Kathmandu, Aug. 30 -- Three-time Everest summiteer and climate activist Dawa Steven Sherpahas forged a new route up Africa's highest mountain to help Tanzania with an innovative eco-tourism project.

Sherpa helped explore the new Kidia Route and reached the summit of Uhuru Peak (5,895m) on 22 August along with rangers from the Kilimanjaro National Park. The Tanzanians want to promote it as a 'VIP Route' by pricing it higher for those who want to avoid the crowds on the Mweka or Machame routes.

"The summit is at about the height of Everest Base Camp, so it was not particularly difficult," Sherpa said on return to Kathmandu this week. "But we had to explore a new route and see if it was feasible and safe for a low-volume, high-value trail ...