Adventure Travel Destinations | BY Rami Rasamny | PUBLISH DATE: March 26 2019 | READ TIME: 5 mins | UPDATED DATE: August 23 2026
5 Tips I Wish I’d Known Before Climbing Kilimanjaro
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“Waterproof Isn’t exactly waterproof.” It’s that period in life when the bucket list starts to pile up and we realize that time is no longer as endless as it felt during middle school biology. And it’s not uncommon to find climbing Kilimanjaro at the top of the list. Standing on the roof of Africa is […]
“Waterproof Isn’t exactly waterproof.”
It’s that period in life when the bucket list starts to pile up and we realize that time is no longer as endless as it felt during middle school biology. And it’s not uncommon to find climbing Kilimanjaro at the top of the list. Standing on the roof of Africa is one of the most incredible experiences of my life and ten summits of Kilimanjaro later, it’s not less incredible. I fully understand why this mountain has the appeal that it does, but like the many who come to climb, I too had no experience and no proper guidance on what to expect from this serious challenge. So, I’ve put together a list of things I wish I had known BEFORE heading to the hill.
1- WATERPROOF DUFFLE BAGS ARE NOT WATERPROOF
It may say waterproof and come with a fancy tag that no one reads explaining how it works, but at the very end of it all, water passes through material once the material is fully saturated. This can be delayed by huge lengths of time but ultimately there is no two ways around this truism. Consequently, if you get rain on Kilimanjaro, and you will, it is very likely that you’ll reach camp to damp clothes, or worse, a wet sleeping bag. The solution is simple. Put all your stuff into plastic garbage bags before putting them in the duffle bag.
2- DIAMOX CAN HELP PREVENT ALTITUDE SICKNESS, BUT IT IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR ACCLIMATISATION
Diamox is a common brand name for acetazolamide, a prescription medication with an established role in helping prevent Acute Mountain Sickness, or AMS, in some circumstances. It works by supporting acclimatisation; it does not prevent the body from adapting naturally.
That does not mean every Kilimanjaro climber should take it. Life Happens Outdoors discourages treating Diamox as a mandatory summit pill or using it to justify a faster itinerary. Whether it is appropriate for you should be discussed with a qualified doctor or travel health clinician who understands your medical history, regular medication, previous altitude experience and exact Kilimanjaro itinerary.
Medication does not replace a sensible route, gradual ascent, a slow pace, regular food and fluid intake, careful monitoring or honest symptom reporting. If you feel unwell at altitude, tell your guide immediately. Do not continue ascending while possible altitude symptoms are being assessed, and do not borrow medication or choose a dose using online advice alone.
For a fuller explanation, read our guide to Kilimanjaro altitude sickness and Diamox.
3- EAR PLUGS
Yes, ear plugs. Tents are made out of fabric and just as your bedsheets can’t keep out the noise of your siblings, children, roommates or significant others in the next room additionally separated by a wall, so too, your tent will not keep out the noise of a camp full of climbers, porters, guides and park wardens.
“Heat illness, dehydration and altitude sickness can share symptoms. Report changes early and do not try to diagnose yourself.”
You may not like to use them in daily life but you’ll quickly get used to them on the mountain.
4- TREKKING POLES
“I don’t walk with poles” seems to be the most common objection to our insistence on having this most important piece of equipment. Poles are not an indication of physical weakness. Rather they are an indication of intelligence. Because even if you don’t require them to walk under normal circumstances, ankles do twist, knees do buckle, muscles do sprain and poles do carry you when the inevitable occurs. Also, most trekkers and climbers have never gone from 5,895 meters down to 3,000 meters. That is almost 3 vertical kilometers of decent, which we perform in a single day on the way down from the summit. Our knees are not designed to take that kind of impact without assistance. You will damage them without poles. This is not an opinion. It’s a very basic fact. So please take the poles. Two poles.
5- SUN, HEAT AND HYDRATION STILL MATTER
Kilimanjaro’s altitude does not remove the risks created by strong equatorial sun, physical exertion and changing temperatures. Sun exposure, dehydration and heat illness can cause symptoms such as headache, nausea, dizziness and unusual tiredness. Some of these symptoms can also occur with altitude sickness, which is why self-diagnosis can be dangerous.
Protect yourself with a sun hat, suitable clothing and sunscreen, and drink consistently across the day without forcing excessive quantities of water. Continue eating manageable meals and snacks, even if your appetite begins to fall.
If you develop a headache, nausea, diarrhoea, dizziness, unusual fatigue or any other concerning change, tell your guide immediately. Do not assume it is heat illness, altitude sickness or dehydration without assessment. Do not start, stop or change prescription medication based on one symptom or advice from another trekker. The guide and medical team should assess the full situation and decide whether you should rest, stop ascending or descend.
This article was reviewed for Kilimanjaro accuracy by Emmanuel Matinde Asseno, a Tanzanian mountain guide licensed by Tanzania’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (Mountain Guiding Licence No. 037979) and a current Board Member of the Kilimanjaro Guides Association.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rami Rasamny
Rami Rasamny is the founder of Life Happens Outdoors, a premium adventure travel company that uses the outdoors as a catalyst for human transformation. His work brings people into the mountains not only for challenge, but for clarity, confidence, and connection. He believes that when people answer the call to adventure truthfully, they come back different.
