If you're planning to trek up Mount Kilimanjaro, please spare a thought for the porters who will make your trip possible. Too often, people look to cut the costs of their trek. A Kilimanjaro trek should cost between $2500- $4000. Some of the price discrepancy reflects the route you choose to take, the quality of the food, and the quality of your equipment. But anything cheaper, and you should understand that the tour operator may be saving costs by overloading and underpaying your porters. Do not cut costs and go cheap when you climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
An organization called Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) is doing its best to encourage all Kilimanjaro operators to adhere to basic rules regarding equal pay as well as safety for porters. A porter does not need to be educated, employment is scarce and life is hard. It's the perfect recipe for abuse and exploitation to take place. Porters die from exhaustion, and hypothermia every year, because they're overloaded and there's no way they can carry enough food, clothing or shelter for themselves. It is partly your responsibility as a climber to find out from KPAP if the company you are trekking with adheres to their basic guidelines. Please watch this video to get an idea of the stakes, it ends with this quote:
Don't agree to get a cheap trip unless you are prepared to watch a young lad in tears trying to drag your 40 kilos of baggage up the mountain. You're putting him in danger as well as making him suffer.
Read More: KPAP l How to Climb Kilimanjaro l A Kili Trek in Pictures
Image of porters packing up before going up Mount Kilimanjaro - © Erika Bloom
The contrast between clients’ clothing and boots and that of porters tells you a lot about a company’s policies. Think about donating your hiking gear when you’re back down from the summit. It’s easy for you to obtain new kit.
I am planning to climb mt kilimanjaro in 2011 , i will be 18 next year. I am wanting to know if there is a age limit and if there are any climbing history requirments?
David – South Africa
Hello David,
There are no climbing requirements and 17/18 is also fine to climb up. Here are some basic tips that might help you plan your trek – http://goafrica.about.com/od/tanzania/ht/htkilimanjaro.htm
Be aware that porters and guides also know that the more poorly they dress the better chances of you giving them more stuff. I gave a guide some gloves because he didn’t have any on summit day. Later I found out from another guide that this was his 48th time summitting and that he does that on all summit days. He then sells the gloves to someone else back in town.
I would say to Josh that while you may have felt used or hoodwinked, try looking at it from another point of view. Let’s celebrate your porter’s entrepenurial spirit. Let’s also respect the fact that while he may not be using the gloves you gave him as you intended the money he makes selling them to someone else may still be helping him feed his family.
Tracy that comment touched me and true am celebrating the porter’s entrepenurial spirit. When i give out something the moment it on the recievers hand it belongs to him/her and the reciever is free to do anything with it. It is meaningless to try track it down on how it is being used.
Josh what did you give to the other porter who told that it was his 48th time? how did you verify it was true? may be he was jealous?
Hey guys,hopefully this would mean something to you all, if you give with a condition your not giving your selling… conditions cost even though it can’t be measured in a numerical value. As for feeling bad about being done in… why did you give in the first place, to ease your conscience or to actually help someone in need? Don’t mean to offend anyone, but lets get real life’s to short to judge one another and wallow in self pity…
Jeepers everybody relax, I don’t think that Josh was feeling ripped off and resentful, but was just reporting what went on.
I do appreciate the other comments about giving and/or gratuities, though.
Cheers,
I had the same experience as Josh when I found out our porter sold the hiking boots I had given him (even though we were the same size). I found out later that he did not use the money to feed his family but he bought some khlasha, which is a weed they chew on to stimulate their nervous system similar to a drug. I recommend not giving anything more than agreed to the porters.
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