Building work on Kilimanjaro – a summary

Friday 31st August 2007

Marangu Gate Visitor Information Centre

Blueprints for the proposed new Visitor information centre at Marangu Gate have been shown to me by the Kilimanjaro National Parks Authority (KINAPA). The drawings for this large new complex incorporate a museum, library, internet café, tea room and conference centre. A similar building, though on a smaller scale, is also planned for Machame Gate.

Of course, this being Africa, it’s far from definite that these plans will actually come to fruition. But given the rate at which other recent buildings have gone up, it would be no surprise if this is one plan that really does leave the drawing board and becomes solid, concrete reality.

New huts for staff on Machame-Mweka

Of these ‘recent buildings’, the most extensive are the two new large wooden huts that have been erected at two of Kilimanjaro’s more popular campsites. These new huts include a lounge area for trekkers, a rest room for those suffering from AMS or other illnesses, a weighing room to check porters aren’t carrying more than the stipulated maximum, a reception area where you register your arrival and a storeroom for safety equipment. Sleeping quarters for cleaning and security staff have also been included. There’s also a kitchen out back though, it must be stressed, that this is for staff use only and not for trekkers or their crew. Similarly, there is no accommodation for trekkers and, contrary to a popular rumour that’s been doing the rounds for a while now, there are no hot showers for trekkers to use either!

The huts were originally erected following complaints – justifiable ones, it must be said – by the wardens about the drafty, inadequate shelter provided by the old uniports, which these new huts replace,

These new huts have already been put up at Machame Camp and Mweka Camp, with work on two more – at Barafu and Shira Camp – due in the next few months.

New porters’ huts on the Marangu Route

Other recent construction work on Kilimanjaro includes the provision of a new porters’ hut at Mandara, on the first night of the Marangu trail. The hut can sleep fifty people. A similar one at Kibo Huts is being planned.

New toilet blocks on Kilimanjaro

Finally, UCLAS have designed concrete toilet blocks to go on the mountain. They can already be found at Barafu, Shira 2 and Mweka, and replace the old toilet huts that used to get blown down in strong winds. These accidents were at best inconvenient and at worst – if you happened to be using at the time – downright embarrassing.

Of course, there are those who think that any building work on Kilimanjaro is wrong, and you can see their point of view. But with over 40,000 people now climbing the mountain every year, the infrastructure by necessity has to change to cope with the demand. I also had assurances from KINAPA that, while the gates of every path were going to be upgraded, many of the routes would remain untouched by the current ‘building work’.

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