Loss of Appetite on Kilimanjaro: What Climbers Should Know | Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris
Why might you lose your appetite on Kilimanjaro? Learn when to tell your guide, what to eat and which altitude symptoms need attention.
Is it normal to lose your appetite on Kilimanjaro?
Some climbers notice a reduced appetite, but you should still tell your guide. Loss of appetite can occur alongside acute mountain sickness or other conditions.
Should I force myself to eat if I feel sick?
Don’t force a large meal. Tell your guide how you feel; if you’re able to eat, small amounts of food may be easier. If symptoms suggest altitude illness, the team must assess you and decide on the safest next step.
Can drinking more water cure altitude sickness?
No. Staying adequately hydrated is useful, but excessive drinking does not prevent or cure altitude illness. Tell your guide about symptoms and follow their advice on assessment and descent.
Does Coca-Cola help with altitude?
It may be a drink you enjoy, but it does not prevent or treat altitude sickness.
CDC Yellow Book — High-Altitude Travel and Altitude Illness
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance on altitude illness, including acute mountain sickness symptoms such as loss of appetite.
Wilderness Medical Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Acute Altitude Illness: 2024 Update
Peer-reviewed clinical practice guidelines published in Wilderness & Environmental Medicine.
Why might you lose your appetite on Kilimanjaro? Learn when to tell your guide, what to eat and which altitude symptoms need attention.
Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris
Loss of Appetite on Kilimanjaro: What Climbers Should Know | Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris
Mountain Life
Loss of appetite on
You’ve spent the day walking through incredible scenery. Your cook has prepared a warm meal. Everyone sits down to eat—and suddenly you look at your plate and think:
“I’m just not hungry.”
A change in appetite can happen during a Kilimanjaro climb. Long walking days, tiredness, nausea and the effects of altitude can all influence how you feel about food.
But here’s the important part:
tell your guide if your appetite changes
, particularly if you also have a headache, feel nauseous or notice other symptoms. Losing your appetite may accompany acute mountain sickness, so it’s something your team should know about—not something you need to quietly push through.
Can altitude affect your appetite?
Yes. Some climbers notice that they feel less hungry as they gain altitude. Others eat normally throughout their trek.
A reduced appetite doesn’t automatically mean you have altitude sickness. It can have several causes, and your guide will consider how you feel overall, including any headache, nausea, dizziness, unusual fatigue or other symptoms.
That’s one reason honest communication matters. You don’t need to wait for the next scheduled health check to tell your guide that something has changed. Read more about how our guides monitor your health in our
.
What should I do if I don’t feel like eating?
First,
let your guide know
. Explain whether you’re also feeling sick, have a headache or are having trouble drinking.
If you feel able to eat, smaller amounts of familiar food may be easier than a large meal. Tell your cook and guide what appeals to you—they may be able to suggest something from the food available. See our
for a sample mountain menu.
You can also bring a few favourite snacks for your daypack. A familiar flavour can be welcome after several days on the mountain!
The aim is to support your body through the trek, not to force yourself to finish a large plate when you feel unwell.
Is loss of appetite a sign of altitude sickness?
It
can be
, especially when it occurs alongside a headache and symptoms such as nausea, dizziness or fatigue. These symptoms can also have other causes, so your guide will need to assess the whole situation.
If altitude illness is suspected,
do not continue ascending or sleep higher while symptoms are present
. If symptoms worsen, descent is necessary. Your guide will coordinate the response and seek medical help as needed.
Our team conducts health checks twice daily, using a pulse oximeter and a symptom assessment alongside conversation and observation. But a reading alone does not tell the whole story—how you feel matters too.
Which symptoms need urgent attention?
Tell your guide immediately if you feel unwell at any point.
Confusion, difficulty walking straight or keeping your balance, or shortness of breath at rest are emergency warning signs.
The team must arrange urgent assistance and descent. Do not leave the affected climber alone or allow them to keep climbing.
Should I drink more water if I have a headache?
Drink regularly according to your needs, but
do not force excessive amounts of water
. Overdrinking does not prevent altitude sickness and can be harmful.
A headache can have different causes. Tell your guide rather than assuming it is only dehydration, particularly if you have recently gained altitude or also feel nauseous or unusually tired.
What about Coca-Cola?
A sweet drink may be appealing when you don’t feel like eating, but
Coca-Cola does not prevent or treat altitude sickness
. It should never replace assessment, an appropriate decision about ascent, or descent when needed.
If you’re feeling unwell, tell your guide—even if a snack or drink makes you feel a little better.
Eating well on your Kilimanjaro climb
Your Exuberant cook prepares meals throughout the trek, and our crew arranges fresh-food resupply during the climb. Please tell us about dietary requirements and allergies before your trip so we can discuss arrangements. Our
covers what to arrange before you travel.
Your appetite may change from day to day. The most useful thing you can do is keep your team informed:
Good food helps support your journey. Listening to your body—and telling your guide what it’s saying—is just as important.
Planning your climb?
to discuss your route, meals and preparation.
Frequently asked questions
Further reading & sources
This article is general travel information and does not replace individual medical advice. Speak with a qualified clinician before your climb about your health, medications and travel plans. The following official sources informed the altitude-illness context above:
Keep reading & plan your climb
Altitude & Safety guide
What do you eat on Kilimanjaro?
Before you climb: Abe’s checklist
Kilimanjaro packing list
Kilimanjaro FAQs
Contact our team