Tanzania suspends two Mount Kilimanjaro routes on 28 September
Published on 10/04/2026 at 07:08 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Tanzania suspended two climbing routes at Mount Kilimanjaro on 28 September 2026 after a fire spread in the Sangarini-Kamwanga area towards Shira. The decision affects visitors planning to use Lemosho and Londorosi, while other routes remain available from the Moshi region.
Mount Kilimanjaro routes remain suspended after fire
The Tanzania National Parks Authority, known as TANAPA, announced the temporary suspension as firefighters and conservation teams worked to contain the blaze. The statement was reported by The Citizen's report on 28 September, which names the mountain, the routes and the date of the decision.
TANAPA advised tourists who had planned to climb via Lemosho or Londorosi to use Machame, Marangu or Rongai instead. The authority said the two suspended routes are among the six routes used to climb the mountain, and reported that the Tanzania Fire and Rescue Force, Tanzania Forest Services, local residents and other conservation and tourism stakeholders were involved in the response.
As of 4 October 2026, TANAPA had not announced when Lemosho and Londorosi would reopen. The latest regional report said the fire continued in parts of the Shira zone, making the route suspension an active access change rather than a past closure with no effect on travel plans.
Why the closure matters on Africa's highest mountain
The affected routes approach the mountain from the west and lead towards the high Shira area. This gives the suspension a direct practical meaning: the summit is not described as closed, but the western approach named in a climber's plan may no longer be available.
UNESCO lists Kilimanjaro National Park as a World Heritage property. Its Kilimanjaro National Park profile records a peak of 5,895 metres (19,341 ft), Africa's highest point, and describes a volcanic massif rising above surrounding plains. The park was established in 1973 and was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1987.
The mountain has three main volcanic peaks: Kibo, Mawenzi and Shira. Its protected landscape includes lower slopes, montane forest, heath and moorland, alpine desert and summit zones. The combination of those zones with the western routes explains why a route change can alter the terrain and scenery experienced, even while climbing continues elsewhere.
Visiting Mount Kilimanjaro: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- The route suspension took effect on 28 September 2026 and remained in place on 4 October 2026. It applies to Lemosho and Londorosi in Kilimanjaro National Park.
- The mountain itself was not reported as fully closed. TANAPA directed affected climbers towards Machame, Marangu or Rongai while firefighting and containment work continued.
- Moshi is the main reference town for visits to the Tanzanian side of the mountain. The park can also be reached by road or by flight through Kilimanjaro International Airport, according to Tanzania's national parks information.
- The terrain changes through several vegetation zones, from lower slopes and montane forest to heath, moorland, alpine desert and summit. The summit reaches 5,895 metres (19,341 ft), so the route involves high-altitude mountain terrain.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
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Frequently asked questions about Mount Kilimanjaro
What changed at Mount Kilimanjaro on 28 September 2026?
TANAPA temporarily suspended the Lemosho and Londorosi climbing routes because of an ongoing fire near the Shira area. No reopening date had been announced by 4 October 2026.
Which routes can climbers use instead of Lemosho?
TANAPA advised affected tourists to use the Machame, Marangu or Rongai routes instead. The advice was reported on 28 September 2026.
Where is Mount Kilimanjaro and how do visitors reach it?
Mount Kilimanjaro is in northern Tanzania near Moshi. Tanzania's national parks information says the park can be reached by road or via Kilimanjaro International Airport.
