Lessening the load
DIFFERENT CLIMBS: With more and more tourists tackling Kilimanjaro, looks at a new drive to ensure porters are treated fairly.
HIS year, roughly 25,000 people will attempt to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak. But reaching the top of the dormant Tanzanian volcano requires suitable planning, a good level of fitness and favourable conditions. And although it’s a far more attainable target than Everest or Aconcagua, only 40 per cent of visitors actually make it to the summit.
Attempting the climb may be tough, but far greater challenges face the porters who work there year round. Historically, conditions have been below acceptable for many of the men and women who have no option but to continue working due to high unemployment levels.
But there’s been a new drive to rectify these ills and raise the standard of working conditions for porters, and tourists are being asked to take this into consideration when booking a trip to climb Kilimanjaro.
Set up by the International Mountain Explorers Connection, the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP) is a not-for-profit organisation focused on improving porters’ rights. It donates clothes to mountain crew and offers free classes to porters on first aid, HIV/AIDS awareness and money management.
Tour operators are now being asked to sign up to a Partner for Responsible Travel Program, as a commitment to fair treatment of their crew. Members of the public can view the list at www.mountainexplorers.org/club/ partnerprogram.htm.
Bad practices that the organisation hopes to stamp out include overloading porters beyond a 20kg limit, refusing to pay salaries and forcing them to rely on tips, inadequate sleeping conditions on the mountain and lack of food and suitable clothing provision, as well as the absence of medical insurance.
Amanda Natai, director of African Scenic Safaris, which offer climbs to Kilimanjaro and supports KPAP, says: “It’s horrific to know what some companies expect of their porters and many climbers are completely unaware.”
She warns the public should research their trip carefully, and be suspicious of any operators offering extremely cheap climbs where the porters’ safety is no doubt being compromised.
Emmanuel Sholo, 32, now works with African Scenic Safaris, but recalls that in a previous job he was forced to rely solely on tips and so struggled to feed his family. Since changing jobs he says: “My children are now in school and my work is much more enjoyable.”
For more information, visit www.kiliporters.org and www. africanscenicsafaris.com