Responsible Kilimanjaro Trekking | Exuberant Safaris

Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris’ responsible trekking practices, mountain livelihoods, and our position on the proposed Kilimanjaro cable car.

Prepare before departure

Check equipment, conditions and park requirements; reduce unnecessary packaging.

Keep to established routes and camps

Follow marked trails and designated campsites; avoid damaging vegetation or creating shortcuts.

Manage waste carefully

Carry out litter and food scraps. Follow the guide’s instructions for toilet facilities and waste disposal.

Leave natural and cultural features in place

Photograph plants, rocks and other features rather than removing them.

Prevent fire damage

Follow park fire rules. Do not light visitor campfires or burn rubbish; use authorised cooking arrangements.

Give wildlife space

Observe from a distance, never feed animals and secure food appropriately.

Respect everyone sharing the mountain

Be considerate of other climbers and crews, keep noise reasonable and respect local people and park staff.

The EastAfrican

The EastAfrican reported opposition from tour operators, including concerns about the environment and trekking-related employment. That is the newspaper’s account of stakeholder views, not a statement by Exuberant.

TATO

TATO published an account of a stakeholder meeting held in Moshi on 8 March 2022, documenting opposition to the proposal. Publishing that account does not mean TATO endorses this page.

The Citizen

The Citizen reported renewed opposition and included comments from Abraham Meliari of Exuberant about the value of the trekking journey. The article is journalism, not an endorsement of our tours.

Responsible Kilimanjaro Trekking | Exuberant Safaris

Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris’ responsible trekking practices, mountain livelihoods, and our position on the proposed Kilimanjaro cable car.

Responsible trekking

Kilimanjaro is our home and workplace. This page sets out the practices we use on our climbs — mountain clean-up participation, how to reduce waste during your climb, and how we work with local crews.

How we work

Kilimanjaro is our home

and workplace.

Responsible trekking means considering the people and places that make every climb possible. At Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris, we aim to reduce avoidable waste, respect mountain ecosystems and support the local people who deliver our adventures.

Kilimanjaro is our home and workplace. Caring for it is part of how we plan, prepare and operate our treks.

Advocacy

Our Position on the Proposed

Kilimanjaro Cable Car.

This section was updated on 12 October 2026. Dates below are the publication dates of the source reports, not the date this page was updated.

Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris continues to oppose the proposed cable car development on Mount Kilimanjaro.

For us, the trekking journey is central to the mountain experience. It connects visitors with Kilimanjaro’s landscapes and supports the guides, porters, cooks, accommodation providers and transport teams who make each expedition possible. Those mountain livelihoods are part of responsible trekking, not a side issue.

Our concerns include potential effects on mountain habitats, waste and water management, and the livelihoods supported by trekking. These are concerns about the proposal, not claims that every predicted impact has already occurred.

We support tourism development that respects Kilimanjaro’s environment and the people whose livelihoods depend on it. We believe decisions should be informed by transparent consultation and independent assessment of environmental, social and economic impacts.

This is Exuberant’s position. It is separate from claims reported by other stakeholders. We do not state that the proposed Kilimanjaro cable car is operating, cancelled, under construction or formally approved — we have not verified its current status. We do not imply that any proposal would reach Uhuru Peak. Older visitor counts, revenue comparisons and projected job losses are not repeated here as current figures.

Nothing on this page means that TATO, TANAPA, KINAPA or UNESCO endorses Exuberant’s practices or this statement.

Reported background

The notes below paraphrase published reports. Read each source for the full account. Photographs on this page are campaign images; they are not assigned to a dated meeting or location, and they do not identify participants or prove that Exuberant attended a particular meeting.

Campaign message opposing cable cars on Mount Kilimanjaro.

Participants at a meeting concerning the proposed Kilimanjaro cable car.

The 22 August 2026 Citizen report is also summarised in our

coverage. Community projects remain a separate record on the

page.

Shared effort

Participating in

mountain clean-ups.

Exuberant Kilimanjaro Safaris has participated in voluntary Mount Kilimanjaro clean-up activities alongside park authorities, responsible trekking organisers and other licensed operators. These shared efforts bring mountain teams together to collect litter and care for the places where we work.

Activities we have joined have involved the Kilimanjaro National Park Authority (KINAPA), the Kilimanjaro Responsible Trekking Organization and participating licensed operators. This describes participation in specific activities. It is not a formal membership, and it does not mean these organisations certify or endorse Exuberant’s practices.

Exuberant Kilimanjaro team at Mweka Gate with collection sacks and tools during a mountain clean-up activity.

Our team at Mweka Gate during a Kilimanjaro clean-up activity.

On the trail

Reusable bottles and

plastic waste.

Our Kilimanjaro trekking policy avoids supplying single-use plastic drinking-water bottles. Guests should bring reusable bottles or hydration reservoirs and use the drinking water prepared by our mountain team.

We support Tanzania’s restrictions on plastic carrier bags and encourage guests to use suitable reusable luggage organisers and dry bags. Mainland Tanzania’s plastic-carrier-bag restrictions took effect on 1 June 2019. That is a restriction on plastic carrier bags — not a ban on every plastic product, and not a ban on bottled water.

We collect waste from our operations and arrange appropriate disposal. Recyclable materials are separated and directed to available recycling channels where practical. We do not claim that every plastic item is recycled, or that the business generates no plastic waste.

What to bring

Reusable bottles or a hydration reservoir, plus dry bags instead of disposable packaging. Ask us

when you pack.

Separated recyclables go to available channels where practical — not a promise that everything is recycled.

On the mountain

Leave No Trace

on Kilimanjaro.

These are practices informed by Leave No Trace’s seven principles, adapted to local park rules. Following them does not establish an official Leave No Trace certification or partnership.

The seven principles are published by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics.

. Using them as practical guidance is not a certification, award or partnership.

People

Local people and

mountain crews.

Our climbs depend on local guides, porters, cooks, drivers and suppliers. Responsible trekking includes how these people are treated, equipped and supported—not only how visitors experience the mountain.

We invest in staff development and reinforce mountain safety, professional conduct and careful handling of equipment and waste.

Confirmed crew arrangements, including porter pay of TZS 25,000 per working day and medical allowances, are described on our

page, and our

states our KPAP status, the practices we can substantiate and the Ministry statement of 13 August 2026. Community work — support for local projects, schools and young people around Kilimanjaro — is a separate commitment, listed on our

page. We do not publish donation totals or wage comparisons beyond those confirmed figures.

Crew welfare is part of the work

Staff welfare and community work are related, but they are not the same thing. Read both on Why Exuberant.

Porter welfare

Questions about our mountain crews

Our climbs depend on local guides, porters, cooks and drivers. Crew arrangements, including porter pay of TZS 25,000 per working day and medical allowances, are part of how we organise our work.

KPAP compliant? Our status and the Ministry statement of 13 August 2026

We are not a KPAP partner and do not hold KPAP verification. On our porter welfare page we state that plainly, set out the welfare practices we can substantiate, and reproduce the Tanzanian Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism press release of 13 August 2026 in full, with a plain summary.

Development

Training and

leadership.

We take practical training and professional development seriously. Our approach combines mountain safety, first-aid refreshers, environmental awareness and mentoring within the team.

We do not state that every guide or manager holds a current Wilderness First Responder certificate, or that anyone on the team is a certified Leave No Trace mentor, unless that person’s qualification record supports the claim. If you need confirmation for a specific guide, ask us before you book.

Before you travel

How guests

can help.

Plan your Kilimanjaro climb with our local team.

Tell us your dates and questions. We will explain the route, the crew and

before you decide.

On this page