Tipping Guidelines for Mount Kilimanjaro Trekking
Tipping is customary and highly expected on Mount Kilimanjaro treks. This might surprise travelers unfamiliar with tipping culture or those from countries where tipping is uncommon. On Kilimanjaro, tipping amounts tend to be higher due to the large support crew required for successful climbs. For instance, a group of six trekkers typically needs a crew of 23, including guides, assistant guides, cooks, and porters.
Why Should I Tip?
At Safaribando, we ensure our crew is paid above the minimum wage. However, tipping plays a vital role in sustaining their livelihoods and motivating exceptional service. In East Africa, tipping functions as a standard practice similar to the American-style service industry model, where it helps bridge the gap between modest salaries and rising living costs.
We kindly request you budget for tips as part of your overall Kilimanjaro trekking expenses, alongside the costs of your climb, travel, and gear rental.
Why Isn't Tipping Included in the Price?
-
Legal and Tax Efficiency: Crew members often prefer receiving tips over salaries because Tanzanian tax regulations allow them to take home more income without deductions such as VAT and social security contributions. Including tips in the total cost would significantly increase prices due to taxation and additional administrative costs.
-
Market Competitiveness: As tipping is a well-established tradition among Kilimanjaro operators, including it in our pricing would make us uncompetitive, potentially reducing bookings and impacting our crew’s income.
-
Performance Incentive: Tips motivate the crew to maintain high service standards, as their earnings are directly linked to client satisfaction.
Can I Prepay Tips?
Prepaying tips is currently not possible. Direct tipping ensures the crew receives the full amount without deductions for taxes or administrative fees.
Should I Tip if I Didn’t Reach the Summit?
Yes, we encourage tipping regardless of the summit outcome. Crew members dedicate their time and effort to your trek, and often, factors like altitude sickness prevent summiting rather than the quality of service. If you feel service fell short, you may tip accordingly and provide feedback for us to improve.
Can I Tip More or Less Than Suggested?
- Exceptional Service: Feel free to tip towards the higher range of our guidelines. However, avoid significantly exceeding this amount to prevent unsustainable expectations.
- Good Service: Tipping as per the guidelines is recommended.
- Unsatisfactory Service: Tip what you feel is fair and share feedback to help us address any issues.
Tipping Guidelines
Below are suggested tipping amounts for the entire group:
- Senior Guide: $18–25 per day
- Assistant Guide: $13–20 per day
- Cook: $10–15 per day
- Waiter: $8–12 per day
- Porter: $6–10 per day
- Summit Porter: $10–15 per day
- Toilet Crew: $8–12 per day
Crew Size for Various Group Sizes
| Group Size | Senior Guide | Assistant Guides | Cooks | Porters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 4-6 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 12 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 15 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 18 |
How to Give Tips
We recommend collecting tips as a group and distributing them directly to crew members in individual envelopes. Alternatively, you can prepare two envelopes: one for the guides and cooks (hand it to the lead guide) and another for the porters (hand it to their representative).
Expected Tip Amounts per Client (Common Routes)
| Route & Days | Group of 1 | Group of 2 | Group of 3 | Group of 4 | Group of 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 Days Marangu | $260–350 | $208–300 | $159–250 | $141–225 | $144–230 |
| 6 Days Marangu | $312–420 | $249–360 | $190–300 | $170–270 | $173–276 |
| 6 Days Machame | $312–420 | $249–360 | $190–300 | $170–270 | $173–276 |
| 7 Days Lemosho | $364–490 | $291–420 | $222–350 | $198–315 | $202–322 |
| 8 Days Lemosho | $416–560 | $322–480 | $253–400 | $226–360 | $231–368 |
Tip Breakdown by Role (Per Trek Days)
| Role | 5 Days | 6 Days | 7 Days | 8 Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior Guide | $90–125 | $108–150 | $126–175 | $144–200 |
| Assistant Guide | $65–100 | $78–120 | $91–140 | $104–160 |
| Cook | $50–75 | $60–90 | $70–105 | $80–120 |
| Porter | $30–50 | $36–60 | $42–70 | $48–80 |
At Safaribando, we value your support in appreciating our hardworking team. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us.
