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Tipping Guidelines For Kilimanjaro Climb and Safari

It is common and expected to leave a tip at Kilimanjaro. This may be surprising to those who come from countries and cultures where tipping is not as common. The amount of tip required is also larger than on other treks you may have taken before. This is because, unlike most other treks around the world, trekking on Kilimanjaro requires a large crew. A group of six trekkers will have 23 support staff members, including senior guides, assistant guides, cooks, and porters.

Why is tipping not included in the price?

Tipping on Kilimanjaro is a cultural tradition that has evolved over the last two decades. As a company, we do not participate in the tipping process, but we can provide you with our guidelines on what the crew expects. Tips are to be given directly by you to the crew.

We do not include tips in the price itself for two reasons. Firstly, if we include tips in the price, it could appear as if we’re overcharging you for tips and underpaying the crew. This would result in a loss of transparency, and we could be accused of charging USD 500 in tips while only paying the crew USD 100. Secondly, tips can vary depending on the size of the group, and we cannot predict the final group size in advance.

How Much Do You Tip On Kilimanjaro?

Although larger tips are always appreciated by our staff, they will be extremely grateful if you follow the guidelines for tipping given below. These amounts given below are for the whole group. For e.g., the whole group tips USD 20 to the senior guide per day. So, these costs will be divided amongst the whole group.

  • Senior guide: $20 – 25 per day from the whole group
  • Assistant guide: $15 – 20 per day from the whole group
  • Cook: $12 – 15 per day from the whole group
  • Waiter: $10 – 12 per day from the whole group
  • Porter: $7 – 10 per day from the whole group
  • Summit porter: $10 – 12 per day from the whole group
  • Toilet crew: $10 – 12 per day from the whole group

Crew for various group sizes

In order to calculate tips, it is imperative to ascertain the extent of your support team. Presented below is a comprehensive list of crew sizes, ranging from one to ten. This will provide you with a clear understanding of the number of individuals involved, enabling you to calculate the appropriate tip amount accurately.

No of Pax
Senior Guide
Assistant Guide
Cook
Porters
Group of 1
1
N/A
1
5
Group of 2
1
1
1
6
Group of 3
1
1
1
9
Group of 4
1
1
1
12
Group of 5
1
2
1
15
Group of 6
1
2
2
18
Group of 7
1
2
2
21
Group of 8
1
3
2
24
Group of 9
1
3
2
27
Group of 10
1
3
2
30

How can I give tips to the crew?

The best way to distribute tips among the crew is to collect the tips from the whole group and then divide them equally among all crew members. You can place the tips in separate envelopes and hand them directly to each crew member. Alternatively, you can prepare two envelopes – one for the guide, assistant guides, and cooks, which can be handed over to the lead guide, and the other for the porters, which can be given to the porter’s representative.

Expected tip amounts per client for popular Kilimanjaro routes (Lemosho, Machame, Umbwe, Marangu, and Rongai) and group sizes.

No of Days
Group of 1
Group of 2
Group of 3
Group of 4
Group of 5
5
$280- $350
$238- $300
$198- $250
$179- $225
$182- $230
6
$336- $420
$285- $360
$238- $300
$215- $270
$218 – $276
7
$392- $490
$333- $420
$278- $350
$250-$315
$255- $322
8
$448-$560
$380-$480
$317-$400
$286-$360
$291-$368

To help you calculate tips, here’s a breakdown for each crew member.

No of Days
Senior Guide
Assistant Guide
Cook
Porter
5
$100 – $125
$75 – $100
$60 – $75
$35 – $50
6
$120 – $150
$90 – $120
$72 -$90
$42 – $60
7
$140 – $175
$105 – $140
$84 – $105
$49 – $70
8
$160 – $200
$120 -$160
$96 – $120
$56 -$80

Tipping for Safaris Crew

It is customary to provide a gratuity to a safari guide who also serves as the driver in the range of $15-$30 per day. For instance, in the context of a four-day safari, the guide may receive a total tip of $60-$120 from the entire group (not per an individual). This practice is encouraged to show appreciation for the guide’s valuable services and to maintain a positive relationship

Note: Tipping is typically calculated as a percentage of the total cost of the service rendered, and the amount can vary depending on the degree of satisfaction with the service provided. It is important to note that gratuities are not mandatory, but they are widely practised in the service industry and are seen as a way of acknowledging the quality of service given.

In summary, tipping is an accepted and customary practice in the service industry, and it serves as an expression of gratitude for top-notch service.

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