Kilimanjaro Expedition
Encyclopedia
Kilimanjaro Expedition is a sketch from the episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus
"The Ant, an Introduction", also appearing in the Monty Python
film And Now For Something Completely Different
. It has been compared to a comic episode in Franz Kafka
's The Castle in which the protagonist, K., is confused by a pair of twins assigned to assist him.
), a young mountaineer
, visits the office of Sir George Head, OBE
(John Cleese
), who is leading an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro
. Head's problem, though, is that he has a bad case of diplopia
, and indeed, he believes there are two Wilsons when he enters the office. He must cover his right eye to confirm Wilson's claim that there's only one of him. Head begins filling out Wilson's application, although he repeatedly asks both Wilson and the empty chair next to him the same question.
Head then fills him in on the expedition: he and his team plan to climb both peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro. Wilson claims there's only one, and Head must consult a topographical
map of Africa
with one eye to confirm the claim. Head then explains the expedition is to find any remnants of last year's expedition, led by his brother. The team was trying to build a bridge between the two peaks, which was naturally Head's idea. Wilson then gives his qualifications. When he describes himself as a mountaineer, Head must look the word up in a dictionary. Due to his affliction, he reads the definition aloud as "two men skilled in climbing mountains."
Wilson then learns Head also thinks there are two of him as well. Head explains the team's route to Kilimanjaro (which mostly consists of a way from Surrey
to Rottingdean
, with a giant leap from Rottingdean to Nairobi
(Head's map of Britain cuts off there, and is overlying his map of Africa) and then down to Tanzania
, and then asking from there, (all the while Head describes everything in plural, i.e. "Rottingdeans", "main roads near Purbrights")). Wilson inquires about the rest of the team; there are five other members (Head of course thinking each are two brothers (or four brothers in one case, a 'pair of identical twins')). None are mountaineers and none but one speak Swahili
. When Wilson asks Head if anyone else speaks Swahili, Head replies: 'I think most of them do down there.'
However, their guide, Jimmy Blenkinsop (Graham Chapman
, who in real life was an avid mountaineer), has worked out a route. He comes to the office, reassures Wilson about Head's double vision, and then shows the route rather physically, acting it out in the office and knocking over numerous items and a bookshelf before breaking through the door, still describing the plan. Wilson is now fed up, and leaves the expedition for his lack of confidence. The suddenly visible "other" Arthur Wilson tells "both" clearly visible George Heads that he's still on board for the trip.
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
"The Ant, an Introduction", also appearing in the Monty Python
Monty Python
Monty Python was a British surreal comedy group who created their influential Monty Python's Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. Forty-five episodes were made over four series...
film And Now For Something Completely Different
And Now For Something Completely Different
And Now for Something Completely Different is a film spin-off from the television comedy series Monty Python's Flying Circus featuring favorite sketches from the first two seasons. The title was used as a catchphrase in the television show....
. It has been compared to a comic episode in Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka
Franz Kafka was a culturally influential German-language author of short stories and novels. Contemporary critics and academics, including Vladimir Nabokov, regard Kafka as one of the best writers of the 20th century...
's The Castle in which the protagonist, K., is confused by a pair of twins assigned to assist him.
Overview
Arthur Wilson (Eric IdleEric Idle
Eric Idle is an English comedian, actor, author, singer, writer, and comedic composer. He was as a member of the British comedy group Monty Python, a member of the The Rutles on Saturday Night Live and author of the play, Spamalot....
), a young mountaineer
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
, visits the office of Sir George Head, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(John Cleese
John Cleese
John Marwood Cleese is an English actor, comedian, writer, and film producer. He achieved success at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as a scriptwriter and performer on The Frost Report...
), who is leading an expedition to Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
. Head's problem, though, is that he has a bad case of diplopia
Diplopia
Diplopia, commonly known as double vision, is the simultaneous perception of two images of a single object that may be displaced horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in relation to each other...
, and indeed, he believes there are two Wilsons when he enters the office. He must cover his right eye to confirm Wilson's claim that there's only one of him. Head begins filling out Wilson's application, although he repeatedly asks both Wilson and the empty chair next to him the same question.
Head then fills him in on the expedition: he and his team plan to climb both peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro. Wilson claims there's only one, and Head must consult a topographical
Topography
Topography is the study of Earth's surface shape and features or those ofplanets, moons, and asteroids...
map of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
with one eye to confirm the claim. Head then explains the expedition is to find any remnants of last year's expedition, led by his brother. The team was trying to build a bridge between the two peaks, which was naturally Head's idea. Wilson then gives his qualifications. When he describes himself as a mountaineer, Head must look the word up in a dictionary. Due to his affliction, he reads the definition aloud as "two men skilled in climbing mountains."
Wilson then learns Head also thinks there are two of him as well. Head explains the team's route to Kilimanjaro (which mostly consists of a way from Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
to Rottingdean
Rottingdean
Rottingdean is a coastal village next to the town of Brighton and technically within the city of Brighton and Hove, in East Sussex, on the south coast of England...
, with a giant leap from Rottingdean to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
(Head's map of Britain cuts off there, and is overlying his map of Africa) and then down to Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
, and then asking from there, (all the while Head describes everything in plural, i.e. "Rottingdeans", "main roads near Purbrights")). Wilson inquires about the rest of the team; there are five other members (Head of course thinking each are two brothers (or four brothers in one case, a 'pair of identical twins')). None are mountaineers and none but one speak Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
. When Wilson asks Head if anyone else speaks Swahili, Head replies: 'I think most of them do down there.'
However, their guide, Jimmy Blenkinsop (Graham Chapman
Graham Chapman
Graham Arthur Chapman was a British comedian, physician, writer, actor, and one of the six members of the Monty Python comedy troupe.-Early life and education:...
, who in real life was an avid mountaineer), has worked out a route. He comes to the office, reassures Wilson about Head's double vision, and then shows the route rather physically, acting it out in the office and knocking over numerous items and a bookshelf before breaking through the door, still describing the plan. Wilson is now fed up, and leaves the expedition for his lack of confidence. The suddenly visible "other" Arthur Wilson tells "both" clearly visible George Heads that he's still on board for the trip.