Porters Society

Kilimanjaro Porters Society

Our porters come from a variety of backgrounds, many would like to gain experience, learn a foreign language and eventually become a guide. Some have other seasonal work and take on portering for the sake of the good income. In the past their working conditions on the mountain could sometimes be quite tough. Now ZARA porters are all required to join the Kilimanjaro Porter Society which was created in 2004 by ZARA to help and protect all porters on Mount Kilimanjaro and other hiking areas in Tanzania. We do our best to ensure that all staff are treated well whilst employed by ZARA and for their modest subscription to the society they have access to various benefits that include:

• An equipment and clothing store, language classes, promote environmentally sustainable tourism, family support, guidelines on how to carry out their work and to know their rights, healthcare, year-round employment possibilities and training in providing customer services.

ZARA porter care includes

• Ensuring they are dressed appropriately for the trek and have warm clothing and waterproofs.
• Porters, guides and cooks are provided with a set wage which is paid directly to them from ZARA. Also we advise clients to tip staff appropriately for their services at the end of the trek.
• Ensuring the porters are adequately fed. They generally do not, of their own choice, eat food served to clients preferring local foods often based on ugali (maize meal).
• Porter loads are limited to 15 kgs (and no more).
• There are adequate porter client ratios (2 porters per client on the Marangu Route, 3 on others and 3 or 4 on the Lemosho Route.
Our staff will use ZARA tents for their overnight camp. Often they have bigger tents than those of the clients - mainly as they travel as a group of friends and enjoy to socialise in the evening together. (Clients are provided with 3 man tents to sleep 2 people).

Our reputation depends on our porters and guides. We hope to have some of the best there are. We hope you will enjoy their company on your trip up the mountain. If you have already climbed the mountain please contribute a comment about your experience. Just send us an email or leave a comment in the comment book.

See also the Zara tipping policy.