Category: Mount Kilimanjaro

In Tanzania, efforts are still ongoing to put out a fire that has erupted on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest summit. The Tanzania National Parks Authority (Tanapa) and local residents have been battling the flames since it started on Sunday. The height, as well as high winds and dry weather, have impeded their efforts, causing the fire to grow quickly. Kilimanjaro reaches a height of about 6,000 meters (20,000 ft). It is climbed by around 50,000 visitors each year. The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. However, it's possible that the fire started as a result of a fire used to prepare meals for tourists. "It appears the fire that was started to cook food... burned the dry foliage in the region and spread swiftly," Tanapa spokesperson Pascal Shelutete told Tanzanian publication Mwananchi. Mr Shelutete said the fire originated in the Whona region, which serves as a rest stop for climbers on two of the mountain's several routes. Tanapa shared photos on Twitter that show the intensity of the fire and its aftermath. 264 students from the College of African Wildlife Management (MWEKA), which is located near the mountain, have been dispatched to assist in the firefighting and distribution of supplies to firemen. In a statement, the parks administration claimed it had taken "every precaution to ensure that the fire does not endanger the lives of guests, equipment, porters, or tour guides." The 5,895m (19,341ft) high Mount Kilimanjaro is a famous tourist attraction, with tens of thousands of people climbing it each year. Tanzania sends a helicopter to help put out flames. Meanwhile, State Aviation, a helicopter firm, has volunteered its helicopter to assist in the damage assessment. Tanzania announced on Thursday that it has dispatched a helicopter to help put out a fire that had been

Having reached the base camp for your summit attempt you now need to prepare for your summit attempt. You are going to be starting your climb just after midnight so there are three key things you need to do: try and get as much rest as you can, even if you cannot sleep because it is too early to get into your sleeping bag and relax. It is going to be a tough long night try to eat as much as you can and stock up with energy early in the evening. You will have breakfast when you are woken but not many people feel like eating at 12.30 am, shortly after midnight get all your kit ready and prepared for the next morning so that you do not mistakenly leave anything. Ensure your head torch is working and that you have packed any snacks you are planning to take. It is much easier to plan and pack your daysack the night before rather than just after midnight When you are woken you will be offered breakfast and you should try to eat. At the very least try and get as many hot drinks into you as possible. Related: Summitting Kilimanjaro at night, everything you need to know As you start to climb keep remembering these key points this climb is a tortoise challenge- if you can keep plodding however slowly you will make it. If you try to go too fast you will burn out and increase the risk of being ill with altitude sickness keep drinking as much as you can- cold dry air is incredibly dehydrating and if you do not keep well hydrated this weakens you faster than anything. make sure you adjust your layering of clothes to keep your temperature comfortable- being hot saps more

Between 2014 and 2016, the countries of West Africa faced a devastating Ebola outbreak that sent shockwaves of fear and despair throughout the region. This unprecedented and cataclysmic event left no one untouched, as the effects of the outbreak reverberated through communities and tore apart the fabric of society. The World Health Organization, considered the beacon of global health, was confronted with an enormous challenge, as it grappled with an epidemic that would go down in history as the largest, most severe, and most intricate the world has ever witnessed. The sheer scale of the outbreak was staggering, with over 28,000 individuals succumbing to the ruthless clutches of this merciless disease. Families were ripped apart, dreams were shattered, and hopes were extinguished as the death toll relentlessly climbed higher and higher. Tragically, the lives of 11,000 people were claimed before the emergency could be brought under control in 2016, leaving behind an indelible mark of sorrow and mourning that will forever haunt the collective memory of West Africa. Within the confines of Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, the epicentre of the catastrophe, the majority of cases emerged, painting a harrowing picture of despair and desperation. Communities were wracked with fear, with every individual living in constant terror of falling victim to this silent and insidious killer. The once vibrant streets and bustling markets turned into desolate and ghostly remnants of their former selves, as the heavy weight of the epidemic permeated every corner of daily life. Amidst the chaos, heroes emerged – brave men and women who faced the disease head-on, risking their own lives to provide care and support to the afflicted. Doctors, nurses, and countless volunteers fought valiantly, working tirelessly day and night to stem the tide of this relentless onslaught. Their selfless acts of heroism and sacrifice

As Tanzania confirmed the first case of Coronavirus on March, 16th, 2020, a lot has happened since. Many Mount Kilimanjaro climbing companies have since shut down and sent most of the employees home to self isolate and work from home or stop working altogether. Is there any confirmed coronavirus on Mount Kilimanjaro? So far no case has been confirmed on any climbers trekking Mount Kilimanjaro but Tanzania, in general, has confirmed additional cases, becoming one of at least 30 countries across Africa to have confirmed cases of coronavirus, making Tanzania and Somalia the latest East African Countries to have confirmed cases alongside Kenya with neighbors Tanzania to the North. According to the Tanzanian health minister, Ummy Mwalimu, the first confirmed coronavirus patient in Tanzania is a 46-year-old Tanzanian woman who arrived in Arusha, at the Kilimanjaro International Airport from Belgium on March 14th, 2020. Is it still safe to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? Coronavirus has become a global pandemic as labeled by the WHO on March 11th, 2020, it is advisable to go into self-isolation and postpone any travel arrangements if possible. Even though the confirmed cases in Tanzania are very few and none confirmed on Mount Kilimanjaro, the tests and reports are not conclusive, you never know. Many countries are enforcing strict travel restrictions or travel bans, as they come up with new daily implementation policies. Most commercial airlines from many countries especially the ones affected more like Italy, Spain, China, United States, and other European countries have reduced or suspended routes to and from the most affected areas as well as a significant reduction due to less air traveler traffic. As new country lockdowns and travel restrictions are being introduced daily, it is advisable to check with your country's travel advisory and air carrier before flying. In addition, many