The average ratio of support staff on Kilimanjaro is 3 or 4 staff - guides, cook(s) and porters per client. Usually, one guide will support a small number of clients - leading them, organizing porters, equipment, meals, etc. Porters carry equipment and supplies to support everyone - clients, guides and themselves. This ranges from camping equipment, food and water, and the clients’ extra possessions. Some porters will travel ahead of the group and set up camp in advance.
Tanzanian law mandates that all climbers must climb with guides and porters. Most of the Kilimanjaro porters and guides are local Tanzanian men between the ages of 18 and 40, and many work for years as porters on Kilimanjaro before being promoted to guide status. Wages for this work are relatively high in this poor country. Many porters for Kilimanjaro are not employed on a permanent basis and freelance for different companies, but some operators use the same team of support staff for “quality control.” Regulations state that porters can carry a maximum of 20 kg (33 lbs) for the company, plus their own gear. They may work 6 days a week for three or four times a month during the climbing seasons.
We’re told that our team of 6 clients will consist of 3 guides, 1 cook and 25 porters.
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