WHAT TO EAT DURING YOUR TREK

FOOD ON KILIMANJARO (KILIMANJARO FOOD CUISINE)

One of the most mind-boggling achievements on a Tanzanian trekking expedition is the production of tasty hot meals in the very challenging conditions of a Mount Kilimanjaro high-altitude climb

Our chefs are professionally trained to prepare tasty and nutritious food on the mountain. They often work in harsh conditions – in howling winds or ice rain using only gas stoves in a kitchen tent or a small hut. They can conjure up substantial cooked breakfasts and delicious and hearty 3-course dinners with warm soups prepared with fresh vegetables, a mouth-watering main course such as pasta with a rich meat sauce and vegetables or pancakes followed by a dessert or a plate of fruits for something sweet.

They get up when it is still dark in the mornings to boil drinking water for the day’s hike and go to sleep after every guest and porter has been fed. Our chefs can also cater to vegetarians, vegans, or climbers with food allergies or intolerances or any other special dietary requirements such as Halal Gluten-free diets, and Kosher, by prior arrangement.

There are 8 cooks permanently working with our company and they all receive regular training in new techniques and recipes.

 

What do you eat on the mountain?

Remember to inform us if you have any special dietary requirements – because both meat and nuts form a substantial part of the food on Kilimanjaro. One of the marvels of a trek on Kilimanjaro is the skill with which the cooks are able to conjure up tasty and nutritious food despite little in the way of equipment and ingredients. They are also able to obey almost any dietary restrictions, so that vegans, vegetarians, gluten and lactose intolerants, and those with restrictions due to their religious beliefs are all accommodated. Just make sure you tell your company in advance of any dietary restrictions you may have.

 

Breakfast on Kilimanjaro

A typical Kilimanjaro breakfast will involve eggs (boiled or fried), porridge, a saveloy (possibly with some tomatoes too), a piece of fruit such as a banana or orange, some bread with jam, honey or peanut butter and a mug or two of tea, hot chocolate or coffee.

 

Lunch on Kilimanjaro

Lunch on Kilimanjaro is usually prepared at breakfast and carried by the trekker in his or her daypack. This packed lunch often consists of a boiled egg, some sandwiches, a banana or orange, and some tea kept warm in a flask and carried by your guide. KINAPA are trying to stop trekking operators from making cooked lunches along the trail for environmental reasons. At the end of the day’s walking, afternoon tea is served with biscuits, peanuts and, best of all, salted popcorn. The final and biggest meal of the day, dinner usually begins with soup, followed by a main course including chicken or meat, a vegetable sauce, some cabbage, and rice or pasta; if your porters have brought up some potatoes, these will usually be eaten on the first night as they are so heavy.

 

Drinking on Kilimanjaro What do you drink?

Porters will collect water from the rivers and streams along the trail. Some of this they will boil for you at the start of the day to carry in your water bottles. On the lower slopes you can collect water yourself from the many streams and purify it using a filter or tablets.Note, however, that as you climb ever higher the water becomes more scarce. On the Machame trail, for example, the last water point is at the Karanga Valley, the lunch-stop before Barafu; on Marangu, it’s just before the Saddle. For this reason it is essential that you carry enough bottles or containers for at least two litres.

In camp, coffee and tea is served and maybe hot chocolate too – all usually made with powdered milk. Remember that caffeine, present in coffee and tea, is dehydrating, which can be bad for acclimatization. Caffeine is a diuretic too (i.e you will want to urinate frequently – something you will already be doing a lot as you adapt to the higher conditions). At Twende Africa Tours, we understand the importance of healthy, nutritious, tasty meals on the trek. Here is a sample of the food you can expect while on the trail.

 

Morning Call

• Tea, Drinking chocolate, Milo, Coffee, Biscuits, Milk

 

Breakfast

• Porridge - Oat porridge, Finger millet porridge, Maize porridge, Semolina (sooji) porridge
• Fruits - Assorted fruit plate, Fruit platter, Selection of Fruits
• Toasted Bread, French toast
• Eggs - Onion omelet, Plain omelet, Spanish omelet, Scottish eggs (over easy)
• Grilled bacon, Grilled sausages
• Cheddar cheese
• Tanzania tea, drinking chocolate, Coffee, Decaffeinate, Milk (Nido)
• Pancakes
• Sautéd potatoes
• Stir-fried mushroom

 

Lunch Box

• Juice box
• Biscuits
• Cut fruits
• Chocolate
• Portions of cheese
• Queen cakes
• Bread sandwich
• Sweetness(pipi)

 

Lunch

• Soups:
• Cream of herbs
• Cream of mixed vegetables
• Cream of Zucchini
• Clear onion soup served with cheese crouton
• Cream of celery & carrot
• Clear chicken soup, garnished with sweet corn & basil
• Salads:
• Green lettuce, avocados, onion rings dressed with a vinaigrette
• Coleslaw, cabbage, onions, carrot
• Cabbage, onions coated with cream
• Carrot & onions dressed with lemon juice & olive oil
• Vegetables and Toasted cheese
• Pan-fried rings of Irish potatoes
• Sweet potatoes
• Cucumber, tomatoes & spring onion with herbal olive oil
• Cucumber, tomatoes & onions cream with mayonnaise
• Main Course:
• Fried chicken
• Fish finger- served with tartar sauce
• Pan Fried – Chicken saved with Moroccan spaghetti
• Fish goujons garnished with lemon slice served with French fries
• Grilled chicken
• Beef pies and Veg pies
• Accompaniment:
• Biscuits, Pringles, Potatoes crisp
• Hard boiled eggs and tomato ketchup
• Sweet breads
• Pancakes
• Dessert
• Chocolate
• Fruit slices, Fruit platter, Fruit Salad
• Veg fuss ills
• Tea, Coffee, Drinking chocolate, Milo, Milk (Nido)
•  

Dinner

• Soups
• Cream of cucumber and potatoes
• Cream of celery soup
• Leeks soup
• Green pepper and pork soup
• Cream of zucchini and potatoes
• Cream of ginger soup
• Cream of garlic soup
• Vegetable soup
• Cream of cucumber and potatoes
• Main Course
• Grilled beef served with Gravy garnished with grilled tomatoes
• Beef stroganoff
• Fried chicken
• Spiced meatballs with a creamy pomodoro sauce
• Mincemeat with bolognese sauce
• Chicken chasseur
• Grilled Beef fillet served with a mint sauce
• Chicken fricassee, with a coulis and tomato sauce
• Vegetable rice
• Macaroni with cheese
• Spaghetti pomodoro
• Turmeric rice
• Accompaniment
• Lyonnaise potatoes
• French fries
• Fried potatoes
• Dessert
• Banana fritters
• Queen cake glassed with chocolate source
• Grape suzettes and pancake
• Creamed Caramel
• Custard pudding
• Bread and buttered pudding
• Cake
• Fruit salad
• Fresh fruits
• Tea, Coffee, Drinking chocolate, Milo, Milk (Nido)

 

VEGETARIAN MENU ON KILIMANJARO

We have many trekkers who are vegetarian and our cooks are well trained to handle these requirements. You are free to meet our cook during the briefing session to discuss and create a menu which meets your criteria.

Here are some sample dishes:

Soups:

• Cream of cauliflower & carrot
• Vegetable soup and bread
• Pumpkin soup
• Cucumber soup
• Leek soup

Salads:

• Vegetable Salad
• Mushrooms with Vegetables
• Fried potatoes with vegetable sauce
• Coleslaw

Main Course:

• Fresh beans and carrot with coconut sauce
• Cauliflower and carrot
• Seasonal green beans with cream sauce
• Braised cabbage
• Mixed vegetables
• African pride-Red finger, (ngogwe or better tomatoes)
• Rice
• Porridge

Accompaniment:

• Chips
• Fruits
• Tea, Coffee, Drinking chocolate, Milo, Milk (Nido)
• Bread (Normal and Toasted)

 

VEGAN MENU ON KILIMANJARO

We have many trekkers who are Vegan and our cooks are well trained to handle these requirements. You are free to meet our cook during the briefing session to discuss and create a menu which meets your criteria.

Here are some sample dishes:

Soups:

• Vegetable soup and bread
• Pumpkin soup
• Cucumber soup
• Leek soup
• Vegetable Salad
• Sweet potatoes soup
• Carrot soup

Salads:

• Mushrooms with Vegetables
• Fried potatoes with vegetable sauce

Main Course:

• Grilled Sandwich
• Pasta
• Rice
• Porridge
• Boiled Potatoes
• Mashed potatoes
• Beans
• Vegetable Samosa
• Chapati
• Chinese rice
• Spaghetti

Accompaniment:

• Chips
• Fruits
• Black Tea
• Fruits
• Bread (Normal and Toasted)