Kilimanjaro climb, Machame route

Environment

These are things we do on all our treks
We operate all our treks in line with the guidelines of the Leave No Trace Organisation.

Our key values are:
• We are committed to the enjoyment, health and protection of Kilimanjaro
• We believe that education is the best means to protect Kilimanjaro and we ensure all our guides understand how important this is and what they need to do to protect the mountain
• We believe that practicing the Leave No Trace principles is the most relevant and effective long-term solution to maintaining the beauty, health of, and access to natural lands;

Specifically this means:
• All trash is packed out for recycling or disposal
• All cooking is done on kerosene stoves and no wood is ever cut or used
• All drinking water is boiled and given to clients in refillable bottles
• We provide private tented toilets to ensure all waste is controlled and disposed of safely
• No washing is allowed in streams - clients are provided with water for washing that is disposed of well away from any water source
• Water use is minimised at all camp sites

Community

It is important to remember that over a third of the cost you pay for a Kilimanjaro climb is paid to the National Park as fees. This means that if you find a cheap price this is only possible by paying less to the guides and porters, less for food and less for equipment.

As members of the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project and the International Porter Projection Project we work to maintain high standards of welfare for all our guides and porters covering wages, clothing, accommodation, food and tips. KPAP have recommended tip levels for all climbs which we undertake to recommend to all our clients.

All of the staff we employ in Tanzania are local: we do not employ any non local guides or administrative staff so that more of the money you pay goes back into the local economy. Overall we employ some 50 guides, 25 cooks and 400 porters. We use and support local hotels such as Bristol Cottages and Sal Salinero and local transport providers again ensuring the maximum benefit to the local people.

As well as helping clients summit Kilimanjaro we encourage them to visit locally run community projects such as Mulala Village and the Amani Children’s Home. Mulala village is a traditional Maasai village where the people are working collaboratively to use tourism to fund improvements in health and education for all the village people. Amani Childrens Home looks after nearly 100 street children who have been either orphaned or abandoned.