What Is the Food Like on Kilimanjaro?
Ask anyone who has climbed Kilimanjaro what surprised them most, and plenty will say the food. Most people expect dehydrated packets and cereal bars. What they get is hot, hearty, freshly cooked meals, served three times a day in a mess tent at over 4,000m.
Food matters on Kili. It fuels long days on the trail, helps your body cope with altitude and lifts morale when the going gets tough. Here is what to expect.
A typical day of meals
Wake up tea. Most mornings start with a knock on your tent and a hot drink. Tea, coffee or hot chocolate, delivered with a bowl of warm water for washing. It is one of the small luxuries trekkers remember most.
Breakfast. Served in the mess tent before you set off. Expect porridge, eggs cooked to order, toast, sausages and fresh fruit. Pancakes make a regular and very welcome appearance.
Lunch. On longer trekking days, lunch is packed. Think sandwiches, boiled eggs, fruit, juice and a biscuit or two. On shorter days, you may arrive at camp in time for a hot lunch instead.
Afternoon tea. Once you reach camp, snacks appear. Popcorn, biscuits and roasted peanuts are favourites, along with plenty of hot drinks. It is the perfect time to rest and swap stories from the day.
Dinner. The main event. It always starts with soup, often vegetable, pumpkin or leek. Then comes a hearty main: pasta, rice or potatoes with chicken, beef or a rich vegetable stew. Dessert is usually fresh fruit, sometimes something sweeter.
Summit night. Before the big push, you will have a light snack and a hot drink around midnight. Your guides also carry snacks and warm drinks for the climb.
Who cooks, and how?
Every climb has a dedicated mountain cook, supported by the wider crew. Porters carry the kitchen tent, gas stoves, cookware and every ingredient up the mountain. Fresh supplies are sometimes restocked along the way.
What these cooks produce on a gas stove, in a tent, at altitude, is genuinely impressive. Many trekkers ask for recipes by the end of the week.
You will also get a taste of Tanzania. Look out for chapati, a soft flatbread, and mandazi, a lightly sweet fried dough that is perfect with morning tea. Some crews even bake a celebration cake after the summit, which feels like a small miracle at camp.
Hygiene is taken seriously. Handwashing stations are set up at camp, and water is boiled or treated before cooking.
What about water?
Staying hydrated is one of the best things you can do to help your body adjust to altitude. Aim for three to four litres a day, and more if you can manage it.
Water is collected from mountain streams by the crew, then boiled or treated before it reaches your bottle. Each morning, your guides will fill your bottles or hydration bladder before you set off.
Plain water can get boring fast. Electrolyte tablets or flavoured drink powders make it easier to keep sipping. Warm drinks count too, so enjoy that extra cup of tea at camp.
Will I feel like eating?
Not always. Loss of appetite is very common at altitude, especially higher up the mountain. Food can taste different, and some days you simply will not feel hungry.
Eat anyway. Your body burns far more energy than usual on the trail, and running on empty makes the climb much harder. Little and often works well. Carbohydrates like pasta, rice, potatoes and bread are easier to digest at altitude and give you the fuel you need.
Your guides will notice if you are not eating and gently encourage you. It is part of how they look after you.
Can you cater for dietary requirements?
Yes. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and dairy free diets can all be catered for on the mountain. The same goes for most food allergies and intolerances.
The key is to tell us when you book. Supplies are bought before the climb begins, so your cook needs to know in advance. The more detail you share, the better they can plan.
Should I bring my own snacks?
We recommend it. Meals are generous, but having a few favourites from home makes a real difference, especially when your appetite dips. A familiar treat can be exactly what gets you through a tough afternoon or a cold summit night.
Good options include:
Energy bars and flapjacks for quick fuel on the trail
Jelly sweets that stay soft in the cold
Nuts, trail mix and dried fruit for slow release energy
Chocolate, though it can freeze solid on summit night
Crisps or salty snacks, which many people crave at altitude
Electrolyte tablets to flavour your water
Pack snacks you genuinely love. Now is not the time to try something new.
Fuelled for the summit
Good food is one of the unsung heroes of a Kilimanjaro climb. It keeps you strong, warm and motivated, and it brings the whole group together around the mess tent table each evening.
The cooks and crew who make it happen work incredibly hard behind the scenes. Their efforts are a big part of what makes reaching Uhuru Peak possible.
Have a question about food, dietary needs or anything else on the mountain? Get in touch. We would love to help you plan your climb.
Comments