From my hikes in Japan, Greenland and Jordan I learned that some basic knowledge of local languages helps a lot in making your hikes more safe and enjoyable. So when preparing for hiking Mount Kilimanjaro I tried to at least get some basic knowledge of Swahili words. A good starting point is actually the Jambo Bwana song which you’ll hear a lot on the mountain.
This is one of my posts on planning and preparing for hiking trips. Be sure to read the other posts or more essential words for hikes in other parts of the world.
So here are some essential Swahili words for hiking – for example on Mount Kilimanjaro:
| Hello | Jambo |
| How are you? | Habari geni? |
| Very well | Mzuri sana |
| Very beautiful | Mzuri sana |
| Visitor / foreigher | Wageni |
| Welcome | Mwakaribishwa |
| No problem | Hakuna matata |
| Yes | Ndio |
| Slowly | Pole pole |
| Fast | Haraka (haraka) |
| Let’s go | Tuende (as in: tuende pole pole) |
| Friend | Rafiki |
| You’re welcome | Karibu |
| Thank you | Asante |
| Very | Sana (asante sana, mzuri sana, …) |
| Rain | Mvua |
Please let me know if you have other Swahili words to add.
