8. TREKKING EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

It’s time to start getting your equipment together and make an inventory of what you still need. Run through the checklist and either purchase or fill out our rental form for the items you still need.

Remember, hard-sided luggage is not allowed, and there is a 15 Kg / 33-pound combined weight limit for your carry-on and duffel.

DOWNLOAD THE EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST

Soft-Sided Duffel Bag: Due to aircraft and vehicle space in Tanzania, your checked luggage must be a soft-sided duffel bag no larger than 30”L x 15”W x 15”H, without a rigid structure. Wheeled duffels are acceptable if they do not have hard sides. . Combined baggage cannot exceed 15 Kg33 pounds.

Soft-Sided Day Pack: This bag will serve as your carry-on for international flights and can then be used as your day pack while in Tanzania. During your flight to Tanzania, this bag should contain one complete change of clothes, medications, essential toiletries, binoculars, your camera and other irreplaceable items, like your passport, wallet and electronics.

Spare Foldable Duffel Bag: If you tend to bring back lots of souvenirs when you travel, pack a small spare foldable duffel bag in your main duffel. You can also use this bag to leave any items at the hotel you are not taking on the mountain or safari.

Note: If you are extending your trip and require additional internal or inter-Africa flights, please note that you may need to adhere to the 15 Kg/ 33 lb. weight allowance and consolidate your belongings into one bag.

Laundry: Laundry is available after the trek and before the safari for a small fee (about $1-3/item). In most camps, and even some lodges, this is done by hand, and laundry is air dried. You may want to bring several mesh or nylon packing cubes or stuff sacks to organize your clothing.

Toiletries: Please note that camps and lodges provide shampoo, conditioner and soap. Some guests choose to bring a small amount of their preferred brand from home, but this is not required.

KCC PACKING TIP !!

USE PACKING CUBES

To help you organise your gear and clothing while on the mountain, we suggest using PACKING CUBES to pack your Duffel Bag. This will help you locate the correct clothing needed for the day and reduce the stress of getting ready in the mornings / evenings.

9. TREK EXTENSIONS

9.1  SAFARI

When embarking on a Tanzanian safari, you can expect an unforgettable experience filled with up-close encounters with the diverse and fascinating wildlife that inhabits the country’s national parks and conservation areas. From seeing the iconic “big five” (lion, elephant, buffalo, leopard, rhinoceros) to witnessing large herds of zebras and wildebeest roaming freely across the savannah plains during the Great Migration in Serengeti National Park, there is no shortage of incredible sights to behold.

PACKING FOR SAFARI – WHAT TO BRING

Packing List

Get your belongings together to take inventory of what you still need. Purchase travel items and pack your soft-sided duffel bag and day pack. Remember, hard-sided luggage is not allowed, and there is a 33-pound combined weight limit for your carry-on and duffel.

Families or groups traveling together may prefer to share some of the items (for example, insect repellant or first aid items) to consolidate gear and offset weight. If you plan to do laundry on your trip (available throughout for a fee), you may prefer to bring fewer articles of clothing.

DOWNLOAD SAFARI PACKING LIST

You’ll want casual attire you can move around and relax in—and don’t mind getting a little dirty. Once you book your safari, we’ll mail you a detailed packing list to help you prepare. If you are trekking with us, you will have most things already covered. In the meantime, here’s a shortlist:

Luggage

• Soft-sided duffel bags only
• Soft-sided day pack
• Spare foldable duffel bag

Clothing

• Short- and long-sleeve shirts for layering and sun/mosquito protection
• Shorts; convertible, lightweight zip-off pants; and khakis
• Fleece or insulated jacket for cool nights at Ngorongoro Crater or in the Serengeti
• Waterproof windbreaker or poncho
• Wide-brim, tie-on sun hat
• Bathing suit for lodges with pools
• Sleepwear

Footwear

• Running, walking shoes, or light hiking boots
• Second pair of shoes or sandals
• Shower flip-flops/Teva-type sandals

Essentials

• Travel documents, including a valid passport with visa, immunization card (if traveling to Rwanda/Kenya) and airline tickets
• Cash and a credit card for emergencies
• Flashlight and/or headlamp with extra batteries
• Sunglasses (100% UV screening with retainer straps)
• Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF 40+
• Mosquito repellent containing DEET
• Citronella-based repellent for tsetse flies
• Anti-itch cream
• Bandanas
• Hand sanitizer and wipes
• Bath kit, including toothbrush and toothpaste; body wash; moisturizing lotion; small packet of tissues; shaving gear; tampons and panty liners—please avoid plastic tampon applicators
• Binoculars
• Money belt, neck pouch or fanny pack

Accommodations

Additionally, you can look forward to accommodation in luxurious lodges or intimate tented camps that offer top-notch service and delicious cuisine.

• All the tented camps have a spacious, walk-in, custom-designed canvas tent with bug-proof, fine mesh screens.

• Beds have proper mattresses, fine linens, and pillows.

• En-suite bathrooms include eco-friendly pump-flush toilets, safari-style pull-chain showers (flip-flops recommended), wash basin, and towels.

• Staff will be available at all times, and a night watchman patrols the grounds.

Meals & Laundry

• Meals are taken in a group dining tent unless otherwise noted. You may request for meals to be served in your tent.

• In most of lodges you will be on a full-board food and drink plan. A cash bar is also available for non-native drinks and sprits. Credit card facilities may not be available at camp!

• Laundry is available at camp for a small fee (about $1-3/item). Items need to air dry, so this service is weather permitting.

Electrical Power

• Tented Camps use solar-powered lighting; please bring a headlamp as back-up and for late-night reading.

• There are no power outlets in your Nyumba tents; charge all batteries and devices before leaving home.

• Shared charging stations are available at most tented camps in the lounge, and in all KCC vehicles. Outlets accept US-style plugs.

• Lodge outlets require either UK or European adapters for use

Weather

Weather on a Tanzanian safari can vary greatly depending on the time of year and specific region being visited.

The country experiences two distinct seasons:

• Wet (November to May)
• Dry (June to October)

During the wet season, intense rainfall can create muddy conditions and make wildlife sightings more challenging. However, this time of year is when the landscapes are at their most lush and vibrant, making for stunning photo opportunities. In contrast, the dry season brings clear skies and cooler temperatures, leading to optimal game viewing conditions as animals gather around watering holes.

It is important for safari-goers to pack layers to accommodate for temperature fluctuations throughout the day, as mornings and evenings can be quite cool while afternoons are often hot. Overall, being prepared for varying weather conditions will ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience while exploring Tanzania’s incredible wildlife reserves.

• Evening temperatures at higher elevations around the Ngorongoro Crater and in the Eastern Serengeti Ecosystem may fall as low as 4-5°C /  40° F. During July and August please pack cold-weather clothing

• Sporadic rain may occur year-round; a lightweight waterproof jacket is recommended.

Wildlife Viewing

Our expert guides will lead game drives through the stunning landscapes while sharing their knowledge about the flora and fauna found in Tanzania. Overall, a Tanzanian safari promises an adventure that will leave visitors in awe of the beauty and majesty of Africa’s wildlife and landscapes.

• Your highly trained guides will find the best wildlife viewing locations each day with varying morning and afternoon drives.

• Your guide will answer any questions you have about local customs and traditions and explain when it is appropriate to take photos of local people – if you are not sure, just ask your guide!

General Safari Tips

Prepare for some long, bumpy rides: Your safari vehicles are tough and your drivers are experts, but drives can be long (sometimes 4-8 hours), and the roads can be rough. If you have a medical condition that can be aggravated by rough roads, consult your doctor. Bringing a seat cushion or lumbar back brace, and sitting near the front of the safari vehicle can help.

Prepare for dust: It is especially dusty in the dry season (July–October), we recommend wearing a bandana or mask and using moist towelettes. If you want to mask the dust on your clothing, you may consider wearing beige or khaki colors.

Clothing colors: Some scientists suggest black and dark blue attract tsetse flies. You may consider wearing muted colors, like beiges, khakis and greens, but it is not required. You will be well prepared with the fly swatters provided in the vehicles and the recommended bug sprays on the packing list.

Don’t be embarrassed; everyone needs to use the restroom: Let your guide know early if you need to stop somewhere to relieve yourself. The best option may be outdoors, depending on the remoteness of your location.

Respect animals’ space and habitats: Situations when you especially want to be quiet and remain at a safe distance include:

• When animals are mating
• When a predator is on a hunt or eating a kill
• When a mother has a young animal beside her
• When animals are in the middle of the road
• When a lone male (buffalo, lion, elephant, etc.) is near

Bring your headlamp/flashlight to dinner: There will only be the ambient light of the stars to guide you back to your tent. The camp crew will also be happy to escort you.

Use common sense in cities: Be respectful of the culture, do not flaunt jewelry or valuables, keep a money pouch or belt hidden from view, and be firm but polite when declining offers of CDs, souvenirs or other unwanted requests.

The equatorial sun is intense: Bring a wide-brim hat, sunscreen/lip balm (minimum SPF 30), and drink plenty of water.

The climate is temperate: Even at the equator, mornings and evenings can be surprisingly cool, especially at higher elevations like the Eastern Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater camps.

Bring masks: You will need your own supply of masks for public places and airports.  These, or a bandana, can even be used on safari in dusty conditions.

Respect park and camp rules: Never feed or attempt to interact with wildlife, and never walk outside the immediate boundaries of your camp or lodge at any time.

TIPPING WHILE ON SAFARI

For ease of tipping, we recommend carrying some loose change with you, either one-dollar bills, or equivalent in the local Tanzanian currency. You can also carry Euros or Sterling Pounds, both are generally accepted

Always remember, tipping is a personal decision, and the amount should be based on your satisfaction and financial means.

Tipping your safari driver-guides

For Small Group Safaris, between 2-4 people
You may tip between USD 10 and USD 20 per traveler, per day.

E.g. USD 200 for a 5 day safari for a honeymoon couple.

For Large Group Safaris, more than 5 people
You may tip collectively between USD 30 to USD 40 per group, per day.

E.g. USD 280 for a 7 day safari for a family of 6.

For half-day safaris and tours, you may tip half the suggested range. Tips to Safari Driver-Guides are usually given at the end of the Safari when bidding farewell.

Tipping staff at camps and lodges

You may tip between USD 2 and USD 4 per traveler, per day – at checkout if you are tipping in the community tip jar, or you may also tip a similar amount individually to help and support staff that have served you personally during your stay.

Tipping Staff at Restaurants

Tips of between 3-5% of the total bill are considered normal, whereas tips of about 10% of your bill would be considered very generous. If you are paying by card, and the establishment does allow you to process a tip payment, then you can do that as well.

Tipping Porters

Hotel and airport porters may be tipped USD 1.00 to USD 3.00 either each time you happen to use them or in general upon checkout (if part of a Camp or Lodge).

Tipping City/Airport Transfer Drivers

Tips for transfers are not common and not expected. However, if you do feel like giving a tip on a private city transfer then you may tip between USD 2.00 and USD 4.00 per transfer depending on the distance and time taken.

9.2 ZANZIBAR

If you are joining one of our Summit 2 Safari & Beach or Summit 2 Beach Adventures, you will need to look through the following information and complete some tasks to help plan your trip.

MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE

Starting on October 1, 2024, all visitors to Zanzibar (excluding residents) must have mandatory Inbound Travel Insurance from Zanzibar Insurance Corporation. Please note: this supplemental insurance is required even if you have another comprehensive travel insurance policy. Please visit visitzanzibar.go.tz to learn more about this requirement and to purchase coverage. The cost is $44 per person.

FLIGHTS

Flight Information

Please make sure you have submitted your domestic flight details in the Client Information Form so we can have our driver waiting for you at the airport for transfers.

Transfers

• Airport to Hotel transfers
• Transfer from Zanzibar airport to Zanzibar hotel or vice versa: No extra charge

• Zanzibar airport to Stone Town – 40 – 50 mins
• Zanzibar airport to Zanizbar beach hotel – approx 1.5 hours
• Zanzibar beach hotel to Zanzibar airport – approx 1.5 hours

• All airport / hotel transfers
• Accommodations
• Meals based on food plan in the itinerary
• Activities mentioned in the itinerary

• Personal Items (Souvenirs, Travel Insurance, Visa Fees, etc.).
• International flights.
• Domestic Flights
• Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary.
• Tips (Tipping guidelines).
• Government imposed increase of Taxes and or Park Fees.
• Additional accommodation before and at the end of the tour (Unless mentioned otherwise).

ACTIVITIES & ATTIRE

• In public places like Stone Town, please wear clothing that covers from shoulders to knees out of respect for the culture of the Zanzibari people. Guests who do not adhere to this dress code may be subject to a fine issued by the government of Zanzibar.
• At your beachside resort, dress is much more casual; shorts, bikinis, bathing suits, etc. are appropriate.
• Bars and lounges are available in most lodges; those without (i.e. Tembo Hotel) have other options nearby.
• Zanzibar offers rich cultural and historical tours that explore the history of the slave trade, the spice industry, and trading in general as well as numerous beach activities like snorkeling, diving, kayaking, sailing, and swimming.

Please check your itinerary for which activities are included in your package.

ELECTRICAL POWER

• Air conditioning is available at most lodges. Please check with us if this is a concern.
• You will need a variety of European adapters if you plan on using wall outlets for charging batteries in your lodges, so we recommend packing a multi-plug adapter set.
• You may find that – due to conservation issues on Zanzibar – water pressure may not be very high, and many lodges turn off electricity during afternoon “siesta” hours.

MONETARY CONSIDERATIONS

• US Dollars are accepted on Zanzibar.
• Credit cards are generally accepted at lodges, resorts, and larger gift shops. High surcharges and additional fees from your card provider may apply. MasterCard and Visa are more widely accepted than American Express.

WEATHER CONDITIONS

• Temperatures are pleasant year round, with highs in the 90s and lows in the 70s. Humidity increases in November through March. April and early May tend to be rainy on Zanzibar.

10. OUR STAFF

MOUNTAIN STAFF

Head guides and support guides lead trekkers up the mountain and ensure the most rigorous safety protocols are in place. Every guide is a certified Wilderness First Responder, fluent in English and Swahili, and experienced with hundreds of professional summits on Kilimanjaro!

Our Chefs will cook you 3 glorious hot meals a day that will fuel you up for the mountain. They are all trained and cater for all dietary requirements. It will amaze you what they can concoct in the extremities of Kilimanjaro!

Camp porters carry the entire camp! The number of porters ranges from approximately 20 – 60 porters and varies based on the number of trekkers and trekking days. It’s quite a remarkable operation! One camp porter per trekker is already included in your trek package to carry your duffel bag with gear that you will not have access to while on the trail (e.g., sleeping bag, camp shoes, toiletries, etc.).

11. TIPPING GUIDELINES

Tipping on Kilimanjaro is customary and encouraged but not obligatory, however, most climbers feel grateful for their hardworking mountain crew and choose to tip them as a way of thanking them for their contribution to the climb.

Tipping is a common practice on Kilimanjaro, as the crew relies on tips to supplement their salaries. The minimum wage they receive from the government is not enough to provide a livable income. Despite this, tour operators do not increase salaries because many crew members prefer the tipping system, as it allows them to earn a livable wage without reaching the tax threshold.

The mountain crew on Kilimanjaro prefers the tipping system because it is more motivating than a set wage. Crew members who work hard and provide excellent service are rewarded with bigger tips, making tips very important to them. We therefore encourage our clients to budget money for the tipping ceremony for these reasons.

Who are the people in a mountain crew?

Every single Kilimanjaro climb group is accompanied by a mountain crew. This crew consists of:

Beware of Kilimanjaro trekking companies that use small mountain crews to save money. These budget operators often overload and overwork their staff, which can compromise the safety and experience of climbers. Make sure to ask about the size of the mountain crew when researching a company to ensure they prioritize the well-being of their staff and climbers.

How much should I be tipping?

It can be challenging to determine the right amount to tip your mountain crew early on in the planning phase. Once the size of your climbing group is set, you can use tables to determine how much to tip. It is important to understand the recommended amount to tip each type of mountain crew member based on their experience and duties.

Daily tipping amounts per mountain crew member

* These tip amounts are our recommendations based on industry standards as of January 2024.

Please ask your lead guide to indicate who is a helping porter and who is a porter. If you have a large mountain crew, it might just be about asking the number of helping porters and the number of porters, as you might not get to meet each one individually.

The longer your climb, the more you tip

Most Kilimanjaro climbs are six to nine days. Given that crew members should be tipped on a daily basis, the longer your climb, the more you’ll tip. The tables below provide overall tips per climber for different route durations.

7 DAY TREK - TIPPING GUIDELINES ( $USD per person)

8 DAY TREK - TIPPING GUIDELINES ( $USD per person)

8 DAY TREK - TIPPING GUIDELINES ( $USD per person)

The tip may seem large, but it’s divided among the entire mountain crew who work hard and support you during your climb. They deserve every penny you can spare to show your appreciation.

Please tip according to the service received

The amount you tip should be based on the quality of service you receive. Tips help motivate the mountain crew to work hard. If you are not satisfied with the service, you can tip less than the recommended amount. For good service, tip within the recommended range, and for exceptional service, consider tipping the maximum amount. However, it is not advisable to tip above the maximum recommendation as it can lead to crews depending on unsustainable tips. If you loved the service, tip each crew member the highest recommended daily amount for their job type.

What currency should I use for my tips?

Kilimanjaro tipping can be done in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings (TSh). Other currencies aren’t helpful to the crew.

We suggest withdrawing enough dollars before you travel to Tanzania, or drawing the necessary cash at the airport. Once you head to Kilimanjaro for your climb, you won’t have an opportunity to get your hands on cash.

Please note that it’s very important that US bills are new (post 2013), crisp, and untorn. Otherwise they won’t be accepted by the local banks.

When do I hand over my tips?

Climbers give tips to the mountain crew during the tipping ceremony at the end of a climb.

It’s very helpful to bring an assortment of notes for tipping on Kilimanjaro. In this way the climb group’s appointed spokesperson can divide the cash into the appropriate portions for each member of the mountain crew.

12. Final Payment

Your final balance payment must be received 45 days prior to your departure date. Our office will send you the final invoice with the balance.

• We accept final payments via wire transfer or electronic funds transfer in $USD, £GBP, EURO and $AUD.
• Credit cards are accepted. However, there will be a 2.5%handling fee of the full amount.
• Include your invoice number with all forms of payment.
• The banking details for your selected currency will be on your final invoice

Once you have sent your payment, please let us know via phone or email. We will then notify you when the payment has been received.

Cancellations

If you need to cancel your trip for any reason, please let us know as soon as possible. A written cancellation is required by mail or email; cancellation fees are applicable based on the date we receive your written cancellation. Please refer to the full cancellation policy on your Booking Conditions Form for complete details and note that deposits are non-refundable.