Mt. Kilimanjaro Mountain Guides on Kili
Find out about the guides on Kilimanjaro.
Kilimanjaro Guides Scam
There is a certain weight limit for porters going up the mountain. In order to pass through the gate, they must weigh the bags being carried up the mountain. This ensures that the tourists see the porters are getting treated fairly, with companies not putting way too much weight on the them - and not skimping on their labor costs.
But for those of you savy enough, on both the Marangu and the Machame route, within a few miles of the trailhead, you can actually sometimes see porters taking off their gear, giving it to one of the other porters, and …
Date: June 21st, 2006 |
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Need a Western Guide? Nope!
Occasionally we see Western - US-based, Europen-based, Australian-based - guides flown over to climb Kilimanjaro with their upscale clients. Usually these type of clients pay big money to have someone hold their hand, be their friend, to the top of Africa’s highest mountain. They also get the best-of-the-best food, equipment, number of porters, etc. If you can afford it, great (you da money man) - you just paid $5,000 to climb Kilimanjaro, when you could climbed it for a quarter of the price, with a guide who have probably climbs it more than 30 times per year, for the last …
Date: October 13th, 2005 |
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BootsnAll’s Mountain Guide
At the age of 17, Nickson Moshi from Marangu village in East Africa, Tanzania, began as a porter on Mt. Kilimanjaro. He started carrying up to 35 kilos a trip, for more than 3 years as a porter. Since Nickson was personable, friendly, and had a good command of English, he then began as assistant guide for Kibo Hotel and Marangu hotel. After another 2 years assisting a head guide, Nickson became a head guide and was officially trained in 1991. He went on to work for Thompson Safari, Wildebeast Safaris, and Come to Africa Tours. Now he has started his own company is both head safari and mountain guide for BootsnAll World Adventures.
Date: May 13th, 2005 |
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Dollar Tips or Shilling Tips
Many people are curious on what type of money to tip their porters and guides. Do they want American Dollars or Tanzanian Shilling, or European Euros, or British Pounds, or French Francs. Here is the answer: Anything works. Pretty much any semi-mainstream currency is fine. It really doesn’t matter. Many guides and porters prefer dollars or Euros (or whatever has the best exchange rate) but they will take anything. Sometimes you can even barter your clothes, tents, shoes for tips too. I have seen porters prefer a coat, or a watch, or something else random, like a waterbottle, instead of …
Date: November 29th, 2005 |
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What’s Included?
Whenever you purchase a climb up Kilimanjaro you have to use a tour operator, whether that’s a company abroad or in Tanzania. Generally speaking, when you agree on a price per person, here is a breakdown of what IS included and what ISN’T included. You should always double check this with the provider.
INCLUDED:
· An experienced Tanzanian climbing guide
· Mountain climbing orientation the afternoon before the climb
· Tanzanian couriers and porters
· All hotel and lodge accommodations (usually the night before the climb and the night after the climb. Double check this with your operator
· Hut/Camping fees on the mountain
· All …
Date: September 26th, 2005 |
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Tipping
Many bewildered tourists are always nervous about tipping on Mt. Kilimanjaro. Of course, it’s important to be fair, and to have a good idea of the standard tip allowances to plan for your budget. But many tourists, especially Americans, are so nervous about tipping on the mountain that it tends to consume them – and has sometimes got the best of them.
Date: May 9th, 2005 |
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