Tipping is a customary practice on Kilimanjaro and is considered a standard expectation. This might be unfamiliar to some, particularly those from regions where tipping isn't as common or isn't practiced at all. The tipping amount is also larger compared to what you might have encountered on previous treks. This is due to the unique setup on Kilimanjaro, where a substantial crew is involved. For instance, a group of 6 trekkers will be supported by a team of 23 members, including senior guides, assistant guides, cooks, and porters.
Why is tipping not included in the price?
Tipping holds significant cultural significance on Kilimanjaro. The practice of giving tips has evolved over the past twenty years and has reached its present form.
Our company maintains a hands-off approach to the tipping process. Instead, we offer you guidelines about the crew's expectations. It's important to note that tips are directly given by you to the crew.
Incorporating tips into the overall price is not feasible for a couple of reasons. Firstly, such inclusion could lead to accusations of overcharging clients for tips while undercompensating the crew, resulting in a loss of transparency. Secondly, the amount of tips can vary based on the size of the group, a factor that can't be predicted in advance.
Our tipping guidelines
Although larger tips are always appreciated by our staff, they will be extremely grateful if you follow the guidelines for tipping given below. Please note that the provided amounts are intended for the entire group. For instance, if the group collectively tips $15 to the cook per day, these costs will be distributed among all group members.
● Senior guide : $20 – 25 per day from the whole group
● Assistant guide : $15 – 20 per day from the whole group
● Cook : $12 – 15 per day from the whole group
● Waiter : $10 – 12 per day from the whole group
● Porter : $8 – 10 per day from the whole group
● Summit porter : $12 – 15 per day from the whole group
● Toilet crew : $10 – 12 per day from the whole group
Crew for various group sizes
To calculate tips, it's important to understand how large your support team is going to be. Below we have listed the crew size from Group of 1 to 10.
● Group of 1 - 1 Senior Guide, 1 Cook, 3 or 4 Porters
● Group of 2 - 1 Senior Guide, 1 Assistant Guide, 1 Cook, 6 Porters
● Group of 3 - 1 Senior Guide, 1 Assistant Guide, 1 Cook, 9 Porters
● Group of 4 - 1 Senior Guide, 1 Assistant Guide, 1 Cook and 12 Porters
● Group of 5 - 1 Senior Guide, 2 Assistant Guides, 1 Cook and 15 Porters
● Group of 6 - 1 Senior Guide, 2 Assistant Guides, 2 Cooks and 18 Porters
● Group of 7 - 1 Senior Guide, 2 Assistant Guides, 2 Cooks and 21 Porters
● Group of 8 - 1 Senior Guide, 3 Assistant Guides, 2 Cooks and 24 Porters
● Group of 9 - 1 Senior Guide, 3 Assistant Guides, 2 Cooks and 27 Porters
● Group of 10 - 1 Senior Guide, 3 Assistant Guides, 2 Cooks and 30 Porters
How to give tips to the crew?
A recommended approach is to pool the tips from the entire group and then distribute them among the entire crew. Tips can be placed in separate envelopes, and climbers can personally give them to each crew member. Alternatively, you could prepare two envelopes:
● one for the guide, assistant guides, and cooks, to be handed to the lead guide
● and another for the porters, to be handed to the representative porter.
Expected tip amounts per client for some common routes and group sizes.
