When you think about your Kilimanjaro expedition, you might think about the thrill, the challenges, and the food on Mount Kilimanjaro! Given the remote location, it’s easy to assume that the food on the mountain would be unappetising. However, this is different.
The food (offered by our cook, who’ll accompany you on your Kilimanjaro climb) will be tasty. In addition, your food is chosen to supply the right calories 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 and 8,000 calories per day, so 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
When you’re at 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 they convert to energy faster than fatty foods.
Carbohydrates replenish the depleted muscle glycogen, a sugar stored in muscles. This prevents the muscles from being 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
A high-carbohydrate diet reduces the start and severity of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). It also improves physical performance, allowing one to withstand 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 need to be better suited to high altitudes.
Fatty foods also convert to energy much slower than high-carb foods and worsen the symptoms of altitude sickness. 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 high-carb foods that are appealing to look at and taste and easy to digest, supplying 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, talk to our Kilimanjaro Specialist about your preferences. Be sure to inform our Kilimanjaro Specialist about your food allergies so that you can plan your meals accordingly.
Note : Requesting a specific menu or food type will incur extra charges.
Water/hydration on mount Kilimanjaro
Keeping hydrated is essential for acclimatisation, so we ensure that all climbers are provided with purified drinking water from start to finish.
In addition, we boil and then filter the water our cook uses to make the food. This ensures safe drinking water for all of our trekkers and will avoid gastrointestinal problems common in Africa due to untreated water.
Our team ensures our climbers have everything, especially food and purified water. 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 your acclimatisation, you must keep your fluids up. This will also boost digestion and absorption of nutrients and 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 is comprised of tea, hot cocoa, and coffee.
Meals on mount Kilimanjaro with Easy Travel
Carbohydrates, fats, and protein are all calorie sources. However, since carb-rich foods are ideal at high altitudes, you’ll find varied foods (including some protein but mostly rich in carbs) that will benefit you the most on Mount Kilimanjaro.
Please refer to the table below for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Our cook prepares these foods for our clients to ensure they get the right food combinations for their Kilimanjaro expedition.
The food menu below includes the usual meal types we serve our clients. Although this may vary, you’ll still get the carb-rich foods your body needs for hiking Kilimanjaro.
Menu – Machame route – 6 days
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Breakfast at the hotel | PICNIC 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 2 | Millet 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 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 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
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Breakfast at the hotel | PICNIC 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 2 | Millet 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
| Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Breakfast at the hotel | PICNIC 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 2 | Millet 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
There is certainly so much more to Mount Kilimanjaro than the menu… The views, the people you will meet, and the challenges you will face alone will leave you with tails to share with everyone back home.
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is undoubtedly not a walk in the park. Still, with the proper training, nutrition and the best team to support you every step of the way, you’ll undoubtedly leave a changed person with experiences that will last a lifetime.
To wrap it up
On the mountain, particularly at the camps, you can engage with other trekkers and learn their stories. This is perhaps one of the best parts of the Kilimanjaro experience—to meet new people who share your interests while enjoying the food and conversation.
As expected, meals are shared in large dining tents with tables and chairs. There will be soups, hot beverages, snacks, and the main menu and desserts. You’ll be eating well on Kilimanjaro and laughing with a group of people as adventurous as you.
You’ll get to know and support one another as you climb Africa’s highest mountain. At the end of your Kilimanjaro expedition, you’ll make new friends who could become lifelong adventure buddies.
Do you want to avoid the food on Kilimanjaro, or are you looking for expert advice on planning your custom Kilimanjaro Summit? Contact Easy Travel today.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What types of meals are provided during a Kilimanjaro climb?
During Kilimanjaro climbs, trekkers are typically provided with various meals, including hot breakfasts, packed lunches, afternoon tea, and hearty dinners. These meals are designed to provide the necessary energy and nutrition for strenuous trekking activities.
2. What types of meals are provided during a Kilimanjaro climb?
Hot meals on Kilimanjaro often include soups, stews, pasta, rice, and grilled meats or vegetables. The trekking crew freshly prepares these meals using portable cooking equipment and fresh produce.
3. Are there vegetarian or vegan options available for climbers with dietary restrictions?
Yes, most trekking companies offer vegetarian and vegan meal options to accommodate climbers with dietary restrictions. These meals are prepared with fresh produce and nutritious ingredients to ensure balanced nutrition throughout the climb.
4. How are dietary restrictions handled during Kilimanjaro climbs?
Trekking companies are usually informed about dietary restrictions before the climb begins. They make necessary arrangements to provide suitable meal options that meet the climbers’ nutritional needs, ensuring everyone can enjoy nutritious food during the trek.
5. What beverages are available during the climb?
Climbers can enjoy various hot drinks, such as tea, coffee, and hot chocolate, to stay warm and hydrated during the climb. Additionally, fruit juice and bottled water keep climbers hydrated throughout the journey.
6. Are snacks provided during the trek?
Yes, climbers are encouraged to bring snacks such as energy bars, trail mix, and salted popcorn to supplement their meals and provide extra energy during the trek. These snacks can be enjoyed between meals or during breaks along the trail.
7. How is food carried and stored during the climb?
Food is typically carried by porters or pack animals at the start of the climb and stored in designated areas at the campsites. Proper food storage techniques are employed to ensure freshness and prevent contamination.
8. What are some examples of typical breakfast, lunch, and dinner options?
Breakfast options may include boiled eggs, porridge, bread, and fruit juice, while lunch often consists of packed sandwiches, fruits, and snacks. Dinner options may include a main course with meat or vegetarian options accompanied by rice, pasta, or potatoes.
9. How important is staying hydrated during the climb?
Staying hydrated is crucial during a Kilimanjaro climb, especially at high altitudes where the air is dry and oxygen levels are lower. Climbers are encouraged to drink fluids daily to prevent dehydration and maintain energy levels.
10. Can climbers bring their snacks or additional food items?
Climbers can bring their snacks or additional food items to supplement the meals provided by the trekking company. However, it’s essential to consider weight restrictions and pack only what is necessary for the journey.
11. What role does nutrition play in the success of a Kilimanjaro climb?
Nutrition plays a critical role in the Kilimanjaro climb’s success. It provides the energy and nutrients needed to fuel the body during strenuous physical activity. A balanced diet of fresh, nutritious food helps climbers maintain strength, stamina, and overall well-being throughout the trek.
12. How are meals adjusted to accommodate varying altitudes and climbing conditions?
Meals are adjusted to accommodate varying altitudes and climbing conditions by providing foods that are easy to digest and rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Additionally, climbers are encouraged to eat smaller, more frequent meals to maintain energy levels and prevent altitude-related symptoms.
13. What should climbers consider regarding food and nutrition when packing for the climb?
Climbers should pack essential items such as snacks, energy bars, and electrolyte drinks to supplement their meals and provide extra energy during the climb. A sleeping bag and any necessary dietary supplements or medications are essential to ensure a comfortable and successful climb.
