Kilimanjaro Tipping Policy

Kilimanjaro Tipping is one of those complicated matters many climbers face. With this policy we aim to bring transparency and clear any doubts about tipping.

Kilimanjaro tipping not only impacts on the climbers but also the livelihoods of the mountain crew. Hence, in this tipping policy, we seek to bring in balance between the confusion that climbers generally have about tipping, and the expectations that Kilimanjaro crew have.

Understanding the Context:

Tipping is not a must but it is expected and well appreciated

Our Kilimanjaro crew receive fair wages and are paid on time for every climb expedition we undertake. However, for a long time now, many Kilimanjaro climbers have used tipping as one of the way they show their appreciation of the dedication and service of their Kilimanjaro support team, hence it has grown to be something expected and well appreciated by the crew.

We advice our clients that if they don’t wish to provide tipping, they let our administration know in advance, and we will inform the crew at the end of the trek.

Key Factors Influencing Tipping:

• Duration of the Climb: Longer climbs generally warrant higher tip amounts. For example, those who trek 8 days Lemosho may pay higher tip amounts compared to those who trek 5 days Marangu.
• Group Size: The total tip amount is usually shared among trekkers in a group. Hence, smaller groups may consider higher per-person tips due to a higher crew-to-climber ratio.
• Service Quality: Some climbers may choose to reward more generous tips for exceptional service.
• Crew Roles: Different roles have varying levels of responsibility, influencing tip amounts. That’s why we advice you for example to pay higher tips to guides compare to the tips paid to porters.

Tipping Practices at Shayo Trekking and Safari:

• Transparency:
  • Through our website and via email communication we clearly communicate the recommended tipping guidelines to our clients before their climb.
  • We prrovide a breakdown of the crew roles and their respective recommended tip amounts.
• Fair Distribution:
  • We encourage our clients to give tips to each crew member individually during the farewell celebration after each trek. This helps ensure that the money gets to the intended person.

      Currency for tipping

• • We encourage our clients to provide tips in clean, crisp US dollar bills (preferably post-2006) whenever possible.

Proposed Tipping Policy:

To ensure both client satisfaction and fair compensation for our Kilimanjaro crew, we recommend the following tipping guidelines:

• These amounts are recommendations, and clients are encouraged to adjust based on their budget, experience and satisfaction.
• Recommended Daily Amounts (per climber):
  • Lead Guide: $20 – $25 USD
  • Assistant Guide: $15 – $20 USD
  • Cook: $10 – $15 USD
  • Porters: $8 – $10 USD
• Distribution:
  • We recommend collecting the tips and presenting them to the lead guide on the final day of the climb for distribution.
  • When possible, it is always best to hand the tips to each crew member individually.
• Transparency:
  • We will provide clients with a detailed crew list and explanation of their roles before the climb.
  • We encourage clients to discuss tipping within their group to ensure a fair and consistent contribution.

• Flexibility:
  • While these are our guidelines, we understand that individual experiences vary. Clients should feel comfortable adjusting tip amounts based on the service they receive.

Important Considerations:

• Avoid pre-paying tips as part of the climb package, as this can reduce transparency.
• Never feel pressured to tip an amount you are uncomfortable with.
• Focus on the quality of service provided when determining tip amounts.