed by a main course comprising chicken or meat, vegetable sauce, cabbage, rice, pasta, or potatoes, and fresh fruit for dessert. Our meals are designed to keep you satisfied and energized throughout your expedition to Kilimanjaro.
Having some of your favorite foods, like Heinz, Nescafe, and Nestle, is lovely when you’re away from home. Let us know if you have any dietary restrictions, and we’ll accommodate them. If you have a strict diet, bringing food is a good idea since finding specific ingredients in Tanzania might be challenging.
Altitude can make you less hungry, but we can help with that. We serve meals with carbohydrates, which the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine recommends to help you perform better at altitude, recover faster, and have more energy. Eating a lot of carbs can also help reduce symptoms of altitude sickness because it enables you to breathe better.
When you’re at altitude, you might prefer foods with carbs instead of protein or fat. That’s because altitude changes how your body works, and you need more energy than at home.
Our cooks use fresh ingredients on Mount Kilimanjaro, so you don’t have to eat dehydrated food. We’re proud of the variety of food we offer, and you’ll enjoy it too, even if you’re used to eating different food on the trail.
Drinking Water on Kilimanjaro
Our standard practice is to provide boiled, filtered, and purified water to our climbers. In Africa, drinking untreated water is a significant cause of gastrointestinal problems. Therefore, we take all necessary precautions to ensure that all our water is treated correctly, including the water we use for cooking and washing food.
Staying hydrated is of utmost importance for acclimatization. The dry air, physical exertion, and high altitude can quickly cause dehydration. Maintaining hydration levels when taking Diamox to aid acclimatization is particularly important.
How much water should you drink when Climbing Kilimanjaro?
Regarding daily water intake, we recommend aiming for 3-4 liters. To enhance the taste and benefits of plain water, it is advisable to incorporate an electrolyte formula and flavoring drops. During your Kilimanjaro expedition, you can access tea, coffee, hot chocolate, squash, and fruit juices at each camp. It is important to note that sodas and bottled water are not provided.
