Tipping Guidelines ~ On Kilimanjaro

We realize that tipping may not be a common practice in your country or culture so this document is designed to help this process be easy, transparent and fair for all involved as there is a tipping culture for your Kilimanjaro trek. A tip (of course) is never compulsory and we recommend tipping only if you have received a satisfying service from your mountain crew.
We are already committed to paying a fair wage as recommended by KPAP (Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project) for our support teams, and market data shows wages recommended by KPAP are above the market average. Some companies operating on the mountain make their support team solely depend on the tip as their salary and offer no salary. We are not one of these companies! A tip is designed to add to the support teams financial compensation with a goal of providing a fair living wage for all involved in your trek with the combination of your generous tip and basic wage.
The current fair living wage defined by KPAP is at 33,000 Tanzanian Shillings (approx. $15 USD) per day and the below tables outline some recommended tip amounts for your support team to achieve this.

When and how to tip

Clear any questions you may have regarding tips during your initial email / phone correspondence or during the pre-climb briefing latest. Never feel pressured to give a certain amount of tip. Only give what you can afford. DO NOT discuss the subject of tipping with your mountain crew. The distribution of tips is BEST DONE AT THE PARK GATES after your climb / before heading back to the base hotel as this is the end of the trek for some support team members. You can either: Put the amount of tip money for each crew member in an envelope with their name on the top and personally hand it to them at the gate (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). To give the whole amount to the head guide and request him to kindly announce to the whole team in English and Swahili (which encourages transparency), the amounts that you wish each crew member to receive.

For Marangu you will have:

1 climber 1 Chief guide, 1 cook 3porters
2 climbers 1 Chief guide, 1 assistance guide 1 cook 6 porters
After three clients 2 porters for 1 climber
These are estimates and actual numbers may vary depending on the needs of the group. It is idea to have a tipping ceremony with the climbers and crew on the last day on the mountain. Idea tips should be given to the individual crew members directly to ensure the full amount of the tip is received.