Food on Kilimanjaro

Our ​Kilimanjaro food menus are always improving and we always have new menus being introduced accordingly and you can request any type of menu if you have special requirements, before a climb. Or just imagine having a birthday cake during the climb, or even on Christmas, or New Years at the top of Kilimanjaro with champagne!

The human body develops a tendency of losing appetite in high altitudes, thus one should force him/herself to eat and drink as much as he/she can to keep the body fit. Good food and plenty of drinking water are essential ingredients, both physically and psychologically, in order to make your climb rewarding and enjoyable. At high altitudes, drinking a lot of water is essential for your health and helps prevent altitude sicknesses to a certain extent. 

For each climb on Mount Kilimanjaro a dedicated cook will be part of the logistical team:

• Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and kosher diets can be accommodated with advance notice. For those with special diets, please contact the operator in advance to discuss what can or cannot be done. Note that food selection is limited in Tanzania, so although the chef will try to please all clients, in some cases clients will be asked to bring their specific food items to the trek, which the cooks will prepare.

• Unlimited purified drinking water is provided daily.

• Chefs are trained in hygienic food preparation and allergy safety.

• Custom dining tents and comfy chairs included on every trek.

• Eco-friendly solar lighting brightens your meals.

Kilimanjaro mountain cuisine normally includes the following (three healthy prepared meals a day): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

Cool boxes are used to keep your foods fresh/cool especially special foods like dried fruits, chocolates and cheeses, throughout the trekking period. However, some operators opt to send a food supply unit on day 3 or 4 or 5 depending on route used.

BREAKFAST: Fruit Juice, Fruit, Cereal/Porridge, Eggs bread/French-toast/Plain-toast/Pancakes, Sausages, Margarine, Jam/Honey, Tea/Coffee/Drinking chocolate. Boiled egg, spinach omelet or fried egg with beacon and bread.

SNACKS: Peanuts/Crisps/Popcorn/Cookies. LUNCH: Sliced Carrot and Cucumber stripes, Avocado slices, Boiled egg, Vegetable/Meat cutlets, Sandwiches (Egg/ Cheese/Tomato/Tuna/Meat/Peanut butter), Fruit. Boiled egg, salami sandwich, cheese, French toast Macaroni and meat sauce and bread.
 
DINNER: Soup of the day, Bread, Salad, Rice/Pasta/Potatoes, Chicken/Meat, Mixed Vegetables (Carrot/French -Beans/Cabbage), Lentils, Fruit Salad, Fruit with custard, Tea/Coffee/Milo/Drinking chocolate. Spaghetti with meat sauce or fish with rice, Fried beef with roast potatoes, rice, carrots, cabbage. Roast chicken with vegetable, fried rice, green pepper, carrots.

ON THE WAY TO THE SUMMIT (midnight snack):
Hot chocolate, tea or coffee, biscuits, orange squash or soup.

Recommended snacks to bring on Kilimanjaro.

• Lightweight and low-calorie is good, and energy or granola bars, chocolate, candy, cookies, crackers, nuts, and dried fruit are all popular choices.
• Be sure to choose things that you really like, because you’ll need extra incentive to keep eating if you find your appetite decreasing at high altitude.
• Adding drink crystals such as Gatorade, Crystal Light, or Tang to one of your water bottles may also encourage you to consume extra fluids, and they often taste especially delicious on a hard day of hiking!

Some Crew and Operator Friendly Services

• Morning tea in tent
• Wash basin with soap in morning and upon arrival at camp
• Wash water with soap and towel before meals
• Dining tent with table and chairs