Climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro is an experience of a lifetime, from the sea of stars at night to the breathtaking sunrise on the mountain summit.
Each group requires a skilled team of guides, porters, waiters and cooks, and because nothing can be stored on the mountain, everything from food and utensils to clothing and sleeping bags are carried up and down by porters.
Travelers often want to know how many staff members to anticipate and how to accurately tip each individual. The chart below should serve as a helpful guide when considering a tip at the end of your trek. These amounts are simply a suggestion, and trekkers are encouraged to tip as they see fit. The exact number of staff on each trip varies based on group size, gear weight, and other factors. The following numbers are an estimate only.
Kilimanjaro 6 Day Trek (Marangu Route)
7 Day Kilimanjaro Trek (Lemosho & Machame Routes)
3 Day Camping Safari
Some important things to note:
OneSeed will provide individual envelopes (by request from previous travelers) to make the tipping process run more smoothly. These will typically be handed out to trekkers by the head guide on the first night of the expedition.
The tipping ceremony generally occurs on after breakfast before the final descent to the entrance gates at the end of the trek.
The Kilimanjaro Porter’s Assistance Project’s (KPAP) recommends climbers give tips directly to each crew member in individual envelopes to ensure that the full amount of tip is received by the crew member.
Travelers can tip in Tanzania Shillings (TZS) or US Dollars, though USD is typically easier. Be sure to bring small bills (nothing higher than $20) in order to tip evenly among all staff.
It is common to tip the few porters who assist clients on the final summit night an additional $20 total from the group.
It is customary to tip each individual directly.
These are just suggestions; travelers should adjust as they see fit to the level of service received.
Still have questions? Email us at info@oneseedexpeditions.com or ask your head guide on the trail. Guides are happy to provide you with information on the total number of support staff, names, roles, etc.
USD TO TANZANIAN SHILLINGS CALCULATOR
Tanzanian Shillings are generally 2,300 Tsh to 1 USD depending on the day of conversion. Click or tap the button below to be taken to an online USD to shilling converter with the most recent exchange rates.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL ON KILIMANJARO
The mistreatment of porters can be a troubling challenge in the climbing industry. We are an approved Partner company with the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project – KPAP – and the International Mountain Explorers Connection – IMEC – Partner for Responsible Travel Program.
We voluntarily participate with KPAP’s monitoring activities and allow KPAP to evaluate the treatment of our porters on all of our climbs. By climbing with us you can be assured that your porters are well taken care of.
KPAP also helps to improve the working conditions of porters by:
Lending donated clothing at no charge to the mountain crew for use while climbing
Educating the public on porter working conditions and climbing responsibly
Providing industry guidelines for proper porter treatment
Offering educational classes to porters