Climbing Kilimanjaro and Covid-19
The serious dangers and potential damage of a “fire sale” to reboot Tanzanian climbing tourism
If you’re one of those hopefuls whose plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this year got sidelined due to Covid-19, you may well be looking with some real eagerness to having your opportunity return while you’re still in good enough shape to get to the top.
Many who put off their plans might also be looking for a real deal.
Not a real good idea.
There is some temptation to take advantage of competing companies’ very real desire and need to get back into the business of bolstering tourism. However, looking for a bargain basement price for your climb could not only be damaging to a great many people, but it could also seriously undermine your safety.
Any time trip costs are reduced, that cost has to come out of someone’s pocket. That “someone” in this case is invariably the porter, without whom there is no trip up Kilimanjaro at all.
Understanding the role of the porter
Many of the porters count on the seasonal income from their treks to supplement their subsistence farming. They have at times had to make the climb inadequately dressed, without proper gear…
