Water and beverages on Kilimanjaro trek
Kilimanjaro's streams provide fresh water which is collected by our porters and provided at your campsites for your use. All water is boiled for drinking, and you're encouraged to consume 3-4 liters daily to aid with altitude acclimatization.
You will be provided water from your first campsite onward. You will need to have your own drinking bottle filled for the first days hike.
Higher altitudes can turn your water into ice, especially in bladders during summit attempts. To avoid this, insulate your water or use a thermal flask. It might be a bit heavier, but it's crucial to prevent your hydration source from freezing.
Begin and end your day with comforting beverages. Options like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or milk are available during breakfast and dinner. Lunchtime provisions include a hydrating juice packet. Remember, there aren't any spots to purchase beverages on the mountain, so you'll rely on what we provide for food on the Kilimanjaro trek.
Although a soda or beer might be tempting on the hike, we recommend against consuming soft drinks and any alcohol during the climb. Alcohol can exacerbate dehydration and heighten altitude sickness risks. It's better to celebrate with a Kilimanjaro beer AFTER descending!
We believe that boiling water (even at a high altitude) is sufficient in killing viruses, bacteria, and parasites however many clients can choose to bring their own purification tablets or portable filtration systems.
Dietary Restrictions and Tailoring Your Meals
Inform us of your dietary preferences or allergies in advance. We cater to diverse requirements offering standard non-vegetarian, vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, Hindu, Jain, Halal and other custom planned options. Our dedicated cook and waiter manage food preparations, ensuring you get a nutritious and tasty meal. Given the trek's isolated nature, porters carry all ingredients from the start.
All food products may not be available in Tanzania therefore you may wish to bring a few small personal snacks that may help boost your energy or morale during the hike. Vegans, vegetarians or those who do not eat meat or eggs are encouraged to bring a few protein bars to help supplement this during the hike.
It is extremely important for you to inform us in advance of your dietary requirements or food allergies. All ingredients, cooking utensils, crockery, cutlery; gas cylinders for cooking will be carried by your porters, so the ingredients cannot be changed once you head off on your trek!
Sample Menu for a Kilimanjaro trek
Kilimanjaro trek food isn't just about filling your stomach; it's about delighting your palate. Menus are customized based on trekker preferences and ingredient availability. For an idea of our culinary offerings, here's a sneak peek into a potential non-vegetarian menu. You can request sample menus for our vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options as well as for non standard dietary requirements.
Note: The below sample menu is based on a standard 8 day Kilimanjaro hiking itinerary via the southern circuit routes (e.g Lemosho, Machame, Shira). Other or shorter / longer routes may have a slightly varied menu.
Day 1
Lunch packet: Beef burger, fried chicken, chips, cake, sweet fried doughnut, juice packet, fruit.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts).
Dinner: Mixed vegetable soup, boiled / sauteed potatoes, fish fingers with green vegetables, mixed salad, fruit.
Day 2
Breakfast: Oat’s porridge, beef sausage, pancake, bread, choice of egg (omelette, boiled or fried), peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Hot Lunch: Carrot soup, macaroni bolognaise, mixed salad, fruit, juice packet, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder.
or lunch packet (with slower pace or longer routes): Sandwich, vegetable pie, muffin, boiled egg, fruit, juice packet.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts).
Dinner: Zucchini soup, chickpea fritters, mixed vegetable rice with chicken curry, mixed salad, fruit.
Day 3
Breakfast: Finger millet porridge, beef sausage, sweet potatoes / yams, bread, choice of egg (omelette, boiled or fried), peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Hot Lunch: Guacamole with toasted bread, boiled / sauteed potatoes, fried chicken, mixed salad, fruit, juice packet, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder.
or lunch packet (with slower pace or longer routes): Vegetable rice, chicken stroganoff, fruit, juice packet
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts)
Dinner: Cucumber soup, peppered steak with mashed potatoes, salad, sweet fried doughnut, fruit.
Day 4
Breakfast: Oat’s porridge, beef sausage, pancake, bread, choice of egg (omelette, boiled or fried), peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Hot Lunch: Pea soup with pancake, stir fry mushroom noodles, mixed salad, fruit, juice packet, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder.
or lunch packet (with slower pace or longer routes): Stir fry noodles, boiled egg, fruit, juice packet.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts).
Dinner: Pumpkin soup, sautéed mushrooms with Swahili stiff corn ‘Ugali’ and spinach, mixed salad, fruit.
Day 5
Breakfast: Finger millet porridge, beef sausage, sweet potatoes / yams, bread, choice of egg (omelette, boiled or fried), peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Hot Lunch: Fried chicken and chips, mixed salad, fruit, juice packet, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder.
or lunch packet (with slower pace or longer routes): Fried chicken, vegetable pie, muffin, boiled egg, fruit, juice packet.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts)
Dinner: French onion soup with chickpea fritters, Swahili kidney beans with rice, mixed salad, fruit
Day 6
Breakfast: Oat’s porridge, beef sausage, pancake, bread, choice of egg (omelette, boiled or fried), peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Hot Lunch: Cucumber soup, chips, mixed salad, fruit, juice packet, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder.
or lunch packet (with slower pace or longer routes): Mixed vegetable rice with sauteed mushrooms, fruit, juice packet.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts).
Dinner: Carrot soup, mixed vegetable noodles, salad, fruit
Pre summit Snack: Juice packet, apple, 1 chocolate bar.
Day 7
Post summit brunch: Leak soup, sandwich, chapati and mixed fruits, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Teatime: Coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder,1 snack (popcorn or biscuits or peanuts).
Dinner: Green banana ‘Matoke’ stew, beef pilau with spinach, mixed salad, fruit.
Day 8
Breakfast: Oat’s porridge, beef sausage, chip “maiyai’ omelette, bread, peanut butter, margarine, jam, coffee, hot chocolate, black tea, optional milk powder, fruit.
Lunch: Can be pre-booked / pre-paid at your Moshi lodge, ordered from your post climb lodge menu or decided with your guides on the day.
When descending via 'Mweka' camp we do not pre-include a lunch on the last day of the trek as most hikers will exit the park in the late morning. Many hikers decide to have a final lunch with the guides somewhere near the gate or you can have lunch at your post climb lodge instead from their A La carte menu.
Sustainability and Consumption Practices
Environmental stewardship is paramount on Kilimanjaro. Adhering to the principles of 'Leave No Trace', our team ensures that the mountain remains pristine for future trekkers. Disposable plastics are not allowed on the trek except for some limited packaged foods (plastic packaging to be removed by crew from the mountain). In general in Tanzania you will notice a focus on fresh foods and ingredients as opposed to packaged goods.
We operate on a 'Trash in, trash out' system, meaning everything we bring onto the mountain is carried back out, minimizing our environmental footprint. Remember, there are no outlets to make additional purchases during the trek, so it's essential to be well-prepared and mindful of our waste practices.
