{"id":1894,"date":"2011-09-06T16:32:25","date_gmt":"2011-09-06T22:32:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/?p=1894"},"modified":"2011-09-06T17:06:04","modified_gmt":"2011-09-06T23:06:04","slug":"kilimanjaro-porters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adventureswithinreach.com\/travel\/2011\/09\/06\/kilimanjaro-porters\/","title":{"rendered":"Kilimanjaro Porters"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Kilimanjaro

Kilimanjaro Guides and Porters<\/p><\/div>\n

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro<\/a> promises the adventure of reaching the highest point in Africa, the thrill of summiting a volcanic rim at sunrise in one of the most beautiful places on earth, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience a trek that ranges from lush Tanzanian rainforest to tundra and ice fields.<\/p>\n

But what many don\u2019t know about climbing Kilimanjaro is the story of those who climb the mountain for a living: the porters<\/a> who accompany guides and climbers on every climb.<\/p>\n

\"\"

Porters and Their Gear<\/p><\/div>\n

Porters are responsible for carrying each climber’s gear, food, and their own gear, in addition to climbing every step of the trip along with the group. Porters are essential members of each climb, but sadly, many of them are treated poorly and paid poverty-level wages by the companies they work for.<\/p>\n

Adventures Within Reach<\/a> has partnered with the Kilimanjaro\u2019s Porters Assistance Project<\/a> (KPAP) to support the ethical treatment of these incredibly hard-working people.<\/p>\n

According to the KPAP website, many porters do not have the basic essentials when it comes to proper shoes, clothing, sleep accommodations, and food rations for their climbs. And while it may be easy to assume that these hard-working men (and, occasionally, women) have an \u201ceasier\u201d time summiting Mount Kilimanjaro than us mere mortals, the truth is that porters are susceptible to the same risks as anyone else, including fatigue, altitude sickness, dehydration, injuries, and life-threatening hypothermia.<\/p>\n

In an effort to make any money they can in order to take care of their families, porters will risk their health and well-being to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, even if the working conditions are unsafe.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning an adventure-filled trip to Kilimanjaro, you can make a world of difference for these porters by doing the following:<\/p>\n