Lava tunnels add to Mount Kilimanjaro’s attraction

Mount Kilimanjaro is already a major tourist attraction but a new discovery by Dutch scientists Sjoerd Vander Schuit, Arjan Van Waardenburg and Bert Tindemans could give it even more prestige. The three men believe that Kilimajaro contains the highest lava tunnels in the world – at least, they’re higher than any tubes found to date. According to reports, the longest tube/tunnel stretches 150m and is 8-10m wide. The highest tube is 4330m above sea level on the northern slope. The highest tubes on the southern slope are at 4365m and 4387m above sea level.

Lava Tunnels Mount Kilimanjaro

The team explored many of Kilimajaro’s peaks and found most of them on the Kibo and Mawenzi peaks.

Vander Schuit said, “Mt Kilimanjaro’s tubes had been part of a huge tube swarm or network. But most of these tubes have been eroded away by glaciers, ice sheets and rivers.”

This means that every effort now needs to be made to preserve the integrity of the tunnels and ensure that they aren’t desecrated by tourists or vandals. On average, 35 000 people flock to Mount Kilimanjaro every year for the privilege and excitement of climbing Africa’s highest peak. Its reputation as an “easy” climb means that it attracts people of all fitness levels, not only experienced climbers.

Unfortunately, this also means that there are a significant amount of “gapers” or people who don’t really treat the mountain with the respect it deserves. These are the people who litter without thinking, pick flowers and trample growth. They have, unsurprisingly, had an adverse effect on the mountain.

It’s hoped that the new discovery will bring the delicate ecosystems on the mountain into sharp focus and encourage tour operators and tourism authorities to be more vigilant in their approach to guided tours.

According to Rashid Mtungi  MD of Tanzania Rift Valley Tours, said, “This milestone discovery of lava tubes is tantalising news, because it adds value to our unique mountain. The discovery is also timely, taking into consideration that jarMt Kilimano is among the 28 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of Nature.”