Guides and Porters
Kilimanjaro guides’ mission is to ensure that you reach the mountain summit safely and that the days you spend on the slopes are enjoyable and unforgettable. It’s not just a job; it’s a way of life and, in some ways, a perspective. It distinguishes the Kilimanjaro guides from those on the slopes of other major climbing locations.
Most climbers can’t recall the names of the routes, camps, or how the scenery appeared, yet they can all remember their guides’ names. The Kilimanjaro team leaders create an indelible impression on climbers, and their abilities influence whether or not the climb will be successful.
As a result, the first and most important decision to make while planning your Kilimanjaro experience is picking your guide.
Other points that need to be remembered while climbing Kilimanjaro are:
Choose the best and experienced guides
All paths on Kilimanjaro need the use of a guide, and highly trained and qualified guides lead all treks up the mountain. Each guide is hand-picked based on their experience, safety record, and client feedback, contributing significantly to the outstanding success rate of 96% +.
Skills for the Kilimanjaro Guides
Every Kilimanjaro guide is well-versed in a variety of subjects. In short, their abilities may be divided into two categories.
The first set of talents, referred to as “soft,” are required to make the experience joyful, entertaining, and memorable for you and the team, such as teamwork, crew management, encouragement, and communication.
The second set of abilities, known as “hard” skills, are required to handle the expedition’s practical demands, such as camp administration, crew composition, trail finding, emergency response, and so on.
Support staff ratios
Two to three porters per hiker and two guides for a maximum of four hikers is the usual ratio of support workers to climbers. This high staff-to-client ratio, along with exceptional support equipment, ensures your safety and enjoyment on the mountain.
Porters
Kilimanjaro hikes would be impossible to complete without porters. These hardworking volunteers carry the majority of the supplies up the mountain, gather and boil water along the route, and cheer you on all along the way. Porters get up early to break down camp, climb quickly, and set up at the next base – all while you and the other trekkers slowly make your way up the mountain. These guys and ladies guarantee that our hikers have a relaxing and easy time on their Kilimanjaro journey.
Weight limits
Your porters live for the climb; the most upbeat team members are a constant source of excitement on the mountain. Their power and strength in climbing the mountain will astound you. Furthermore, they can carry pack loads on their heads! Remember that each hiker’s kit must not exceed 15 kg (32 lbs.) in weight. Thus a soft duffel bag (barrel style) is ideal.
On your final day on the mountain, your porters perform a version of ‘Jambo Bwana.’ This catchy melody will have you singing it for the whole of your travel home. Your trek to the peak of Uhuru Peak will end, but you will remember the beautiful moments and new friendships for the rest of your life.
Why do you need to go guided?
Tanzanian law demands that everyone climb Kilimanjaro with the assistance of a guide. There are several reasons why you should hire a mountain guide:
- They assure your safety and establish a suitable pace while trekking the mountain.
- They bring safety equipment with them to assess your oxygen level and monitor your mental and physical well-being while on the mountain.
- Emergency oxygen tanks and other emergency equipment are carried by guides as needed along the trail.
Becoming a guide on Kilimanjaro
Qualifying as a Kilimanjaro guide carries with it enormous status and respect within the local community. Your guide would have been employed as a porter for at least three years before being trained and hired as an assistant guide for at least another two years. After that, if he was considered eligible and capable, he was given the option to become a registered guide. Three summit trips are made on average by guides and porters every month.
About The mountain
At 5,895 meters Mount Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the tallest freestanding mountain on the earth; it is one of the Seven Summits. The snow-capped peak of Africa is a dormant volcano. This majestic mountain can be found inside the Kilimanjaro National Park of Tanzania, at 005.00 degrees south, 036 degrees east, 5895m above mean sea level.
Exceptional climb success
Since 1994, ClimbingKilimanjaro has been fore runner in operating Kilimanjaro tours. We have a proud and unbeatable track record of more than 15,000 safe and successful summit attempts.
The specialised experience of ClimbingKilimanjaro puts us, as a tour operator, in a unique position to offer the most professional support, guidance, information and motivation to realise this proverbial “bucket-list” dream.
ClimbingKilimanjaro can provide references from previous successful and satisfied clients – on request. Visitors are also welcome to visit our Testimonials & Summit Gallery pages
Real-Time Tracking Service
ClimbingKilimanjaro is the only operator that offers real-time tracking to hikers on Mount Kilimanjaro. This unique service will allow family and friends to track the live progress of their loved ones, as they hike to the summit of Kilimanjaro, subject to availability, pre-booking and at a small supplementary fee.
Guides and porters
ClimbingKilimanjaro only utilises highly trained and registered guides, with several years of experience, to lead a mountain support team that are properly equipped to look after climbers on the mountain.
All of the Climbing Kilimanjaro package options includes the services of one porter per hiker, who will carry the client’s duffel bag (max. 15kg) from one camp to the next.
The above average staff ratio of the Climbing Kilimanjaro Mountain Support Team to climber is: 2 Porters per climber and 2 guides for a maximum of 4 hikers – a very favourable ratio to directly enhance safety and enjoyment on the mountain.