Kilimanjaro Porters
Picture this – waking on a high on the sixth day of your Kilimanjaro Trek! And a friendly face will greet you and hand you a cup of much-needed coffee. While another one refills the water bottles and breaks down your camping supplies. These faces belong to the Kilimanjaro Porters – the superhumans that help you along your Mount Kilimanjaro Trek.
What are the responsibilities of Porters on Kilimanjaro?
The Porters of Kilimanjaro help you carry your luggage up the mountain. They’ll also help you set up camp on each day of your trekking expedition. And they will lend a helping hand in supporting you mentally as well as physically.
How many Kilimanjaro Porters will you require?
The average number of porters per trekker is 2 or 3 porters. A general rule concerning Kilimanjaro Porters is – the more the number of trekkers; the less the number of porters.
If you choose to take the Marangu Route to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you won’t need a large number of porters. This is because the route has huts and not tents.
However, on other routes where tents are essential, 2-3 porters per person are typical. This is because they will carry all the equipment of the tents up the mountain.
A Few Words on the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project!
The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) was set up in 2003. It was registered as a Tanzanian non-profit organization. The primary goal of the organization is to improve the working conditions of the porters of Kilimanjaro.
Because porters will do everything they can to make your trek successful, you should keep some local currency. So that you can tip them. This will leave them with great appreciation and joy. You can also make them a thank you card – which will go a long way! We recommend tipping porters around $5 for your Kilimanjaro Trekking adventure.
The Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project aims to improve the working conditions of Kilimanjaro Porters by:
- Providing mountain appropriate clothing for porters (free of charge)
- Making sure they get ethical treatment and fair wages.
- Providing educational opportunities
We advise trekkers to choose a trekking operator with responsible treatment practices toward their porters and crew.
The unsung heroes – Mount Kilimanjaro Porters!
Without Kilimanjaro Porters, Trekking Mount Kilimanjaro would’ve remained a dream! They are truly the unsung heroes of Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking adventures. So ensure that you do your bit and put a smile on the faces of these superhumans!
