Tanzania: Wings of Kili – Paragliding From Africa’s Highest Peak

IMAGINE more than 120 pilots descending in unison from Uhuru peak, the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro, all suspended from giant colourful gliders.

Certainly not a sight to be missed and this is bound to take place between the 5th and 6th of February this year. The event, is among the series of ‘daredevil’ mountaineering adventures being coordinated under the ‘Wings of Kilimanjaro,’ team from Australia.It will be the first time ever that such a feat takes place on Mt. Kilimanjaro, the highest peak on the continent.The mountain also happens to be the world’s tallest free standing mountain.

“We never permitted paragliding on Mount Kilimanjaro before because it wasn’t in the list of our tour package,” explained Mr Paschal Shelutete, the Public Relations Manager for the Tanzania National Parks, which manages the mountain. He added that, after the ‘Wings of Kilimanjaro’ event, TANAPA will consider allowing paragliding from the mountain to be among the list of activities offered to tourists scaling to the peak.

The new development may garner even more visitors to Kilimanjaro, which despite its worldwide fame, has been getting just 52,000 tourists per year at an average of 1000 visitors per week, with most of them doing it for charity. And sure enough, even this week’s event is done in aid of charity. “We aim to raise US $1 million, the money which is to be invested in a number of humanitarian projects in Kilimanjaro, Arusha and Manyara regions,” said the Project Manager Ms Paula McRae.   Read more