Tipping Your Kilimanjaro Crew of Porters & Guides

At Re Leone Tanzania Safaris, we believe that one of the biggest reasons climbers successfully reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro is because of the dedication and hard work of the mountain crew. Your team of guides, porters, and cooks play an essential role in keeping you safe, comfortable, and motivated throughout your trek.

Because of the demanding nature of their work, tipping is a well-established tradition on Kilimanjaro and an important way to show appreciation for their efforts.

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Why Tipping is Important

• Guides keep you safe, monitor your health, set the pace, and lead you to the summit.

• Cooks prepare nutritious meals at altitude to keep your energy levels high.

• Porters carry your camping gear, tents, food supplies, and personal bags, often in tough conditions. Without them, summiting Kilimanjaro would be nearly impossible.

Tipping ensures that each crew member is fairly compensated for their hard work and dedication beyond their basic wages.

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General Tipping Guidelines

Tipping amounts vary depending on the length of your trek, group size, and personal satisfaction. Below are the recommended guidelines per climber (in USD):

• Lead Guide: $20–30 per day

• Assistant Guide: $15–20 per day

• Cook: $15–20 per day

• Porter: $8–10 per day

👉 Example: On a 7-day Kilimanjaro climb, a single climber might tip approximately:

• Lead Guide: $140–210

• Assistant Guide: $105–140

• Cook: $105–140

• Each Porter: $56–70

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How to Give Tips

• Collected as a group: Tips are usually gathered from all climbers and presented together at the end of the climb.

• Handed directly: On the last day (before leaving the park gate), the whole group presents the tips in envelopes to the head guide, who will distribute fairly among the crew.

• Cash preferred: Tips are best given in US Dollars or Tanzanian Shillings. Make sure your USD notes are newer than 2006 and in good condition.

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Our Recommendation

At Re Leone Tanzania Safaris, we encourage climbers to budget $250–$350 per climber for tips on a standard 7-day Kilimanjaro trek. This ensures fair distribution and shows gratitude to the team that made your adventure possible.

Remember: tipping is not just a custom – it is a meaningful gesture of appreciation for the crew’s hard work in helping you achieve your dream of standing on the Roof of Africa.