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    What is the food like on Mount Kilimanjaro? What should you eat?

    8 minutes read
    what to eat when climbing

    When you think about your Kilimanjaro expedition, you might think about the thrill, the challenges, and the food on Mount Kilimanjaro!

    It’s easy to assume that the food on the mountain would be unappetizing, given the remote location. However, this isn’t true.

    The food (offered by our cook who’ll accompany you on your Kilimanjaro climb) will be tasty. On top of that, your food is chosen with the purpose to supply the right amount of calories that your body needs.

    This is because you’ll also constantly burn calories during your Kilimanjaro hike. On average, a Kilimanjaro hiker can burn between 6,000 to 8,000 calories per day, which is why it’s essential to fuel you up at least three times a day with food, and snacks in between.

    The best diet for altitude in Kilimanjaro

    Food on kilimanjaro

    When you’re in a place with a high altitude like Kilimanjaro, the food you eat really matters. At high altitudes, it’s much preferred to eat foods high in carbohydrates because it converts to energy faster than fatty foods.

    Carbohydrates replenish the depleted muscle glycogen—a kind of sugar stored in muscles. This is to prevent the muscles from getting used as energy which can cause fatigue.

    Some of the best food for the high altitude on Kilimanjaro are:

    • Energy bars
    • Nuts
    • Oatmeal
    • Rice
    • Pasta
    • Oatmeal
    • Waffles and pancakes
    • Soup with bread (low-fat)

    Why choose a high carbohydrate diet for food on mount Kilimanjaro

    Tanzania - high carbohydrate for high altitude - what is the food like on mount kilimanjaro? What should you eat?

    A high-carbohydrate diet reduces the start and rigour of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). In addition, it also improves physical performance, allowing you to withstand the varied mountain conditions.

    We don’t prepare a low-carb diet for our clients as it can result in low blood sugar, which can be dangerous. On the other hand, fatty foods are energy-dense but they’re not taken well at high altitudes.

    Fatty foods also convert to energy much slower than high-carb foods and worsen the symptoms of altitude sickness. This is because fats need more oxygen to metabolise, whereas carbohydrates don’t.

    Nutrition in mount Kilimanjaro

    The nutrition or menu on Kilimanjaro is crafted  to ensure a triumphant climb. Although the menu may vary, you’ll still be served with high-carb foods that aren’t only appealing to look at and taste but are also easy to digest to supply you with energy.

    Breakfast from camp to camp may include:

    • Bread
    • Eggs
    • Chapati
    • Pancakes
    • Porridge
    • Coffee
    • Plantains
    • Fruits
    • Sausage
    • Hot chocolate
    • Tea

    Meanwhile, the lunch and dinner on the mountain may comprise:

    • Pasta
    • Soup/stew
    • Plantains
    • Potatoes
    • Rice
    • Vegetable
    • Popcorn
    • Fruits
    • Meat
    • Bread
    • Peanuts

    However, if you’re a vegan or want specific food, make sure to talk to our Kilimanjaro Specialist about your preferences. Make sure to also inform our Kilimanjaro Specialist about your food allergies to plan your meals accordingly.

    Note: Requesting for a specific menu or food type will incur extra charges.

    Water/hydration on mount Kilimanjaro

    Tanzania - water hydration on mountain - what is the food like on mount kilimanjaro? What should you eat?

    Keeping yourself hydrated is essential for acclimatisation, so we make sure that all of our climbers are well provided with purified drinking water from start to finish.

    In addition, we boil and then filter the water that our cook uses to make the food. This ensures safe drinking water to all of our trekkers. This will also avoid gastrointestinal problems that are common in Africa due to untreated water.

    Our team ensures that our climbers won’t lack anything, especially food and purified water. This is because as you ascend to higher elevations, the air gets thinner, and the altitude can speedily dehydrate you.

    Moreover, if you’re taking Diamox to aid in your acclimatisation, you’ll also be needing to keep your fluids up. This will also boost digestion and absorption of nutrients, as well as lubricate sore joints and muscles.

    This is why the meals provided always include hydrating foods, such as soup, fresh fruit and porridge to nourish your body with liquids. In addition, each meal also comprises of tea, hot cocoa and coffee.

    Meals on mount Kilimanjaro with Easy Travel

    Tanzania - meals on mount kilimanjaro - what is the food like on mount kilimanjaro? What should you eat?

    Carbohydrates, fats, and protein—these three are all calorie sources. However, since carb-rich foods are ideal in high altitudes, you’ll get the varied foods (including some protein, but mostly rich in carbs) that will benefit you the most on Mount Kilimanjaro.

    Kindly refer to the table below for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Below are the usual foods that our cook prepares for our clients to ensure that they get the right food combinations for their Kilimanjaro expedition.

    Note: The food menu below is the usual meal types that we serve for our clients. At times, this may vary, but you’ll still get the carb-rich foods your body needs for hiking Kilimanjaro.

    Menu - Machame route - 6 days

     BreakfastLunchDinner
    Day 1Breakfast at the hotelPICNIC LUNCH
    Fried Chicken, Juice, Boiled egg, cake, burger, crisp
    Starter:
    Cucumber Soup with Toast Bread
    Main Course
    Boiled Potatoes, Fish fillet, vegetable, fruits, Tea/Coffee, Milk, drinking chocolate
    Day 2Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter:

    Carrot Soup
    Main Course
    Macaroni and Bolognese sauce, vegetables, fruits.
    Tea/Coffee, Milk,drinking chocolate
    Starter:
    Zucchini soup and Bhajia
    Main Course
    Rice, green beans, fruits
    Hot water—Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 3
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Vegetable stew with toast bread, fruits
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Snacks
    Tea/Coffee with Nuts
    Starter:
    Celery Soup
    Main Course
    Omelet Spaghetti, beef sauce and vegetables
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 4
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, pancake, mandazi, sausage, omelet.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter:
    Pumpkin soup, Roll bread
    Main Course
    French fries with fried chicken, salad
    Dessert
    Fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Leek’s soup
    Main Course
    Spaghetti, Vegetable’s sauce, Mushroom sauce
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Before Summit
    Tea/Coffee with Biscuits
    For Summiting
    Take away Juice, Apple/Biscuit and chocolate Bar
    Day 5
     SUMMIT DAYAfter Summit
    Brunch
    Potatoes soup with toast bread, Chapati, vegetables, Fruits, Tea/Coffee
    Starter:
    Sweet potatoes soup
    Main Course
    Zanzibar rice, red beans, vegetables
    Dessert
    Surprised chef celebration cake and fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 6
    Oats porridge, Pancake, Mandazi, fried egg, fruits
    Hot water, Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Main Course
    African food “MATOKE” Mix fruits and soda,
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
     At your own arrangement at the hotel

    Menu - Machame route - 7 days

     BreakfastLunchDinner
    Day 1Breakfast at the hotelPICNIC LUNCH
    Fried Chicken, Juice, fruit, Boiled egg, cake, burger, crisp
    Starter:
    Cucumber Soup with Toast Bread
    Main Course
    Boiled Potatoes, Fish fillet, vegetable, fruits, Tea/Coffee, Milk, drinking chocolate
    Day 2Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter:

    Carrot Soup
    Main Course
    Macaroni and Bolognese sauce, vegetables, fruits.
    Tea/Coffee, Milk,drinking chocolate
    Starter:
    Zucchini soup and Bhajia
    Main Course
    Rice, green beans, fruits
    Hot water—Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 3
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Vegetable stew with toast bread, fruits
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Snacks
    Tea/Coffee with Nuts
    Starter:
    Celery Soup
    Main Course
    Omelet Spaghetti, beef sauce and vegetables
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 4
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, pancake, mandazi, sausage, omelet.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter:
    Pumpkin soup, Roll bread
    Main Course
    French fries with fried chicken, salad
    Dessert
    Fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Sweet potatoes soup
    Main Course
    Pizza and Vegetables sauce
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 5
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, pancake, mandazi, sausage, omelet.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    Main Course
    African food “MATOKE” Mix fruits and soda,
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Leek’s soup
    Main Course
    Spaghetti with vegetable sauce, Mushroom
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Before summit
    Tea/Coffee with Biscuits
    For summiting
    (Take away Juice, Apple/Biscuit and chocolate Bar)
    Day 6
     SUMMIT DAY After Summit
    Brunch:

    Potatoes soup with toast bread, Chapati, vegetables, Fruits, Tea/Coffee
    Starter:
    Sweet potatoes soup
    Main Course
    Chinese rice, red beans, vegetables
    Dessert
    Surprised chef celebration cake and fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 7
    Oats porridge, Pancake, Mandazi, fried egg, fruits
    Hot water, Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
     HOT LUNCH
    Main Course
    African food “MATOKE” Mix fruits and soda,
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
     At your own arrangement at the hotel

    Menu - Lemosho route - 8 days

     BreakfastLunchDinner
    Day 1Breakfast at the hotelPICNIC LUNCH
    Fried Chicken, Juice, fruit, Boiled egg, cake, burger, crisp
    Starter:
    Cucumber Soup with Toast Bread
    Main Course
    Boiled Potatoes, Fish fillet, vegetable
    Dessert
    Fruits, Tea/Coffee, Milk, drinking chocolate
    Day 2Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    PICNIC LUNCH
    Fried Chicken, Juice, fruit, Boiled egg, cake, Pie, crisp
    Starter:
    Carrot soup and bread
    Main Course
    Macaroni bolognaise sauce, vegetables, fruits, Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 3
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, toast bread, butternut, honey, jam, pancake, sausage, fried egg.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter
    Zucchini soup with roll bread
    Main Course
    French fries, Fried Chicken, salad
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Snacks
    Tea/Coffee with Nuts
    Starter:
    Sweet potatoes soup
    Main Course
    Rice with green beans and Vegetables
    Dessert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 4
    Millet or oat porridge and fruits, pancake, mandazi, sausage, omelet.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Main Course
    Vegetable stew toast bread
    Dessert
    Fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Celery soup
    Main Course
    Omelet’s spaghetti, beef sauce, vegetable
    Desert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 5
    Millet or oat porridge and toast bread, fruits, sausage, omelet.
    Hot water— tea, milk, coffee, drinking chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Starter
    Pumpkin soup
    Main Course
    Mashed potatoes with mushroom sauce, vegetables sauce, fruits.
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Vegetable soup
    Main Course
    Pizza with vegetable sauce
    Desert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 6
    Oats porridge, Pancake, Mandazi, sausage, omelets, fruits.
    Hot water, Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Main Course
    African food “MATOKE” Mix fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Starter:
    Leek’s soup
    Main Course
    Spaghetti and vegetable
    Desert
    Fruit
    Hot water— Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Cholate
    Before Summit
    Tea/Coffee with Biscuits
    For summiting
    Take away Juice, Apple/Biscuit and chocolate Bar
    Day 7
    SUMMIT DAY After Summit
    Brunch:

    Potatoes soup with toast bread, Chapati, vegetables, Fruits, Tea/Coffee
     Starter:
    Sweet potatoes soup
    Main Course
    Zanzibar rice, red beans, vegetables
    Dessert
    Surprised chef celebration cake and fruits
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    Day 8
    Oats porridge, Pancake, Mandazi, fried egg, fruits
    Hot water, Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
    HOT LUNCH
    Main Course
    French fries with fried chicken, salad, Mix fruits and soda,
    Hot water – Tea, Milk, Coffee, Drinking Chocolate
     At your own arrangement at the hotel

    The experience you'll never forget

    Tanzania - the experiecne you will never forget - what is the food like on mount kilimanjaro? What should you eat?

    There is certainly so much more to Mount Kilimanjaro that the menu… The views, the people you will meet and the challenges alone will leave you with tails to share with everyone back home.

    Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is certainly no walk in the park, but with the right training, the right nutrition and the best team to support you every step of the way you’ll certainly leave a changed person with experiences that will last a lifetime.

    To wrap it up

    On the mountain, particularly at the camps, you’ll be able to engage with other trekkers and get to know their stories. This is perhaps one of the best parts of the Kilimanjaro experience—to meet new people who have the same interest as you while enjoying the food and the conversation.

    As you can expect, meals are shared in large dining tents with tables and chairs. There will be soups, hot beverages, snacks and of course, the main menus and desserts. You’ll be eating well on Kilimanjaro and laughing with a group of people who are as adventurous as you. You’ll get to know each other and support one another in climbing the highest mountain of Africa.

    At the end of your Kilimanjaro expedition, you’ll end up with new friends that could be life-long adventure buddies.

    Worried about the food on Kilimanjaro or looking for expert advice on planning your custom Kilimanjaro Summit? Contact Easy Travel today.

    Musaddiq Gulamhussein - Owner - Easy Travel Tanzania

    About the author: Musaddiq

    Meet Musaddiq Gulamhussein, owner of Easy Travel Tanzania, a tour company creating life-changing safari experiences for over 35 years. Musaddiq has explored Tanzania, developing a deep understanding of the local cultures and traditions. Follow his journey and gain insights into the African Safari experience through Easy Travel's social media and blog.

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