When climbing Mount Kenya, what is the Tipping Policy?
When climbing Mount Kenya, what is the Tipping Policy?Mount Kenya, the second-tallest mountain in Africa, is a well-liked choice among climbers and hikers from many countries. The ascent to the peak is not solely a measure of physical stamina but also a cooperative endeavor that requires the assistance of guides, porters, and cooks to help climbers navigate the arduous landscape. Tipping is a significant element of Mount Kenya’s trekking culture, serving as a gesture of gratitude for the services rendered.
Tipping is a wonderful way to express your satisfaction with the tour and the variety of staff services you will receive while visiting Mount Kenya, even though it is not required. In addition to giving people in the service industry more confidence, your advice enables you to personally give back to the areas in which you live. Though Mount Kenya has no tipping rules like most places, following them can help you decide how much to tip. You should always have a few one-dollar bills on hand for smaller tips, so tipping is easy.
Please keep in mind that gratuities are always optional. The purpose of the guidelines is solely to provide guidance.
Your gratuity should reflect how much you value the service and what you can afford.
In general, tipping should be 8–12% of the total trek cost, split among the team. The complete trek team will split a budget of $100 to $150 per participant, depending on the length of the walk.
Since it can be challenging to determine how much to reward each team member individually, most travelers combine their tips and give them to the head guide at the gate as they exit the national park.
After that, the team will split up with the guide. If you prefer to tip separately, consider tipping the cook twice as much as you would the porter, and the guide 1.5–2 times as much as you would your cook. We favor this approach because it allows the guide to recognize those who have made significant contributions behind the scenes, rather than focusing solely on what you, the clients, have witnessed.
The Process of Tipping
- Regarding gratuities, most reputable companies typically recommend the following daily:
- Porters: $10 per day, each
- Cook/chief: $12 per day for each cook
- $20 a day per guide for the chief guide and assistant guides
- In order to prevent confusion and ensure the safety of our mountain crew, we suggest doing the following:
- For larger groups, the cost per person is between $250 and $300. The suggested tip for one or two people is $300, as the guide, assistant guide, and cook receive the same gratuity regardless of the size of the group.
Tipping.
Your guide will hand out an envelope with space for you to give your chosen tip amount to the group on the final night on the mountain after you have determined how much you want to donate. The group customarily combines their tips into a “pot” to give to the staff. The lead guide will get the crew together and sing you a farewell song on the morning of your final breakfast on the mountain. This is a wonderful opportunity for the group to get together, hear the spokesperson thank the group briefly, and then give the tip envelope to your lead guide, who will interpret your speech into ki-swahili for the benefit of the other crew members. After the ceremony is over, the lead guide will divide the tips appropriately.
Things not to do when tipping.
When offering tips, do not be too giving. If you are extremely happy, just be genuine and cheerful while expressing your gratitude for their considerate services.
Make sure your trekking equipment is not in poor condition before giving it away to staff members who are in need. Don’t provide employees with old, tattered clothing or footwear. The recipient of this prize could find it to be an embarrassing one.
If you are willing to part with such damaged gear, just ask them for advice on how to dispose of such products.
You don’t have to strictly follow the aforementioned recommendations, even though they serve as general guidelines for tipping. Your satisfaction and the staff’s performance will determine the tip amount and method.
Furthermore, it’s not always mandatory to tip the guide more than the porter. If you discover that your porter has been the one who has greatly aided you in any situation, feel free to swap. If you have any questions or are confused, simply sign up and get in contact with our travel specialist as soon as possible.
Conclusion.
There are strong opinions about tipping. Some see it as an extra cost on top of what they have already paid, an optional gesture of goodwill to show gratitude for excellent service.