What medications and vaccinations do I need to climb Kilimanjaro?
Recommended Vaccinations
First of all, to climb Kilimanjaro, no vaccinations are required when arriving from the United States. Please check to see what vaccinations are required if traveling from another country. Below is a list of recommended vaccinations to enter Tanzania.
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDCP) recommends the following vaccinations and medications:
- Malaria
- Yellow Fever (required if entering Tanzania from an ‘infected area’)
- Typhoid
- Hepatitis A
- Hepatitis B
- Rabies
Additionally, the CDCP recommends routine vaccinations for:
- Measles/mumps/rubella (MMR)
- Diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT)
- Polio
Examples
See the following example of a U.S. traveler needing vaccinations.
Scenario 1: You fly into Nairobi and are in Kenya for more than 8 hours and continue to Moshi via shuttle. You will need to get a Yellow Fever vaccination and have proof of it upon entering Tanzania.
Scenario 2: You haven’t had a Tetanus shot in over 10 years. Go to your doctor and get a DPT booster.
Additional Medications
Additionally, after consulting with your health care professional you may want to bring:
- Diamox an FDA approved prescription medication used to prevent and treat altitude sickness.
- Malarone or equivalent an antimalarial medication
- Ciprofloxacin or equivalent an antibiotic used to treat traveler’s diarrhea
- Ibuprofen for pain and swelling. Do not bring Aspirin on the mountain. It prevents blood from coagulating.
Because it is difficult to climb Kilimanjaro, it is prudent for every client to have a medical check-up. Let your doctor know you are climbing Kilimanjaro and find out if you have any medical conditions that put you at increased risk when trekking at high altitude.
The minimum age of participants of our climbs is 14 years old. We will evaluate children younger on a case-by-case basis. Kilimanjaro National Park requires special permits for children to climb under the age of 10. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Finally, all clients 65 years of age or older are required to bring a doctor’s certificate stating they are fit to climb Kilimanjaro.