![Tash and Chris at summit of Kilimanjaro on a clear, sunny day and waving at the camera with the glacier behind them](https://images.followalice.com/32JKExokTki3gGFcYZIaxb/c9f3669b88787a3f19b7f03474bc8917/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-212.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=1200&h=1200)
6 things I wish I knew before climbing Kilimanjaro
Hi. Tash here. 🙋🏼♀️ As someone who knew a lot about the Kili trek before climbing it myself, I was surprised when I did hike it to find there were still things that, well ... surprised me! Here I share 6 things I wish I'd known before climbing Kilimanjaro.
![Group photo at the start of Kilimanjaro climb](https://images.followalice.com/7FBT7C5kE4ifxWm01hSJUo/56994d9782962e7de37ffa128eddebcd/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-21-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
1. Every single camp is cold
Hot tip (pun intended): If you bring along a hot water bottle, your crew will fill it for you before bedtime!
2. You find it hard to sleep
![Tents and happy trekkers on Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/7kzC38LwJM0fWC4RiLlp4s/17adf7b08717036e19d22c6fdd83b2c2/happy-friends-next-to-a-tent-on-Kilimanjaro-1-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Avoid sleeping pills
![Follow Alice high above the clouds on Mt Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/2qrA4kYBUXg0aPddVM9EuB/9f4b0561fd1bdf5f9764c2bf9ec12bf2/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-138-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
3. Your skin and lips take a beating
The importance of protecting your lips
Top tip: Regularly apply SPF lip balm on summit day to prevent painful lips the next day.
Look after your skin
![Group photo with Follow Alice sign at top of Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/1VYLviZhcHaOvE3FThJkHd/3f6a2fd3b33710b9ade6c8cab81cb0c9/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-218-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
4. You need to pee all the time
Toilet tents and rock toilets
![Kilimanjaro campsite and public toilet that different Kilimanjaro operators use](https://images.followalice.com/2Rc1z87bUPG5xzgF5XUysT/3cbc7e9dc736d003a0c4f299cae034a4/A-view-from-the-tent-at-Kilimanjaro-Base-camp-1024x678.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=530)
Advice for women
Leave no trace
![Trekker in warm gear standing by waterfall near Barranco Camp on Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/7b9UwECWrgyyAh2N17lzM0/2b67166289794343a1ae19fefe175d44/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-45-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Visit the toilet tent just before heading to bed
Top tip: Always go to the toilet before heading to bed, even if you don’t feel like it’s needed.
![Follow Alice toilet tent on Mt Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/ydqJUyEeUN3YgcV6IBMKX/c33bae672daa685a15fad591e8396d13/break-time-on-Kilimanjaro-trek-1-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
5. The water in your hydration pack freezes on summit day
My CamelBak holds three litres of water. This is the recommended amount of water that you should drink per day (at least). Having it stored all in one place meant that I could easily monitor how much I was drinking in a day. I also didn’t need to fuss with multiple water bottles. It’s so convenient. I could drink water whilst walking – no slipping my backpack down an arm to find my bottle, or asking a friend to retrieve it for me. I’m also pretty sure I would’ve drunk a lot less water if I’d just had water bottles given the extra hassle. The easy accessibility of the hose and its mouthpiece makes you so much more inclined to take a sip or two of water whenever the thought pops into your head.
When your hydration pack freezes
![Man wearing pack walking along trail through trees on Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/6zLnFmmlZFXaLlINJBXgNn/620aa1da4a12bc8fecc3838d55e05551/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-122-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
How to carry your water bottle on summit night
Top tip: On summit day, keep your water bottle in a thermal sock inside of your bag, as this keeps the water from freezing.
![Kilimanjaro climbers standing in a line looking at the sunrise](https://images.followalice.com/3Rx5XWQktLJ5DpDJo3UE5F/e23a0d092c1c75b58fcd80b374926a9f/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-178-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
6. You feel ‘off’ when high up the mountain
![Trekkers hiking above the clouds on Kilimanjaro](https://images.followalice.com/2M7DfWOFCpnWG2n3NvfTc8/f762b08384afdd40ec1a8b626a5271fb/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-168-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
Feeling iffy versus altitude sickness on Kilimanjaro
Prepare yourself mentally
Top tip: Prepare yourself mentally before the climb that you won't feel your best near the summit.
![Trekkers resting on Kilimanjaro with clouds in the background](https://images.followalice.com/4RcPoRr9tS8dNyMjsj1ZZf/8a98300c080537806657b54a3ead5fe2/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-184-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)
And yet, it's all worth it!
![Smiling group photo on Kilimanjaro with clouds behind](https://images.followalice.com/6UQ2VgzC6oR420TYjecM1G/c8477c9899a01317d891e19aade65345/Kilimanjaro_Tanzania_Tash_Trip_-100-1024x768.jpg?q=80&fit=fill&f=center&w=800&h=600)