Kilimanjaro Porters are the people that carry the gear up the mountainside for the climbing team ahead of them. This can include up to 25 kilos of possessions, from sleeping bags to backpacks, and everything in between.
This is often a thankless task over a six day climb, which is often exhausting and poorly compensated. Some Kilimanjaro porters are not even paid a wage and instead rely solely on tips from travelers. This can create an uncomfortable situation for both porter and traveler. It is important therefore to offer generous tips to the porter that is carrying your own gear up the mountainside and to budget for this as part of your trip expenses, so that it does not come as a surprise or cause resentment.
When you get a chance, it is also a nice idea to try to communicate in whatever way you can, to share a bit of your culture and learn a bit about theirs too. They are often away from their families for many days at a time, so it is nice for them to socialize and feel part of the whole experience.
Treat your porter with respect, tip generously, and you will have a friend for life.
