DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 30 — Tanzania has temporarily suspended the use of the Lemosho and Londorosi routes for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, following a new wildfire in the park, the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) said Monday.
According to a statement released by TANAPA, the blaze broke out in the Sangarini-Kamwanga area and was spreading toward Shira within the Kilimanjaro National Park. Tourists who had planned to use the two routes will instead be directed to the Machame, Marangu or Rongai routes, the statement said. Meanwhile, firefighting efforts were continuing in cooperation with the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force, the Tanzania Forest Services Agency, the Enduimet Wildlife Management Area, the reserve force, local residents and other tourism stakeholders. The latest fire comes weeks after another blaze broke out on Sept. 3 in the Kikererwa area of the park near the Tanzania-Kenya border. That earlier fire had been more than 90 percent contained by Sept. 5. TANAPA said the safety of employees, tourists and co-workers remained its top priority, assuring the public that all available resources were being deployed to bring the latest fire under control.
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