TANAPA halts two routes used by tourists for climbing Mt Kilimanjaro due to ongoing fire in Moshi district

MOSHI: THE Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA) has temporarily suspended the use of the Lemosho and Londrosi routes used by tourists to climb Mount Kilimanjaro due to an ongoing fire in the Sangarini area, from Kamwanga towards Shira in Moshi District.

The decision was announced in a statement issued by TANAPA Assistant Conservation Commissioner for Communications, Catherine Mbena, who said the suspension was necessary to protect the safety of tourists, employees and other conservation and tourism stakeholders.

“The Tanzania National Parks Authority wishes to inform tourism stakeholders and the public that it has temporarily suspended the use of the Lemosho and Londrosi routes used to climb Mount Kilimanjaro due to the ongoing fire,” Mbena said.

Following the suspension, TANAPA has directed tourists who had planned to use the Lemosho and Londrosi routes to use alternative routes to Mount Kilimanjaro, including Machame, Marangu and Rongai.

According to TANAPA, Lemosho and Londrosi are among the six routes used by tourists to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.

Meanwhile, TANAPA said it is continuing efforts to contain and extinguish the fire in collaboration with the Fire and Rescue Force, Tanzania Forest Services (TFS), Enduimet Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the Reserve Force, local residents and conservation and tourism stakeholders.

TANAPA stressed that the safety of tourists, employees and conservation and tourism stakeholders remains its top priority as efforts continue to contain the fire.