A Kilimanjaro climb runs on a crew that outnumbers the climbers several to one, and the cheapest climbs are cheap because of how that crew is treated.
The arithmetic
A typical climb has a lead guide, assistant guides, a cook, and porters — often three or more porters per climber. They carry tents, food, water, cooking gear, tables, chairs, and your duffel.
Load limits are regulated and weighed at the gates. Porters carry their own kit on top of the load, which is why your duffel has a weight limit too, and why it is worth respecting rather than negotiating.
Where a cheap climb saves money
- Fewer porters carrying heavier loads.
- Worse food for the crew than for the climbers.
- Inadequate sleeping gear and clothing for men sleeping at 4,000 metres.
- Wages below the recommended rate, made up in theory by your tip.
- Fewer days on the mountain, which is also worse for you.
Park fees, food and wages are largely fixed. If a quote is dramatically below everyone else, the difference has come out of one of the lines above.
What to check before booking
- Ask the porter-to-climber ratio and the load limit the company works to.
- Ask what the crew is paid per day, and whether the tip is on top.
- Ask whether the crew is provided with sleeping bags and jackets or brings their own.
- Ask whether the company is a member of a porter welfare programme.
Tipping the crew
Tipping on the mountain is customary, substantial and usually done as a group at the end, with a ceremony on the last morning. Guidance on amounts is usually given per role per day by the operator. It is a genuine part of crew income and it should be a supplement to a wage, not a replacement for one.
What you can do on the mountain
Keep your duffel within the limit. Learn a few names. Say thank you in Swahili. And if you see someone struggling with a load or unwell at altitude — porters get altitude sickness too — tell your guide.
