BootsnAll Travel Community

anyone and charging them Solar charger ?

No way I'd climb with my laptop. If it didn't get soaked, it probably would have been smashed.

Yes to a digital camera (small one) carried in a Ziplock bag with extra batteries.

You don't need a tent as the tour operator will provide one, but you probably want your own sleeping bag. If you don't have a bag, the tour operators can loan/rent you one, but it probably won't be as warm or nice.

I left all my extra stuff at my hotel without any problems. I did lock my duffels that I left at the hotel though since they contained some very expensive camera equipment that I took on safari after my climb.

You can however bring a cell phone and send digital pictures and SMS friends as you climb as cell service is available all the way up to the summit.

What Hota said.

I also took an altimeter/thermometer. I think the guides were more interested in it than me. They'd always come up to me and look at the reading on my pack and say "This is a good one!" because it was close to what they estimated the altitude to be.

If I could've, I would've taken a GPS receiver, just to get accurate measurements of distance travelled, altitude gains, things like that. I'm into geeky stats like that! ;-)

I have a mobile with GPS, the Nokia N95 . It will work great! :-)

How do you find the N95 for battery life ? I was considering getting one (although it will probably be out-of-date by the time I get around to climbing Kili...

Not sure what the mobile reception is like on and around the mountain - anyone else here taken their phone to the summit ?

Glenn.

Whitecollarnomad: Not saying don't take your DSLR at all! Others in my group had one and the photos they emailed around on their return are breathtaking!

If you have a good, weather proof case, enough batteries to take, and can handle the weight, take it!

GlennB: mobile reception isn't bad from about 4000m and higher. Obviously when you're walking through valleys you lose it, but I was able to send text messages and make/receive phone calls reasonably frequently. (I paid for it though, roaming charges are NOT cheap).

Reception in Arusha town was fine.

Reception at the summit is pretty amazing. You get a choice of 6 networks or more, from Kenya and Tanzania! I found CelTel the most reliable in Tanzania, and SafariCom the most reliable in Kenya.

I have a Nokia N80, and I found SafariCom would kick me off the network if I connected in 3G, so I forced my phone to connect in 2G instead and it was much better. Ditto for Tanzania.

But just like your camera, make sure you have a pouch/case to put your phone in, especially on summit night. I put mine in my fleece jacket pocket. When I got to the top I opened my jacket and there were icicles inside my jacket where the sweat had frozen! LOL

My phone was covered in condensation and the battery, which was a fully charged one I'd saved especially, was almost flat. I managed a few texts and a brief phone call with my partner back home, but that's all.

does anybody have experience charging their batteries while climbing? Like try a Solar charger ?