KILIMANJARO PORTERS
WHO ARE THE KILIMANJARO PORTERS
What is a Wagumu?
Wagumu is a Swahili word that approximately translates as “a strong mountain warrior”. This is what we call our Kilimanjaro porters. Usually, local men between the ages of 18 and 40 are hired as Kilimanjaro Porters. They are accompanied by Kilimanjaro Guides who are well-trained professionals and assist the climbers in the journey. Kilimanjaro without Porters would be a difficult climb as they help carry your necessary gear to the summit. While Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro you can hire one or several porters depending on the size of the group, the amount of equipment, and the type of trek. On these tough yet beautiful Kilimanjaro Routes these porters are there to share their experience and help make your journey up the mountain as enjoyable as possible.
What do Kilimanjaro’s Porters Do?
Imagine waking up at 13,200 feet on Kilimanjaro on the sixth day of your trek. A friendly face might hand you a cup of coffee as you tie your boots. Another might refill your water bottles.
Later, a team breaks down your tent, toilet tent, and dining tent, stows away the food and cooking equipment, and races ahead on the trail to the next campground. After trekking up to 15,300 feet over the day, you find camp and dinner waiting for you.
Those friendly faces belong to the porters. Their diligent work keeps you hydrated, fed, sheltered, and safe on the mountain.
Together, porters carry equipment and supplies up Kilimanjaro and give climbers the support they need to reach the summit. Without them, getting to the Roof of Africa would be nearly impossible.
HOW MUCH CAN PORTERS CARRY ON KILIMANJARO
Each trek is different, but on average, it takes about 225 pounds of total luggage per trekker to get to Kilimanjaro’s peak and back, including:
- 100 pounds of food, including porters’ food
- 65 pounds of camping gear, including all sleeping, dining, toilet, kitchen, and porter tents
- 33 pounds of personal gear
- 15 pounds of cooking and serving equipment
- 10 pounds of safety gear, including oxygen kits, first aid kits, a hyperbaric chamber, AED, and litter
On average, that 225 pounds is split among six porters.
Making Camp Each Day
The popular climbing advice on Kilimanjaro is “pole, pole,” which is Swahili for “slowly.” That mindset is how countless trekkers reach the summit, but some porters prefer a quicker pace.
After your tents are broken down and packed away, a few porters often race ahead on the trail to secure the best spot at the next campground and to finish making camp before trekkers arrive.
Making camp itself is a skill – one the porters have mastered.
And making camp goes beyond setting up a tent. Consider supplying clean water, for example. Cooks need water for food preparation and washing dishes. Trekkers need water for washing and four liters of drinking water at a minimum every day.
Kilimanjaro has no plumbing. The porter team gathers water themselves, purifies it, and supplies it throughout camp. That’s what it takes to get something as vital as a drink or a bowl of water to wash your hands in on the mountain, and it’s all thanks to the porters.
HOW MUCH DO KILIMANJARO PORTERS GET PAID?
The Kilimanjaro Porters Ass
Is tipping mandatory?
No, but it is highly encouraged.
How should I tip?
Best to calculate tips as a group and personally hand a tip to each crew member on the final day of your trek.
How will I know how many Wagumu there are?
Your head guide will give you the names and roles of each Wagumu by night 2 of your trek.
Do I have to take my tips on the mountain?
You may leave your tips with our support crew who will lock them in a safe and bring them to you on your final day. It is best if you prepare individual envelopes before your trek to save time on the final day.
Can I tip in other ways?
You can also donate unwanted gear if you wish, sponsor one of their children through school, or tip in ano
How much should each crew member receive?
The tip amounts will vary depending on who you climb with, however, the typical amounts are:
- Porters $5 per day per porter
- Cooks $10 per cook
- Assistant Guides $15 per guide
- Kilimanjaro Guides $20 per day and up per guide
- Safari Guides $20 per day and up per guide
This is the money they should receive from the entire climbing party. So, if you climbed the 7-day Machame, the guide receives 7x $20 = $140 from the entire climbing party. If your climbing party consists of 4 people, each person should contribute $140/4 = $37 (for the guide’s tip). To get a good estimate of the total tips each client should expect to pay, you will need to know the number of porters, cooks, assistant guides, and guides on your climb.
Supporting You Mentally and Physically
There are countless other things porters do during the trek to support you both physically and mentally. Some specific porters stay with the group to the summit, carrying safety equipment and the like. When you need a little extra encouragement to power through the windswept, arctic conditions at the peak, they’re there to cheer you on. This last piece may sound like a small detail, but it makes an incredible difference on the mountain.
