Africa’s highest peak will soon get connected to the National Electricity grid in Tanzania for reliable and consistent power supply.
However, powering up Mount Kilimanjaro, whose cabins have been relying on solar energy, is a project that is being trodden with utmost care, taking into consideration the environmental concerns.
“We are in consultations with the Tanzania Electricity Supply Company (TANESCO) to find proper ways of networking power lines up the mountain without disturbing its pristine environment, to ensure reliable energy in Kili,” Assistant Conservation Commissioner, Angela Nyaki.
Also, the Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA) management is planning to pump water up the mountain but again through environment friendly systems.
Reliable power and water sources have become of paramount importance as more dignitaries continue to show interest in climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.
As it happens the Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) is now constructing luxury cabins on the roof of Africa, to accommodate the VIP guests.
Assistant Conservation Commissioner, Angela Nyaki reveals that, more distinguished persons and celebrities from around the world are now striving to conquer the world’s highest free-standing mountain.
“President Samia Suluhu’s travel documentary, ‘Tanzania the Royal Tour,’ which covered her stint on Kilimanjaro, seems to have inspired many distinguished personalities from East Africa, the continent and around the globe to also scale the mountain,” Commissioner Nyaki explained.
Due to that the management is working to ensure that accommodation facilities on Kilimanjaro are top notch.
As a result, special luxurious mountain cabins, equipped with all amenities to guarantee creature comforts are now under construction at the Mandara and Kibo stations, in addition to those previously built at Horombo elevation.
Speaking at the Kilimanjaro National Park’s headquarters at the Marangu entry gate, Angela Nyaki pointed out that, while in the past people used to consider the Kilimanjaro Hiking as just grueling experience, TANAPA wants to make sure that people who want to climb Kili for relaxation will also be catered for.
“Immediately after the Pandemic, President Samia Suluhu gave us over 800 million/- to rehabilitate and upgrade the infrastructures on the mountain, precisely passageways,” the conservator added.
Between July 2024 and February 2025, more than 55,000 people had already climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, with the National Park, which is also a World Heritage Site generating over 92 billion/- within the eight-months period.
During the pre-pandemic years, Kilimanjaro used to attract an average of 49,000 climbers per year. But now the mountain is getting nearly 60,000 trekkers within just the first half of the year.
According to the conservator, the majority of climbers hail from the United States and it is possible that the mountain will realize 100,000 visitors by the end of this fiscal year.
“Of course, tourism activities fell during the Covid-19 period and in fact it was President Samia Suluhu’s efforts though the ‘Royal Tour’ documentary that played an important role in rescuing the already slumped travel industry in the country,” said the Assistant Commissioner.
Kim Vertleyden from Switzerland who had just climbed Kilimanjaro said it was his long-term dream to scale Africa’s highest peak after watching a documentary about it from a Belgian Television when he was a child.
His guide during the expedition, Benedict Mato, says what President Samia Suluhu did in Royal Tour was also sowing similar seeds among young people who are watching it now, for them to trace her footprints in future.
Kim intends to return to Kilimanjaro next October this time bringing along his friend who was doubting that he couldn’t make it.