Accomodation
on Marangu route accomodation in huts
Accommodation
and food
The accommodation is in good huts, either dormitory or smaller four bed
A-frames.
The lower huts have spacious dining rooms, where you will be
served meals
cooked by your guide. All food and kitchen 
equipment
will be
carried by the porters and cooked by an experienced cook. It will
be
plentiful and wholesome, but may be limited by the circumstances. Beer
and
soft drinks are available at the huts. Your own supply of chocolate and
high energy snacks is a good idea.
Water
is available at several points and should be purified before drinking. All
water at the huts will be boiled and some provided for drinking the next day.
A comforting tip is to fill your bottle in the evening with boiled water for the
next day, and to use it as a hot water bottle overnight. There are water points
between the huts – check with your guide.
Acclimatisation
Acclimatisation is extremely important, both to let you enjoy your ascent
but more importantly to avoid any serious complications. The route is
planned to optimise the height gain, but you may still get a head ache or
feel nauseous. There are two important preventative measures: to drink
copiously,
even when it is really difficult, and to walk very slowly,
avoiding as far
as possible increased heart and breathing rates.
A
drug, Diamox, is well proven to help with acclimatisation. This is taken as
tablets for a few days before and then during your ascent. It is safe and has
no serious side effects. It is important to remember that one possible effect
of altitude is light-headedness and odd behaviour, which can lead to foolish decisions.
The danger here is of someone who is not well insisting on continuing. Watch each
other closely.
Huts
Mandara
Hut - 2700 m. This is a group of comfortable, wooden A-frame huts.
The
largest cabin has a downstairs dining area and an upstairs dormitory
with
bunk beds and mattresses; smaller huts sleep 8 each. The total
capacity is
60. Water is piped into site from springs above and flush
toilets are behind
the main cabin.
Horombo
Hut - 3720 m. The buildings are similar to Mandara, but total
capacity
is 120. Water is piped from the stream behind the huts. Do not use
this stream
or its valley as a waste disposal area. There are platform
toilets south-east
of main hut, about 80 m down the slope and new flush
toilets have been built
within the complex of small huts.
Kibo
Hut - 4700 m. This stone built block house with a small dining-room
and
a number of dormitory rooms leading off a main corridor has bunk beds
and
mattresses for 60 people. Water: None, so we bring an adequate supply
from
the 'Last Water' stream above Horombo Hut. Platform toilets are behind
the
hut (to the southwest).
All
huts are fairly basic and heavily used, but they provide more comfort
than
sleeping in a tent
Other trekking details
Toilets are
available at the huts. If you are caught out, please find a
spot as far as
possible from the path and any water. Bury your faeces and
paper. It is often
easiest to move a large rock and use the indent as a
hole.
