About Us

Mount Kilimanjaro porters’ society is a Non-governmental organization founded in 2005 and officially registered under the Societies Act No.24 of 2002 of the United Republic of Tanzania with certification 13296.
The organization is currently working with porters who climb mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro and has a total of 18,000 members. Porters are the backbone of the trekking world. The society is located in East Africa in the Kilimanjaro region. In the quest to advance Sustainable Tourism Development in Tanzania, Mount Kilimanjaro Porters’ Society (MKPS) since it’s establishment in 2005 has sustainably advocated, impacted, and continues to impact thousands of lives in Tanzania. For the porters, being a member of MKPS has immeasurable benefits with a significant number of Porters that support their families and earn their livelihoods through Kilimanjaro. MKPS porters have been at the frontline in revolutionizing their working conditions creating a dignified, fair, and decent work environment for them.

MKPS

Mount Kilimanjaro Porters Society

MKPS Tanzania

As the oldest continuously run porter’s association. MKPS remains committed to providing support to professional porters who will climb Mount Kilimanjaro and other mountains for assisting clients achieve their trekking goals, delivering support and first aid, for their own livelihood and service to their community. From sustainable trekking, support, first aid and other services offered as part of their service in order to make trekking an lifetime experience and fun for all climbers.

We strive to be committed to the clients we are privileged to serve. As is in our factsheet; our dedicated, experienced, professional and trained members (porters) are here to serve you. We also take pride in having the most active and helpful group of partners, visionary leaders, well-wishers, successful team of travelers who trek with us.

Everyday at the MKPS is like an achievement with the active members (porters) and dedicated staff members working hard to ensure memorable experiences.

Chair Person
Porters Society At a Glance
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Active Partners
Vision

The organization’s vision is to promote the welfare and rights of porters climbing Mount Meru and Mount Kilimanjaro and to ensure fair payment and work conditions.

Mission

MKPS raises public awareness regarding the proper treatment of porters on Kilimanjaro by ensure fair and ethical treatment of their porters, by providing/giving climbing gear free of charge, and offers educational classes to empower and motivate porters and mountain crew.
Whether you are a climber, local tour operator, travel agent, charity group, porter, cook or guide, the MKPS needs your assistance to advocate for and safeguard the fair and ethical treatment of all porters.

Core Values

As an ethical organization, obeys and promotes the rules and regulations as provided by the laws of Tanzania and never at any time has MKPS been sued or questioned by the authorities for not keeping and upholding the law set forth by the state. According to rule 7 of the Mountains National Parks Regulations of 2003 a tour operator and its guides shall only hire or employ porters who are honest, disciplined and trustworthy and who are members of a registered Porter’s association holding valid identity cards issued by the registered porters Association MKPS takes responsibility in ensuring quality climbing gear for the porters as well as training support and mentorship to all Porter under our society whenever needed.

  • The Mount Kilimanjaro porters’ society abides to the rules and regulations set forth as follows;
    The society provides proper wages to its porters as per minimum wages set by the Labor Institutions Wage Order of 2013 GN No. 196 of the United Republic of Tanzania.
  • Porters are paid more than the set standard wages.
  • It provides three meals a day to the working porters.
  • It provides proper climbing gear (clothing )to its porters including but not limited to technical clothing that is a prerequisite when trekking in high altitude
    conditions which includes water and wind resistant jackets, pants, gloves, base layers, socks, hats, sunglasses and proper footwear.
  • The society also provides proper shelter as porters are given access to tents or provided with sleeping quarters, sleeping bags and mats.
  • In collaboration with Tour company a proper tipping policy is being observed as there are tipping guidelines and sheets filled by the visitors. This ensures that full
    transparency is observed and the tip is being shared to the group as suggested by the visitor.
  • Loads are restricted to reasonable weight limits, which are measured in park gates and confirmed by the Kilimanjaro National park authority when they reach the
    respective gate/entry point. As per rule 12 of the Mountains National Parks Regulations of 2003 which limits the luggage to weigh between 18-25 Kilograms
  • Allthe aforementioned corresponds to rule 5 of the Mountains National Parks Regulations of 2003 which provides that each tour operator and his guide shallmake
    sure that all climbers have all necessary, suitable and adequate climbing gears and adequate foodstuff. The society exists as a shield for porters who are registered under it with the goal of improving living and working conditions of these porters.
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