1. The peaks

The ascent of Kibo (19,565 feet) presents hardly any difficulties to young and fit persons, whereas the climb of Mawenzi (approx. 17,300 feet) requires a certain amount of mountaineering experience.

2. Huts

The Section has four huts on the mountain-Bismarck and Johannes Huts, both at about 9,000 feet, Peters Hut (2 huts) at about 12,000 feet, and Kibo Hut at about 16,000 feet. Each hut contains 4 bunks, mattresses, stove, table and benches. Hut Fees are Sh. 1/- a night for subscribing members of the Section or of either the Mountain Club of Kenya or the Mountain Club of Uganda. Evidence of membership should be produced. The charge for non-members is Sh. 3/. a night. There is also a small corrugated-iron shelter, at about 15,300 reet, on Mawenzi, but without bunks, etc.

3. The ascent

There are two principal routes up the mountain :-- i) Moshi to Marangu by road (25 miles); thence via Bismarck, Peters and Kibo Huts. ii) Moshi by road to a point about 10 miles from Moshi along the Moshi-Marangu mountain-road, at an altitude of about 6,000 feet; thence via Johannes, Peters and Kibo Huts.

4. Time

The minimum time required for the journey up and down is 5 days, but an extra night at Peters Hut on the way up has advantages in allowing more time for acclimatization. The schedule for a normal journey is, however, as follows;-- Night 1 Bismarck or Johannes Hut. Night 2 Peters Hut. Night 3 Kibo Hut. Night 4 Peters hut. Night 5 Back at base. The final ascent from Kibo Hut is usually started at about 3 a.m., to enable Gillman's Point (just under 19,000 feet, and recognized as 'the top') to be reached soon after dawn, and the final progress to be made, weather and the climber's physical condition permitting, round the crater to the actual summit, Kaiser Wilhelm Spitze, in time for a return journey to be made to Peters Hut before evening.

5. Arrangements for Safaris

(i) There are two hotels in Marangu, both of which make all arrangements for safaris by Route (i). They are:-- The Kibo Hotel, Marangu, P.O. Box 135, Moshi, and The Marangu Hotel, Marangu, P.O. Box 40, Moshi. Their inclusive rates are :-- One person 5 days Shs. 200/-. 2-4 persons 5 days Shs. 175/- each. 5 or more persons 5 days Shs. 160/- each. Any extra day Shs. 30/- per person. These charges cover rations, blankets and bedding for climbers, guides, cook and porters, also pay of guides, cook and porters, all cooking, feeding and lighting equipment, and hut-fees. Climbers need bring only their own personal equipment (see para 7). Climbers are expected to accept weather risks and pay for the full number of days prepared for, if a safari. once started, is cut short by the weather. (ii) Climbers wishing to use Route (ii) or to make their own arrangements to use Route (i) Should write to the Section's Hon. Secretary, P.O. Box 66, Moshi. While, however, the Section would be able to make arrangements for guides, cook and porters, all arrangements for rations, blankets, bedding and general equipment would have to be made by the climbers themselves. All guides, cooks and porters are registered by the Section, and no unregistered man may be employed. A minimum of 1 guide and 4 porters should be taken for the first climber and 2 extra porters for each additional climber in the party. The daily ration-scale for guides, cooks and porters is :-- Maize-meal 1 lb. Rice 1/2 lb. Meat 1/2 lb. Ghee 2 oz. Sugar 3 oz. Salt 1 oz. Tea 1 oz. Cigarettes 2. The guide takes charge of the rations and issues them. The daily rates of pay are :-- Guide or ASst. Guide Shs. 3/50. Cook Shs. 2/50. Porter Shs. 2/-. In addition, each guide, cook and porter gets either Shs. 5/- or a blanket at the end of a safari.

6. Maintenance of the huts and hut-areas.

Guides are responsible for seeing that huts and areas around huts are cleaned after use and that huts are locked, when a party leaves. Climbers are requested to assist them in this duty and not to send porters on ahead of the party, before leaving a hut. They are also asked to respect the Section's property, not to remove any records, and to leave a supply of firewood in the huts for the next party. The Hon. Secretary will always be glad to receive reports from climbers on any deficiencies or breakages in huts.

7. Climbers' personal equipment.

No special climbing-gear is required for Kibo. Climbers should however, bring plenty of warm clothing, lightly-nailed boots or shoes, sun-proof hat, dark glasses, first-aid outfit and vaseline or Lanoline for skin-protection. Warm clothing might well include Balaclava helmet or large woolen scarf, and mittens or gloves. Normal Alpine climbing-gear is advisable for Mawenzi, though an ice axe is not essential.

8. General

The mountain can be climbed all the year round except in April and May, when the long rains are on, but the best months are September, October, January and February. Intending climbers should apply to either of the two Marangu hotels, or, if they wish to make their own arrangements, to the Hon. Secretary of the Section (see Para. 5). P.O. Box 66,Moshi, R. S. ELWELL-SUTTON. March, 1950 Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.