iArtist Adventure – Ethical Travel in Tanzania Imagine standing at the foot of Kilimanjaro preparing to hike 45 miles over seven days—ascending to 19,341 feet and then trekking back down. You’re wearing an old pair of sneakers. Most of your clothing and gear aren’t mountaineering quality. You’re carrying a 60-pound pack, balanced precariously on your head. Over the week, you’ll get just one meal a day. Your tent, if you have one, is cold and leaky. You’ll sleep shoulder-to-shoulder with other porters in overcrowded shelters. And when your seven-day climb is done, you’ll earn barely enough to get by—and pay part of it as a bribe just to be hired again. Tips meant for you may never reach your hands. This is no exaggeration—it was the standard experience for many Kilimanjaro porters less than a decade ago. Crippling weight loads, minimal gear, exploitative pay, bribery, and a code of silence in exchange for the chance to keep working. Thanks to incredible effort, this is finally changing. And at iArtist Adventure, we are proud to stand with the organizations and individuals fighting for these vital improvements. True transformation across the mountain requires independent advocacy, which is exactly where the Kilimanjaro Porter Assistance Project (KPAP) comes in.

What KPAP Does for Porters

KPAP is a legally registered Tanzanian non-profit organization dedicated to improving working conditions for Kilimanjaro’s porters. Over the past 14 years, KPAP has driven real, lasting change by independently monitoring trekking companies’ hiring and labor practices and holding them accountable to standards of respect, dignity, and transparency. Here at iArtist Adventure, we proudly support KPAP and the ethical revolution it’s bringing to Tanzania’s iconic mountain. Because of KPAP, the working lives of thousands of porters have been transformed:
  • Porter salaries have nearly tripled.
  • Maximum weight limits have dropped to a humane 45 lbs.
  • Bribes and job commissions are no longer tolerated.
  • Porters receive the full tips intended for them.
  • 99% of KPAP-affiliated outfitters feed porters three meals a day.
  • Over 30,000 porters have been fully outfitted with gear—free of charge.
This is more than just a policy shift—it’s a movement rooted in justice, safety, and human dignity. Through KPAP’s Partner for Responsible Travel program, outfitters who mistreat porters are being pressured to change their ways or risk losing future business.

Why Your Support Matters

All of this essential work is only possible through support from ethical travelers—people like you, who believe in fair treatment and want to make a difference. Without adequate funding, KPAP’s future is at risk. And with it, so is the progress that’s been made. A drop in support could mean less access to gear and training, lower pay, and reduced porter safety across the board. That’s a future we simply cannot accept.

iArtist Adventure Stands with Kilimanjaro’s Porters

At iArtist Adventure, we believe that every adventure should uplift, not exploit. We work exclusively with KPAP-affiliated partners and are committed to setting a high standard for responsible trekking across Tanzania. Whether you’ve been guided to the summit by a kind-hearted porter, or you simply believe that ethical treatment is non-negotiable, now is the time to act. Support KPAP through the International Mountain Explorers Connection and ensure that the people behind the world’s greatest adventures are treated with the fairness they deserve.  

Ready to experience Tanzania like never before?

Book your ethical, awe-inspiring Kilimanjaro trek or wildlife safari with iArtist Adventure—where every journey supports communities, conservation, and cultural integrity. 🌍 Explore. Empower. Elevate. 👉 Visit iartistadventure.com to plan your next adventure.