Guides and porters are compulsory for all routes on Kilimanjaro. The importance of having competent, high quality guides cannot be overstated when it comes to climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. All weather adventure has the best local guides, all of whom are fluent in English and have received extensive training in first aid, mountain rescue, flora and fauna, and history. It is not allowed to climb Kilimanjaro without a guide.
In terms of important factors contributing to a successful summit attempt. For the duration of your Kilimanjaro trek:-
- Guide will be your advisor.
- Guide will lead you to the summit.
- Guide will bring down safely again.
It will be important that you work closely with him and take note of his advice.
All weather adventures Guides
Our Kilimanjaro guides are very experienced and professionals who intimately know the mountain. You can expect the following from our Kilimanjaro guides:
Qualified and competence guides
Guides are required for all routes on Kilimanjaro. All our treks up the mountain are lead by highly trained and qualified guides, registered with the Kilimanjaro National Parks Board.
Experienced guides
Our guides are well prepared to handle any situation one can encounter on the mountain. Each of our guides has been selected over years, based on experience, safety record and through feedback from previous clients.
With this training and experience, they are completely acclimatized to high altitude and are adapted to mountain life. Climbing Kilimanjaro has become second nature to them. Our guides are tough as nails and can teach you everything you need to know about high altitude trekking
High Safety
Your safety is the highest priority for us. Our clients put their lives in our hands and trust us to keep them safe, which means they have the tools to make critical medical and evacuation decisions. They receive annual training in emergency first aid and can prevent, recognize and treat altitude-related illnesses.
Professionalism
With our professional guide you have assurance to climbing Kilimanjaro. Therefore it is importance that your expectations are met or exceeded. All weather adventures take pride in the hard work of our staff and we strive to maintain and grow our reputation of excellence. Our guides uphold a high level of professionalism while still keeping the experience fun for the clients
Mountain Knowledge
Our guides are knowledgeable about general mountain facts. They can tell you about the climate zones, the altitudes of and distances to campsites, and information about the geology, flora and fauna. These types of facts increase the enjoyment during the trek by giving clients an idea of what they are seeing and feeling.
Important of our guides and porters
Support staff ratios
The average ratio of our support staff to climbers is 2 to 3 porters per hiker and two guides for a maximum of 4 hikers. This excellent staff to client’s ratio, bolstered by our superior support equipment, will ensure your safety and enjoyment on the mountain.
Porters and cook
The porters do not only transport your gear and the supplies up and down the mountain. Arriving at every camp site long before you, they will have already erected your tent on your arrival. In the evening they will also boil drinking and washing water and the cook will prepare dinner of a quality that has surprised many previous clients.
Weight limits for porters
Remember that there is a weight limit of 15 kg per climber, on the gear of each hiker to be portered. A soft duffel bag (barrel type) is preferred a rucksack is not necessary as they prefer to porter the loads balanced on their heads and shoulders.
Tipping
This is a “compulsory tradition” on every Kilimanjaro climb. We recommend giving a tip of between US $ 200 to US $ 250 per climber to the mountain crew at the end of the climb. The exact tipping amount depends on group size and how many days were spend on the mountain. We recommend giving the tip to the main guide who will then distribute the tip among the mountain crew.
The average recommended tip per group per day:
- Chief guide – US $ 20 per chief guide per day from the group
- Assistant Guide – US $ 12 per assistant guide per day from the group
- Cook – US $ 8 per cook per day from the group
- Porters – US $ 6 per porter per day from the group
It is recommended not to pay your porters any tips until you and all your gear have descended from the mountain.
All weather adventures struggle to have the best porters through fair and honest treatment of our staff. We ensure that:
- Our porters are paid immediately upon completion of a trip
- Our porters are paid more than the standard compensation on Kilimanjaro.
- Our porters are paid tips in a fair, transparent manner.
- Our porters are fed three nutritious meals per day, in adequate amounts, of their preferred local foods.
- Our porter loads are limited to 15 kilogram.
- Our porters have the proper gear and equipment to handle the mountain. Their clothing, sleeping bags and tents are sufficiently warm and/or waterproof.
