How to Climb Kilimanjaro Sustainably and Responsibly

Everything you carry up Kilimanjaro should come back down, including wrappers, tissues, wet wipes, batteries and food scraps. Bring a small rubbish bag in your daypack and hand larger waste to your crew for removal. Responsible operators carry all camp rubbish off the mountain and dispose of it properly in town at the end of every climb.

Tanzania banned single-use plastic carrier bags in 2019, and travellers should avoid packing them, as they may be confiscated on arrival. Use reusable water bottles or hydration bladders refilled with treated water instead of disposable bottles. Choose reusable containers and stuff sacks to cut waste throughout your climb and safari, and bring a cloth bag for shopping in town.

Walking off the marked trail damages fragile vegetation and accelerates erosion, especially on steep sections such as the Barranco Wall and the descent routes. Follow your guide, avoid cutting corners on switchbacks and keep to designated campsites. Staying on the path also keeps you safer on unfamiliar, rocky and sometimes slippery high-altitude terrain throughout the day.

Kilimanjaro is home to unique plants such as giant groundsels and lobelias, found only in high East African mountains. Admire and photograph them, but never pick flowers, break branches or take rocks as souvenirs. Leaving everything as you found it protects the mountain's ecosystems and lets future climbers enjoy the same remarkable beauty for many years to come.

Always use the toilets at campsites, or your operator's private portable toilet, rather than going behind rocks near the trail. When there is no option, move well away from water sources and trails, and pack out used toilet paper. Proper sanitation protects water quality and keeps campsites pleasant for climbers and hard-working crew alike throughout the season.

Wildlife on Kilimanjaro includes colobus and blue monkeys in the forest, white-necked ravens on the moorland and many colourful birds. Never feed animals, as human food harms their health and changes their behaviour. Keep food sealed and camps tidy, and enjoy watching wildlife quietly from a respectful distance as you climb through the different vegetation zones.

Porters, cooks and guides all deserve fair pay for demanding work at altitude. Responsible operators pay at least the recommended wage, pay on time and never deduct unfair fees. Ask your operator how much porters are paid per day and whether wages are paid directly, and be cautious of climbs priced far below the usual market rate.

Kilimanjaro National Park sets a maximum load weight for porters, which responsible operators respect and weigh at the gate. Overloading causes injuries and exhaustion on steep, high terrain. Keep your duffel bag within your operator's weight limit, and avoid packing unnecessary items that add to your porter's burden on the long, steep climb to the summit.

Porters need warm clothing, sturdy footwear, sleeping bags, proper tents and nutritious meals, especially on cold high-altitude nights. Responsible operators provide this equipment and food for the whole crew. Ask your operator how they equip porters, and consider donating good-condition outdoor gear through your guide or a recognised porter welfare programme at the end of your climb.

Tips are an important part of crew income, so make sure they reach every member of the team. Present tips at the final ceremony, either by role in labelled envelopes or through the lead guide with a clear breakdown. Ask your operator how tips are distributed, and follow our detailed guidance on fair Kilimanjaro tipping.

Instead of buying bottled water, carry reusable bottles or a hydration bladder and use water treated by your operator, purification tablets or a filter. Responsible operators collect, filter and boil water at camps for the whole party. This simple choice prevents a large number of plastic bottles being carried up and down the mountain every single season.

Always use rechargeable batteries, a power bank or a small solar charger for your headlamp, phone and camera rather than disposable batteries. Cold temperatures drain batteries quickly, so keep spare batteries warm inside your sleeping bag at night. Carry any used batteries back down the mountain for proper recycling or safe disposal in Moshi or Arusha.

Many items, such as sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles and gaiters, can be rented in Moshi or Arusha rather than bought new for a single climb. Renting reduces waste and saves money and luggage space. Check gear condition carefully before your climb, and ask your operator which items can easily be arranged locally before you start.

Pack biodegradable soap, toothpaste tablets and reusable cloths to reduce waste and protect mountain water sources. Wash well away from streams using a bowl of water from your crew. Avoid wet wipes, which do not break down, or carry used wipes back down in a sealed bag. Choose solid toiletries in reusable tins to save weight and plastic packaging.