Mountain Kilimanjaro climbing is composed of number of crew which
includes Chief Guide, Assistant Guide, Cook and Porter. Due to
the profession of the Chief Guide, Assistant Guide and Cook most
of the companies opt to employ these groups and leave porters
to be on hired bases. Before the initiation of Kilimanjaro Porters
Assistance Project (KPAP) porters were treated unfairly by getting
less paid, carrying heavy duty luggage and on top of all if things
go worse there was no place or organization to complain. Today
KPAP has solved lots of common problem that Kilimanjaro porters
were facing. Read the article below and visit their official website
for more information.
We are committed to supporting proper treatment for our crew on
Mount Kilimanjaro. As an approved Partner for Responsible Travel
with the International Mountain Explores Connection (IMEC), our
climbs are regularly monitored by IMEC's local initiative, the
Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), to ensure that
we are abiding by the guidelines established for fair porter treatment.
In 2003 KPAP was established to improve the working conditions
of the porters by equipping, educating and empowering them. In
addition KPAP works to educate the public and tour companies about
fair porter treatment. The Tanzanian NGO was registered seven
years ago and is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers
Connection (IMEC) a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in
Boulder, Colorado.
KPAP is dedicated to:
- Lending donated clothing to porters climbing
Kilimanjaro at no charge
- Providing complimentary classes to porters
on topics that include English, First Aid, HIV/AIDS Awareness,
Money Management and Porter Rights
- Working with climbing companies to monitor
compliance to fair treatment practices
- Educating the public on porter working conditions
and fair porter treatment
There are many ways to
help make a difference in the lives of the Kilimanjaro porters:
-
Ensure you climb with a responsible company
that enforces recommended porter guidelines
-
-
Tipping each crew member directly is the
best way to ensure that the full amount of tip is received.
If tipping recommendations are not offered, a basic tip
amount for each crew member from the group (not per individual
climber):
-
Porter: $ 5 per day
-
Cook: $ 7 per day
-
Assistant Guide: $ 8 per
day
-
Guide: $ 10 - 15 per day
-
- Make a financial contribution to KPAP
by visiting:
http://www.kiliporters.org/make_a_financial_donation.php
- Donate climbing gear to the KPAP office
in Moshi
- If you plan to give any of your clothing
to the crew do so via lottery during the tipping ceremony
ensuring a fair distribution of all donated items to the
entire crew
More Information
Expect 1 guide per 2 hikers, 1 assistant guide
per 3 hikers, and 1 cook per 8 hikers. Porters as follows:
3 porters per hiker on a 6 or 7-day trek (minimum of 5 porters)
2 porters per hiker on the 5-day Marangu Route and Mount
Meru (minimum of 4 porters)
4 porters per hiker on the 8-day Lemosho Route (minimum
of porters)
Sometimes extra porters are required based on the weight
of the luggage.