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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Excellent, accessible and informative guide book, 23 Mar 2004
This is a great book detailing both Trekking and Climbing routes for Africa's two highest peaks.Written in a very accessible style the book gives very straightforward reviews and comments regarding the most popular routes on each mountain. The excellent black and white photo's are perfect accompaniments for the route descriptions and these are supported by useful topo's. The colour prints are appropriately reserved for general "photo album" shots. The book provides route descriptions all the way from the "normal routes" of both mountains to HVS (American Grade VI) routes encompassing scrambles of various difficulties in between. However, don't assume that this is a book for hard-core mountaineers only; it simply does a good job of explaining all the options available. A useful chapter on preparation includes kit lists (differentiated for Trekkers and Climbers), Maps and Guides available, recommended fitness levels, park regulations, food, travel arrangements, access and mountain health (and what to do when it is waning!). I bought a number of guides to these mountains prior to my first trip to Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya. This book and the Mountain Club of Kenya's excellent Guide to Mount Kenya and Kilimanjaro are the only two that are dog-eared and the only two that I would take again. This book probably has the edge in terms of practical use for Trekkers, with the MCK book slightly more focussed towards climbers. Either way, both make excellent companions on your African adventure. Good luck on your journey to the top
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