The Mountain Kilimanjaro is one of the prime summits of the world and Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is the dreams to achieve for many trekkers worldwide. Almost 30,000+ trekkers are coming to the country for trying their luck for a successful trekking. However, this majestic peak not only offers scenic views but also throws extreme challenges to beat and continue with trekking. To meet these ultimate challenges usually, the trek operators have a trained group of staff. They climb along with you including carrying your luggage & Setup your tents to make the journey easy and successful.
While guides are the most highlighted staff porters are the one who get underestimated mostly by the trekkers as well as the trekking companies. However, the porters are usually the ones who work the hardest to make Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking successful for the climbers. Here are a few things trekkers should know about the Kilimanjaro Porters;
Who They Are?
Porters carry all the baggage to the top of Kilimanjaro. Just imagine how your climbing would be without porters? The success rate might decrease to 50% less if the climbers have to trek Kilimanjaro carrying all their baggage, camping, and hiking gears to the peak. Here come the porters in the light; Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro would be almost impossible without porters carrying the trekkers’ extra luggage (the really important things you need to trek).
Their roles & responsibilities
1. Carrying your luggage till the end
Porters usually carry your baggage that includes your camping gears (from tents to portable toilets), your clothing gears (that includes all your clothes that you will need on the top of the mountain), and your hiking gears (from the hiking poles to the skiing goggles). Usually, there are 2 porters assigned for 1 climber to carry his/her baggage.
2. Setting up your camp
As the routes except the Marangu are camping routes without any other accommodations, camps are the only way of making a shelter to rest. Porters are not only responsible for carrying your luggage but also they help the other staff in various ways to make the work smoother. They are the ones who usually set up your camps; including the sleeping camps, toilet camps, and dining tents.
3. Arrange the necessary supplies
These assistants diligently work towards making your Kilimanjaro Trekking a successful one by dedicatedly working towards keeping you hydrated, food, shelter, and safe trekking. They are usually trained to assist the climbers if they face any kind of health issues such as altitude sickness.
4. Assisting the cook to prepare food
Porters play various roles while Climbing Kilimanjaro; not only they happily extends helping hand to the climbers for various needs nut also they help the cook for preparing food. Usually, cooks need someone to help for preparing food in big amount, and porters are the one who helps the cooks for making the food get ready.
Kilimanjaro Porters Rights
Despite being the most important crew members porters are the most under-estimated staff. Usually, they are hired in a temporary base (however few responsible trekking operators like Snow Africa Adventure hire them permanently). Earlier one porter used to carry huge weights of the climbers; however, after 2003 a non-profit organization was established named Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) which is dedicated to help porters and to work towards their rights. After the establishment of KAPAP there came a huge change, and as per the new law, a porter can only carry 20kg of the climbers (that includes the gears, food, and water) and an additional 5kg kit of his own. SnowAfrica Adventure is also very fortunate to be a partner of KPAP. We are working continuously towards the betterment of the porter societies associated with us. Few of them are:
- Proper clothing to trek
- Proper wages
- Appropriate equipment to trek
- Good treatment
How can you tip or assist them
After you complete Climbing Kilimanjaro, when you successfully descend to the base camp, trekking staffs organize a tipping ceremony. The climbers will receive 2 envelopes; one for the guides and cooks and the other one for the porters, which inside the trekkers can find a form that, contains all the names of the porters. You need to write down to who you’re tipping and how much, then you can put the money inside the envelope.
Things to Avoid
Be a responsible trekker and do avoid choosing those trekking operators who don’t care about the rights of the porters. While you book budget-trekking packages, porters are the one who suffers the most as most of the operators don’t pay them a penny for their job and they solely depends upon the tipping from the trekkers. Hence, you should avoid going for such trekking operators.
How much should you pay them?
Mostly the porters of Kilimanjaro are local men at the age between 18 to 40 years. They mostly belong to the family that is not financially strong. While they act like angles for the trekkers they are the one who gets the least attention from the trek operators. Most of the trek operators don’t pay them what they deserve or mostly don’t pay them at all. So they usually depend on the tips given by the trekkers; it’s considerable to tip the porters $6 to $10 per day during your Kilimanjaro Climbing.
Do your part for the development of the Porters
Kilimanjaro porters have been neglected since years, however, after the establishment of KAPAP there are some positive changes can be noticed in their life. We would highly appreciate if you also offer your bit to make porter’s life easier; you can follow a few simple steps and offers your contribution to their development. Here are a few tips:
- Choose a responsible trekking operator who takes care of the porter’s food, clothing and rights properly.
- Don’t go for cheaper packages because few dollars you save that you are ultimately cutting a porter’s salary
- Choose a tour operator partnered with KPAP
- Don’t allow your porter to carry more weight than 20kg
- Have a friendly relation with them during your Kilimanjaro trekking and establish good communication with them
- If you can then donate them your clothing gears (if not all some of the clothes like jackets)
- Tipping is highly appreciated
Without porters, Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro won’t be possible for the trekkers. Imagine waking up at a height of 3,000m or above and getting a hot coffee with a smiling face to start your day. Kilimanjaro porters do not only help you to carry your baggage to the top, but they also carry your dream and give their best efforts to make your Kilimanjaro trekking successful despite their own not so well conditions. So, do your bit and choose a sensible trekking operator like “Snow Africa Adventures” and spread a happy smile on these warm, friendliest faces.
