In Tanzania, there are numerous associations that bring guides together. While some are national in scope, others are only local. A local organization called the Kilimanjaro Guides Association brings together all of the guides in the Kilimanjaro region.
It is expected of guides in this association to pay an annual subscription.
The association’s mission is to ensure that clients’ rights are upheld in addition to promoting and defending the rights of guides.
The association holds several trainings for its members to make sure there is professionalism within this group of people. It is therefore advisable that you book with a Kilimanjaro tour operator that has guides that are members.
This will give you more assurance of protection. The association also helps the guide get all their rights like good pay as some of the companies exploit the guides.
The association also houses other smaller associations of local guide. Some of which include:
Tanzania Porters Association (TPA)
The Tanzania Porters Association was formed with an intention of improving the working conditions of the porters on the Kilimanjaro. The association had the main goal was to regulate the porters job, create minimum wage.
This association will make sure the guest is also well taken care of. The association will also make sure the standards are maintains like the kilograms every porter is allowed to carry.
The association also does training for the guides to makes sure they meet the standards.
The porter’s job is really a hard one. The standards of working on the Kilimanjaro are really hard. Some porters ragged clothes and very old shoes.
Porters are supposed to carry 20 kilograms yet some of them carry up to 40 kilograms.
Those that are not attached to good Kilimanjaro companies will go with very little pay just to avoid being with no work. Usually porters are paid about $8 or $9 which is an equivalent of about Tsh.20,000.
Being a porter is inherently a tough job, but it’s made even tougher if you add substandard working conditions into the mix.
Unscrupulous employers routinely force porters to carry as much as 40kg of gear instead of the recommended 20kg.
Female Porters
There are few female porters on the Kilimanjaro. Most Kilimanjaro tour companies will prefer to hire male porters as they to have a notion that the male porters are stronger and more reliable.
There are little opportunities for females even in fields of rangers and guides on the Kilimanjaro.
How Can I Help?
To makes sure the porters are well taken care of, book a trip with a reputable Kilimanjaro company. Chances are high that the porters will be paid well and will have better conditions.
You can also tip the porters on an individual basis or you can support the several initiatives by the guides.
Climb Kilimanjaro Mountain in Tanzania with these recommended Kilimanjaro climbing companies or inquire with us directly below.
