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The ethical issues of climbing Kilimanjaro
February 4th 2008.
I get quite a few emails
from readers asking about how they can climb Kilimanjaro 'ethically'; that is to
say, what social and environmental issues are raised by opting to climb Kilimanjaro,
and how can climbers do their bit to minimise their impact on the environment and
contribute towards helping the underprivileged locals who live and work on the mountain
In the book we give a lot of coverage, deservedly, to KPAP, the Kilimanjaro Porters
Assistance Project, who do sterling looking after some of the poorest and most vulnerable
workers on the mountain. We urge you, if you're staying in Moshi, to call in at their
office in the centre of town to see what projects they are currently running and
see, too, if there is any way you can help. (Don't worry, often this will involve
doing nothing more than filling out a form to help KPAP assess the treatment of the
porters by your trekking agency on your climb.) They can also advise you on what
to look out for regarding the mistreatment of porters on the mountain, and gifts
of any trekking gear that you no longer need are always welcome.
Another initiative, which has enjoyed success in Peru and is now looking to transfer
their work over to Kilimanjaro is the British-run Leap Local. Their website helps
to provide local communities with direct access to tourism, bypassing the agencies
who, of course, take their own cut. By cutting out the middleman, this should result
in a fairer price for tourists and, even more importantly, a better deal for the
local or locals concerned.
For example, if there is a local guide who can conduct a fascinating tour around
a local village such as Marangu, the website enables him to advertise to tourists
directly without the need of involving a middleman. Craftsmen, Swahili-language teachers
and others could also advertise. The website also has a rating system, whereby tourists
can rate the service they have received.
At the moment the Leap Local system is not yet in place in Kilimanjaro, and won't
be until later in 2008. I myself hope to be doing the initial research and to implement
the program in East Africa. Do visit this website to check on our progress.
I'll also be writing a number of articles about the ethical issues of climbing Kilimanjaro
- including carbon offsetting and the welfare of porters - over the next week or
so; check out this site for the latest.
The Western Breach Route - an account of
a climb >>
