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TANZANIA

Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organization

KRTO is an initiative of the International Mountain Explorers Connection (IMEC).

KRTO: “Our mission is to improve the working conditions of the porters on Kilimanjaro by different project”.

KECA

KECA is a project of KRTO, a Tanzanian Non-Governmental Organization. KRTO is not a porter membership organization, or a tour operating business, and does not collect any fees from porters or climbing companies. KECA’s work has had a tremendous impact for porters climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. These include:

  • Leave No Trace (LNT) Environmental Care Awareness workshops: 172
  • Training of 15 Porters as LNT Instructors – a first ever for porters to be certified as LNT teachers!

CED

CED’s work has had a tremendous impact for porters climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. These include workshops to promote village saving and loan account and generate alternative sources of income. KRTO organise 1st Village Savings & Loan Association workshops. And training of Community-Based Trainers to guide and oversee the savings groups.

More information

, KRTO website: https://www.kiliporters.org

Partner for Responsible Travel Program

One of the best known initiatives of KRTO is it’s Responsible Travel Program. All legally licensed climbing companies are welcome to join the Partner for Responsible Travel Program. By choosing to climb with a Partner company, you can rest assured that your porters are taken care of well. The monitoring of the program is organized by the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance project (KPAP).

KPAP

is a legally registered project with a Tanzanian Non-Governmental Organization. KPAP is not a porter membership organization, or a tour operating business, and does not collect any fees from porters or climbing companies. KPAP’s mission is to improve the working conditions of the porters on Kilimanjaro.

Partner for Responsible Travel Program
All legally licensed climbing companies are welcome to join the Partner for Responsible Travel Program. By choosing to climb with a Partner company, you can rest assured that your porters are taken care of well.

Salary
Although the government has declared a minimum wage, the salary amounts paid are variable and can be as low as 10,000Tsh per day. Because it is mandatory for the Partner companies to pay at least 20,000Tsh per day, the average daily salary payment was 21,000Tsh.

Tipping
Companies have different tipping procedures and climbers may give the guide the tip money assuming s/he will distribute the tip fairly. It is a Partner requirement to have transparency in tipping and KPAP reviews the tipping procedure on every climb. 95.2% of the Partner companies’ climbs had transparent tipping procedures.

Meal
Porters may eat 1 or 2 meals per day on a climb. The Partner companies are committed to providing 3 meals per day with good portion quantity reported on 99% of the climbs.

Sleeping
Porters may have poor sleeping accommodations and be overcrowded. Partner company porters slept in good quality tents and had adequate sleeping space 97.4% of the time.

20 kg weight
Partner companies weigh the bags prior to going to the gate. This helps ensure the appropriate number of porters and they are carrying the 20kg weight regulation.

DONATE

We depend on grants and donations to fund our projects. Please consider making a donation and help make a difference in the lives of porters and continue to assist the mountain crew in various ways.

 Donations are tax deductible according to U.S. law for U.S. donors. FIN: 84-1348903.

Partner for Responsible Travel Program

IMEC estimates that some 7,500 porters climbing Kilimanjaro with the Partner companies have benefited in the following ways.

Salary
Although the government has declared a minimum wage, the salary amounts paid are variable and can be as low as 10,000Tsh per day. Because it is mandatory for the Partner companies to pay at least 20,000Tsh per day, the average daily salary payment was 21,000Tsh.

Tipping
Companies have different tipping procedures and climbers may give the guide the tip money assuming s/he will distribute the tip fairly. It is a Partner requirement to have transparency in tipping. KPAP reviews the tipping procedure on every climb. 95.2% of the Partner companies’ climbs had transparent tipping procedures.

Meals
Porters may eat 1 or 2 meals per day on a climb. The Partner companies are committed to providing 3 meals per day with good portion quantity reported on 99% of the climbs.

Sleeping
Porters may have poor sleeping accommodations and be overcrowded. Partner company porters slept in good quality tents and had adequate sleeping space 97.4% of the time.

20 kg weight
Partner companies weigh the bags prior to going to the gate. This helps ensure the appropriate number of porters and they are carrying the 20kg weight regulation.

All legally licensed climbing companies are welcome to join the Partner for Responsible Travel Program. There is no fee or donation required. By choosing to climb with a Partner company, you can be assured that your porters are taken care of well.

Partner Program Performance Standards

In order to qualify as a Partner for Responsible Travel, climbing companies must adhere to all local and National Government standards and regulations (eg  TALA license for Mountain Climbing/ Trekking).  We have the following standards:

  • the minimum wages for the crew agreed upon by the government and Kilimanjaro stakeholders.
  • Provide salary payments within 2 days after the descent of a climb as per KINAPA regulations.
  • Implement a transparent tipping procedure to ensure that the porters receive the full amount of tip intended for them.
  • Provide tipping recommendations to climbers so that porters receive a proper living wage from the combined salary and tip.
  • Provide the appropriate number of porters per climb so that each porter carries only 20kg of company kit.
  • Provide 3 meals a day and cover all costs for food while on the mountain.
  • Provide adequate tents, ground sheet, and appropriate sleeping space for crew.
  • Offer equal climbing opportunities to all porters registered with the company.
  • Inform the crew of the company’s requirements regarding gear and equipment and ensure proper kit prior to the climb.
  • Assist with the descent of an ill porter and provide for medical treatment as necessary.