Kilimanjaro Tipping Guide

However, this may come as a surprise to individuals coming from countries or cultures where tipping is not as prevalent or may not be practiced at all. Unlike many other treks around the world, trekking on Kilimanjaro requires a significant support staff, which is why tipping amounts tend to be larger than what you may have experienced on previous treks.

One important aspect to note is that tipping is not included in the price of the trek. This is because tipping on Kilimanjaro has evolved as a cultural tradition over the past two decades, and tour companies do not directly involve themselves in the tipping process. Instead, they provide guidelines to trekkers regarding what the crew generally expects in terms of tips. It is then up to the trekkers to give the tips directly to the crew.

There are valid reasons why tips are not included in the overall price of the trek. First, including tips in the price could lead to accusations of overcharging clients for tips and underpaying the crew. This lack of transparency may create a negative perception. It could create a situation where clients are charged, for example, $500 in tips, while the crew receives only $100. To avoid such complications, tips are not bundled into the overall cost of the trek.

Secondly, tipping amounts can vary depending on the group size. Tour companies are not always aware in advance of the final number of individuals in a group. Therefore, it is more practical and fairer to determine tipping amounts based on the group size during the trek. To provide some guidance, the tour company offers tipping guidelines for different members of the support staff. It's important to note that these amounts are for the whole group, meaning they are divided among the trekkers.

Here are the suggested tipping ranges:

• 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