Kilimanjaro Porters and Guides Pay Dispute

My friends who work as porters and guides say the situation is just as bad regarding bad pay....................or none at all just tips.
Not much good clients ASKING companies how much they pay because they will just lie as they do on their web sites but demand to see the cash handed over to each and every porter and guide. Also check to see that they get more than one meal a day and their tents/sleeping bags. Things will never change unless the clients demand it!

Thanks Alcotteer - I am sorry to say I am not really surprised. I think I could count on one hand the number of trekking companies I am prepared to back as paying at least the minimum wage.

So if you know anyone who is intending to climb Mt Kilimanjaro PLEASE start demanding that the companies pay the minimum wage.

Hi Mike, Yes it is hard to find a company who really do treat their staff well.
Trouble is that to name and shame companies who treat their staff badly means that clients won't use them and then they all lose their jobs, after all poor wages and some tips are better than nothing.Many of these companies come recommended in guide books and are members of the porters association, so clients think everything is ok.
When I climbed in 2008 I was with a large group of 19 of us climbing for an English charity. Our guides (I'm still in touch with all of them, and see some of them every year) were amazing as were the porters, none of us had any idea how bad things were for them and I think this is the same for every one who climbs Kili. However if we keep making future climbers aware BEFORE they start their trek then they have more power to change things than we who have already been there and done it.

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