I am going travelling for 2 months to various countries in Africa. I plan to start my trip climbing kili in February next year (before the rains start). The trouble is i am always cold and i hate it and I am tempted not to climb because of the freezing temperatures. I know its going to be freezing at the top and not sure if i will cope.
If i take my own warm clothes then I will either have to carry them around for the following two months (i usually only take all my travelling stuff in a bag big enough for hand luggage on a plane) or get them posted back home. I would appreciate if anyone can offer advise on if i should take my own kit or hire it.
If i can hire kit what is the condition like?
Can you hire additional jumpers, trousers, waterproofs and base layers?
How much will it cost?
Any advie will be most appreciated.
Thanks.
In Arusha there's a good market for hiking clothes, as most guides go up there with inappropriate clothing in order to make the tourists feel sorry for them. Then they give them their clothes and the guys sell them at the market. So you can get fair quality fleece jackets and other things for cheap money. Possibly the tour operator will be able to rent you a sleeping bag.
You must be lucky only to find the right things.
Base layers? Eeeeew! I don't think you can hire those. Which operator are you going up with? They would be able to advice on what is available for hire. If hiring a sleeping bag, bring a liner.
Hi - what the first reply said was a fairly accurate, if general statement. Yes it is possible to hire or buy second-hand gear in the markets in Arusha. But it is often a risky business - and don't count on it.
The bare minimum is good quality boots (water proof if possible); 4 pairs of socks + 2 pair of thin liner socks; good quality base layer thermals - it gets down to minus 15-20 C on the top of the mountain; a 3-4 seasons sleeping bag is also a must. You will have 3 or 4 nights above 4500 M and the temperature inside your tent will be below zero most nights. If you are climbing with a good company - Zara or Hotel Marangue they will supplement your gear either for free or for a small charge. One other essential piece of gear is double or tripple layer gloves. I had thin 'thermal inners' with double layer mitten style gloves which kept my hand warm and still able to function.
Good luck
Orion_Mike
What about water? I read some mention of hiring water bottles...but others say camelback is the only way to go. i don't own a camelback though, is it worth it to buy it?
Camelback is not the best option as the water will freeze in the tube on the summit night (and maybe earlier). I'd recommend water bottles and I bought an adapter with a tube from nalgene.com so that I didn't need to reach for my bottle all the time but I could discard the tube when it got colder
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