They may walk to the national park gate every day, sometimes for many miles, hoping that someone will be looking for porters. That's where many budget operators pick up their porters. Budget operators do not pay their staff well, in some cases not at all. Kilimanjaro porters don't have many options. There are many more porters available than needed, and they are all desperately looking for work.

There is a recommended minimum wage for Kilimanjaro porters (as of June 2008 it is $10 per day on the camping routes, less on the Marangu route). But usually operators pay a lot less, maybe half that. Kilimanjaro porters don't have their own sleeping bags or tents. If they were rich enough to afford something like that they wouldn't be pottering! A responsible climb operator will have tents and equipment not only for clients, but also for staff. That costs money.

Feeding the porters in a way that actually sustains them during the climb also costs money, both for the food itself and for carrying it up the mountain. very few operators pay or treat their porters fairly. Some of the big, well known outfitters are amongst the worst for more information watch these porters in this mobile report as Mr. Ben a Kilimanjaro porter and his friends explains.