For decades trekking to the lofty summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro has been one of the top bucket-list items for any serious adventure traveler. As Africa's highest peak-and the tallest free-standing mountain in the world-it routinely draws thousands of visitors each year. Even in 2020, amidst a global pandemic, it has remained open to visitors, with small teams of climbers socially distancing their way to the top.
In recent years the impact of climate change on the mountain have become increasingly evident. The once-famous snows of Kilimanjaro have been melting at an alarming rate and the glacier that lined its volcanic crater has shrunken to just a shadow of its former self. In fact, climatologists now say that the glacier will likely be completely gone by 2033, limiting the amount of fresh water available to the local Tanzanians living long Kili's base.
Recently however, a new threat has emerged to the health of the mountain. One that has the potential to do more immediate damage and have a lasting impact on the local ecosystem. As wildfires on Kilimanjaro now show that the iconic peak is under siege on multiple fronts, with warming temperatures and drying conditions creating new challenges.
Wildfires on Kilimanjaro
A few weeks back, in mid-October, a massive wild fire broke out along Kilimanjaro's flanks. It is believed that the fire was started by porters who were cooking a meal for their guests at the Whona Camp. Sparks from a cook fire may have landed in the nearby grass, igniting a blaze that burned for several days and required more than 500 volunteer fire fighters to extinguish. Because it is currently the dry season in Tanzania, it didn't take long for the fire to spread, scorching a large section of the mountain.
Because the fire ignited at about 8850 feet (2697 m) -and spread to as high as 12,100 (3688 m)- it was difficult to contain. Just getting the necessary resources onto the mountain was a challenge, and rangers at Kilimanjaro National Park didn't have immediate access to a helicopter to help combat the blaze. As a result, the wildfire burned more than 36.7 square miles (95 sq. km), destroying wildlife and vegetation in the process.
It took firefighters five days to get the wildfire under control. During that time, it managed to destroy more than a dozen houses, several campsite facilities, and a few solar panels. Thankfully no one was seriously injured in the blaze and visitors to the mountain saw only minor disruptions. The small number of trekking teams currently on Kilimanjaro made it easier to keep track of where climbers were during the worst of the conditions.
More Fires Expected in the Future
While wildfires on Kilimanjaro aren't unheard of, they don't occur all that often either. The one that occurred a few weeks back is now considered the largest to ever take place on Africa's tallest peak, although it may not hold that distinction for long. Park rangers and locals living in the shadow of the mountain have indicated that the shrinking glaciers and warming conditions have made the dry season even more dangerous than it was in the past. As a result, officials say they expect these types of fires to become more common-and grow in intensity-in the future. Because of this, they are working to become better prepared to handle them.
Part of that preparation includes training the volunteer firefighters to be more effective at their job. It also means investing in better equipment, including purchasing a helicopter specifically designated for the national park. That should help when it comes to scouting for fires and delivering supplies and personnel to the mountain in a more expedient manner. Had a helicopter been available this time out, the blaze may have been contained much more quickly.
One thing that park officials can't control is the shifting climate conditions on Kili however. As the rainy season gets shorter, and the dry season grows longer and drier, the chances of more fires becomes a distinct possibility. This is especially true when there are more people on the mountain, as there traditionally are at this time of the year. COVID-19 has kept most trekkers at home, but in the future there will likely be more cook fires for preparing meals, increasing the chance of a spark igniting the surrounding landscape.
Climate Change is Accelerating
Climatologists have been warning us for years that Kilimanjaro was under threat and the changes to the mountain are now undeniable. But at this point it seems that the impact of climate change is starting to accelerate, with the glaciers on the summit losing significant mass in just the past decade alone. The loss of that ice has had a cascading effect on the surrounding ecosystem, causing streams and rivers to dry up and forcing farmers living at the base of the mountain to find alternate sources of water. Naturally, this has led to drier conditions, which directly feeds the potential for more wildfires.
Just how much have Kili's glaciers shrunken in recent years? According to scientists, when the mountain was first climbed back in 1889, the ice sheets once covered approximately 4.75 sq. miles (12.3 sq. km). By 2003, their size had been reduced to just .96 sq miles (2.5 sq. km). Today, they are just fraction of even that number, with annual snowfall-which typically feeds the glacier-dropping off dramatically too.
We've known for years that Kilimanjaro was at the epicenter of climate change, serving as a "canary in the coal mine" if you will. But the dramatic shift in the size of the glaciers in recent years, along with the growing threat of increased forest fires, has further hammered this point home. What this mountain will look like in another 10-15 years remains to be seen and the impact of its changing environments and ecosystems is likely to have long-lasting effects on the people who have relied on it for water and a livelihood.
Make no mistake, Kilimanjaro isn't the only place where climate change is having a major impact. Right now however, it just happens to be one of the most stark examples of what we can expect in the decades to come.
