Tipping on Kilimanjaro
I recommend, per day and for the whole group: $25 for the guide, $20 for the assistant guide, $15–18 for the cook and $8–10 for each porter. Split the total between everyone in your group. In the end, a tip is something from the heart.
Key facts
- Guide
- $25 per day
- Assistant guide
- $20 per day
- Cook
- $15–18 per day
- Porter
- $8–10 per day, each
- Waiter
- [NEEDS JOSEPH: amount per day]
- Who pays
- The whole group together, split between climbers
- How
- Cash: US dollars printed in 2009 or later, or Tanzanian shillings
[DECISION FOR THE SITE OWNER: this guide overlaps the trail note “Tipping your crew”. Keep this page as a short summary that links to the note (as now), or merge the two into one page and redirect the other URL?]
How much should I tip each crew member?
These are the amounts I recommend for each crew member, per day. They are for the whole group, not for each climber, so split the total between everyone in your group.
| Crew member | Per day, for the whole group |
|---|---|
| Guide | $25 |
| Assistant guide | $20 |
| Cook | $15–18 |
| Porter (each) | $8–10 |
| Waiter | [NEEDS JOSEPH: amount per day] |
My crews include a waiter as well. There is no toilet porter: we don’t carry portable toilets. There are toilets along the way, and the bush is always there. Bring biodegradable wet wipes or toilet paper.
How many people are on my crew?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: your usual crew for a group of 1, 2 and 4 climbers (guides, cook, porters), so climbers can work out a total. Two guides is the minimum for every group.]
How do I hand over the tips?
Bring cash in small notes. You fill in the tipping sheet with the crew at the gate after the descent, then hand over the cash back at your hotel. How to split it fairly, and how the tipping ceremony works, is in Tipping your crew.
Why do tips matter so much?
[NEEDS JOSEPH: in your own words, as a former porter (2012–2016) and cook (2016–2018): what tips mean to the crew. The trail note has a draft of this that still needs your OK.]
Questions people ask
How much should I tip on Kilimanjaro?
I recommend, per day: $25 for the guide, $20 for the assistant guide, $15–18 for the cook and $8–10 for each porter. These amounts are for the whole group, not for each climber.
Are tips per climber or per group?
Per group. The amounts are per crew member, per day, for the whole group. Split the total between everyone in your group.
Can I tip in Tanzanian shillings?
Yes. Tips are given in cash, in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings.
Is there a waiter or a toilet porter on my crew?
My crews include a waiter, and I suggest a tip of [NEEDS JOSEPH: amount per day] for the waiter. There is no toilet porter, because we don't carry portable toilets: there are toilets along the way, and the bush is always there. Bring biodegradable wet wipes or toilet paper.
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