In spite of fire on Mount Kilimanjaro, tourism remains unaffected

Thursday, October 15, 2020

With firefighters and volunteers battling for a third day to extinguish a blaze on Mount Kilimanjaro, officials have said that tourist activities in the area remain unaffected.

The world’s highest free-standing volcanic mountain caught fire on Sunday afternoon. The blaze started in Whona, which is a rest spot for climbers passing through Kilimanjaro via its Mandara and Horombo trails, two of several treks up the mountain.

Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa), custodians of the 22 national parks in the country, reassured travellers that tourism can go on despite the fire.

“Tanapa continues to take all the precautions to ensure that the safety of visitors and their facilities is improved without affecting tourism activities that continue as usual,” the authority said in a statement.

Student volunteers from the local College of African Wildlife Management, which hosted the Duke of Cambridge in 2018, are also assisting in checking the fire.

One of Africa’s preferred tourist destinations, Tanzania reopened to visitors in July. Travelers are being tested for their body temperature upon arrival with Covid-19 testing being carried out for anyone showing virus

symptoms; however, no other general restrictions are in place. Tanzania is witnessing a steady stream of travelers since July.

June to October is the most popular time for trekking on Kilimanjaro. In normal times, an upward of 35,000 tourists tour the region for climbing the 5,895-metre-tall mountain.

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