WHAT MOUNT KILIMANJARO FOOD WILL YOU BE EATING ON KILIMANJARO?
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, the food provided by your tour operator is designed to be nutritious, energy-rich, and easy to prepare at high altitudes. Meals are typically prepared by skilled cooks who accompany your trekking group. Here’s what you can expect to eat on Kilimanjaro:
Breakfast
Porridge or Oatmeal: A warm and filling start to the day.
Eggs: Scrambled, fried, or boiled.
Bread: Toast, pancakes, or chapati (a type of flatbread).
Fruit: Fresh fruit like bananas, oranges, or watermelon.
Hot Drinks: Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Lunch
Sandwiches: With fillings like cheese, eggs, or vegetables.
Pasta or Rice Dishes: Lightly seasoned and easy to digest.
Vegetables: Cooked or raw, depending on the dish.
Snacks: Biscuits, nuts, or fruit.
Hot Drinks: Tea or coffee.
Dinner
Soup: A warm starter, often vegetable or cream-based.
Main Course:
Rice, pasta, or potatoes.
Protein sources like chicken, beef, or fish (often canned or dried at higher altitudes).
Vegetables (cooked or in a sauce).
Dessert: Fresh fruit, custard, or cake.
Hot Drinks: Tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.
Snacks and Hydration
Snacks: Energy bars, nuts, dried fruit, and biscuits are often provided.
Hydration: Clean, boiled water is provided for drinking. You may also get hot drinks like tea or coffee.
Special Dietary Requirements
Most tour operators can accommodate dietary restrictions or preferences (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free) if you inform them in advance. Be sure to communicate your needs when booking your trek.
What to Expect at Higher Altitudes
At higher altitudes, your appetite may decrease due to the effects of altitude sickness. However, it’s important to eat enough to maintain energy levels.
Meals become simpler as you ascend, with more emphasis on carbohydrates (like rice, pasta, and potatoes) for quick energy.
Fresh produce is less common at higher camps due to limited supplies.
Tips for Eating on Kilimanjaro
Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water to help with altitude acclimatization.
Eat Even If You’re Not Hungry: Force yourself to eat enough to fuel your body, even if you don’t feel like it.
Bring Extra Snacks: Pack your favorite high-energy snacks (e.g., chocolate, nuts, or energy bars) for an extra boost.
The food on Kilimanjaro is hearty and designed to keep you energized for the trek. While it may not be gourmet, it’s an essential part of your adventure and helps you stay strong for the climb!
SAMPLE MERUS FOR KILIMANJARO TREKKERS
Please note that the menu given here has been provided by our chefs, whose first language is not English. As such, you may find the summary below a little lacking in detail and the food may sound a little plain. It’s very rare for trekkers to complain about the food on Kilimanjaro, however, and the dishes that the cooks conjure up on the mountain with some fairly basic cooking equipment are quite staggering. So please don’t be deterred if the descriptions below sound a little bland – rest assured, the food itself isn’t.
If you have any dietary requirements, restrictions or allergies, please let us know as soon as possible so we can adapt your menu accordingly.
A ‘ NORMAL’ MOUNT KILIMANJARO FOR FOOD HIKE
DAY 1
Breakfast Day 1: (This is taken at your hotel before you leave for the mountain and is included as part of your accommodation.)
Lunch Day 1: Lunch Box, Including an Apple & Banana, Fried Chicken, Vegetable sandwich, Fruit Juice, Water, Cake, Boiled Egg and Chocolate. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Dinner Day 1: Avocado Vinaigrette, Fresh Zucchini Soup with bread roll/bread, Beef with Boiled Potatoes, Avocado Salad. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
DAY 2
Breakfast Day 2: Porridge, Bacon, Sausages, Omelette and Toast. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Lunch Day 2: Fresh Cucumber Soup with bread roll/bread, Burger and Chips, Fresh Salad, Fresh Fruit, Tea / Coffee Chocolate
Dinner Day 2: Fresh Leek Soup with sweet bread, Chicken with Zanzibar Rice, Tomato and sweetcorn Salad. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
DAY 3
Breakfast Day 3: Porridge, Bacon, Sausages, Spanish Omelette and Toast. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Lunch Day 3: Fresh Broccoli Soup with bread roll, Vegetable Pizza, Vegetable Sandwich, Tomato Salad with Barbequed Fruits. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Dinner Day 3: Toast with Guacamole, Chicken Piccata (chicken breast cutlets, dredged in flour, browned, and served with a sauce of butter, lemon juice and capers) with Sweet Potato and corn Fritter. Fresh Salad and Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
DAY 4
Breakfast Day 4: Porridge, Boiled Eggs, Bacon, Sausages and Toast. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Lunch Day 4: Fresh Ginger and carrot Soup with bread roll. Cheese Sandwich with Vegetable Pie. Mixed Fresh Fruit, Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Dinner Day 4: Fresh Vegetable Soup with bread roll. Sautéed Cornflour and Vegetables with mashed Potatoes. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
DAY 5
Breakfast Day 5: Porridge, Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Fried Tomatoes and Potatoes. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Lunch Day 5: Fresh Aubergine Soup with a bread roll. Quiche, Tomato and Cucumber sandwiches. Vegetable Salad. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Dinner Day 5: Fresh Vegetable Soup with bread roll. Spaghetti bolognaise. Pineapple and Watermelon. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
DAY 6
Breakfast Day 6: Summit – taken on the trail to the summit: Toasted Bread, Fruit, Juice, Pancakes, Snack foods. Hot and cold drinks
Lunch Day 6: Fresh Minestrone Soup with Pancake. Fried Chicken and Chips, Cucumber Salad, Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Dinner Day 6: Fresh Vegetable Soup with bread rolls. Rice with beef sauce
DAY 7
Breakfast Day 7: Porridge, Scrambled Eggs, Pancakes, Fried Tomatoes and Potatoes. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Lunch Day 7: (This is usually taken in Moshi after the trek has ended but before we return you to your hotel. It is included in the trek package.)
A VEGETARIAN KILIMANJARO FOOD MENU
DAY 1
Breakfast (provided by your hotel)
Hot lunch Fresh cucumber soup, bread rolls, Cheese burgers, vegetables with french fries. Dessert – fruit salad.
Dinner Fresh celery soup, bread rolls, Vegetable curry with rice, Dessert – banana fritters. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
DAY 2
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, toast, egg omelette, beans. Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate
Hot lunch Fresh carrot soup, bread rolls, vegetable pie with pasta salad. Dessert – fresh fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Dinner Fresh Leek soup, bread rolls, basil & butter potatoes with carrots and pea sauce. Dessert – cake with chocolate sauce. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
DAY 3
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, toast, over easy eggs. pancakes. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Hot lunch Fresh tomato soup, bread rolls, french fries, white sauce, peas and carrots salad, Dessert – fresh fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Dinner Fresh Vegetable soup, bread rolls, vegetable stroganoff with rice. Dessert – crepes & Jam. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
DAY 4
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, toast, poached eggs, beans. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Hot lunch Fresh broccoli soup, bread rolls, vegetable puff fry with sweet corn avocado salsa, Dessert – fruit salad. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Dinner Fresh vegetable soup, bread rolls, vegetables cottage pie with hot salad, Dessert – chocolate creamed custard. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
DAY 5
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, toast, scrambled eggs, pancakes. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Hot lunch Fresh vegetable soup, bread rolls, macaroni celery carbonara, Dessert – fruit salad. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Dinner Fresh pumpkin soup, bread rolls, Rosemary potatoes with zucchini and carrot sauce. Dessert – cinnamon cold rice. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
DAY 6
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, Spanish omelette, beans. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Hot lunch Fresh pepper soup. Bread rolls. French toast, Hot salad, french chips. Dessert – Fresh Fruit. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Dinner Fresh sweet potato soup, toast, spaghetti & basil bolognese. Dessert – crepes with honey dressing. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate.
Day 7
Breakfast Coffee/tea, Porridge. Fresh fruit, toast, pancakes & beans. Tea / Coffee / Chocolate. Hot lunch (taken in Moshi)
