Demystifying the Kilimanjaro Outhouse

This is not the post you will find in most blogs, but I guarantee there are at least a a few would be trekkers who are wondering about this.

With the amount of foot traffic on Kilimanjaro, it is critical that trekkers adhere to the best of their abilities the adages of "leave no trace" and "take out what you bring in."  When it comes to the issue of human waste, this is accomplished by the construction of outhouses placed strategically along the various routes and in abundance at the camp sites.

These wooden outhouses are erected over deep (6-8 foot cisterns) dug into the earth.  They are not that unsimilar to some of the public restrooms you might find in Europe:  there is no commode, but a couple of slabs of wood to stand on while squatting over an opening leading to the hole down below.   It is my understanding that at various times of the year it is the waste from these commodes are hauled out by porters.

This is  relative, but I found these outhouses to be clean and up to the task, especially when you consider possible alternatives.  There weren't a lot (or any for that matter) insects due to the altitude, and minimal odors.  I've had far worse experiences in public restrooms of large metropolitan cities around the world.  I've heard that at times when the cisterns get filled up, it can be a pretty toxic experience, but that wasn't the case on my trip.  Plus, there were enough outhouses  so that you could be somewhat selective in finding the right, private spot for you to do your business.