The ultimate guide to hygiene on Kilimanjaro expeditions

Your day usually starts with a hot drink and a bowl of warm washing water brought to your tent by the crew. Wash your face and hands, brush your teeth with treated water and use wet wipes for a quick freshen-up. Change your socks, apply sunscreen and lip balm, and pack your sanitiser in your daypack.

Between camps there are few toilets, so use camp facilities before you set off. For bush stops, move well away from the trail and water sources, use biodegradable toilet paper and pack out used paper and wipes in a sealed bag. Sanitise your hands afterwards and again before eating any snacks or your packed lunch.

Before every meal, wash your hands with soap and the warm water provided at camp, or use hand sanitiser. Meals are served hot in the dining tent, prepared by your cook with treated water. Use your own cup and cutlery, avoid sharing snacks by hand and keep drinking treated water to stay well hydrated at altitude.

In the evening, use warm water and wet wipes for a full freshen-up, then change into clean, dry sleeping clothes. Keep a headlamp, toilet paper and sanitiser beside your sleeping bag for night-time toilet visits. Many climbers bring a pee bottle to avoid walking to the toilet in the cold, dark hours of the night at high camps.

Stomach upsets are the most common hygiene-related problem on Kilimanjaro and can quickly drain your energy. They usually come from unclean hands, untreated water or snacks passed between hands. Sanitise before eating, drink only treated water and carry anti-diarrhoea medication and oral rehydration salts in your first aid kit, as advised by your doctor before you travel.

Illness and dehydration make it harder for your body to adapt to altitude, and symptoms such as nausea and fatigue can overlap with altitude sickness. Good hygiene keeps your body stronger, so you can acclimatise properly. Combine clean habits with a slow ascent, plenty of treated water and honest communication with your guide about how you feel.

Climbers eat together in dining tents and close spaces, so colds and coughs can spread easily. Avoid sharing water bottles, cups and cutlery, cover coughs and sneezes and use sanitiser regularly. If you feel unwell, tell your guide early. A cold can make breathing harder at altitude, so prevention is always better than trying to push through.

Dry air, strong sun, cold and long days on foot can cause sunburn, chapped lips, rashes and blisters. Apply sunscreen and lip balm often, change into dry socks daily, air your feet in camp and treat hot spots early with blister plasters. Moisture-wicking clothing helps prevent irritation and keeps you more comfortable throughout the climb.

Your crew collects water from mountain streams and treats it by boiling, filtering or purification before it is used for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth. Treated water is provided at every camp so you can refill your bottles each morning and evening, which helps keep you hydrated and protects you from waterborne illness throughout your climb.

At camp, warm water and soap are provided for washing your hands and face, especially before meals. This simple setup is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness on the mountain. Combined with hand sanitiser on the trail, it keeps your hands clean throughout each day from the first camp right up to the summit.

Your mountain cook prepares fresh, hot meals in a dedicated kitchen tent, using treated water and clean utensils that are washed after every meal. Food is stored carefully to stay fresh in changing temperatures, and meals are served in a dining tent, giving you a clean and comfortable place to eat and relax each day.

Our guides and porters follow park rules on waste and sanitation, carry out rubbish and help climbers follow Leave No Trace principles. They are always ready to advise you on hygiene, toilets and health on the mountain. Fair treatment of porters and responsible practices keep Kilimanjaro clean and safe for every climber who follows in your footsteps.