Tourism stakeholders remove 600kg of waste from Mt Kilimanjaro in sector-led cleanup initiative

TANZANIA – More than 600 kilogrammes of waste have been extracted from Mount Kilimanjaro following a four-day industry-led cleanup campaign, reinforcing the tourism sector’s commitment to environmental stewardship on Africa’s most visited mountain.

The exercise, spearheaded by Zara Tanzania Adventures, brought together guides, porters, conservation groups and park authorities.

According to Zara’s Human Resources Manager, Bernard Saini, most of the collected waste comprised discarded food packaging and beverage containers left behind by climbers and support crews, highlighting ongoing gaps in waste management practices within the mountain tourism value chain.

“A lot of waste remains on the mountain due to improper disposal by climbers and those who serve them,” Saini said.

“It must be removed to ensure the mountain remains clean and safe.” He added that the company conducts annual anti-pollution drives in collaboration with key industry partners.

Participants in this year’s exercise included Kaza Dan, the Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society, the Tourism and Environment Social Organization, Zara Charity, NLT and Tanzania National Parks (TANAPA) through the Kilimanjaro National Park (KINAPA).

Their involvement underscores growing cross-sector cooperation in tackling sustainability challenges within Tanzania’s tourism ecosystem.

Tanzania Association of Porters (TAP) Chairman, Mohamed Mkoma, commended Zara for taking a leading role, stressing that environmental protection directly impacts labour conditions.

“Although this is a low season and a time to rest, we joined the exercise because the mountain is our workplace. We must ensure it is always clean,” he said.

Tour guide representative, Gilbert Kasaba, called on manufacturers to participate in future waste management efforts, noting that most of the items collected were locally produced.

“Manufacturers are also tourism stakeholders because their products are used by climbers. They should support these initiatives,” he said.

TANAPA’s representative, Justin Lazaro, applauded the initiative, positioning it as a reference model for other protected areas.

“This cleanup exercise sets a model for waste management that other national parks should emulate for the safety of both local and international visitors,” he noted.

The cleanup aligns with a wider shift toward sustainable tourism operations across East Africa. With increasing footfall on mountains such as Kilimanjaro, Mount Kenya, and the Rwenzori ranges, operators are facing mounting pressure to improve waste handling practices, reduce environmental impact, and comply with emerging conservation standards.

As Tanzania targets long-term competitiveness in nature-based tourism, environmental management initiatives led by private operators and park authorities are expected to play a growing role in safeguarding key attractions.

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