Altezza launches "landmark ethical trekking Guide" for Kilimanjaro
- Tim Henshall
- Apr 3
- 4 min read
Original article
Altezza Travel, a leading Kilimanjaro tour operator based in Moshi, has unveiled a new ethical climbing guide to address growing calls for accountability in high-impact adventure tourism.
Announced on 1 April 2025, the framework comes as Tanzania is set to welcome more than 60,000 climbers to Mount Kilimanjaro this year, raising concerns about environmental impact and the welfare of mountain crews.
The guide promotes fair labour practices, environmental stewardship, and prioritising local economic benefit — positioning itself as a standard for operators and international partners alike.
The initiative includes practical guidance such as selecting certified operators, partnering with bodies like the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP), and encouraging direct bookings with Tanzanian companies. Altezza, which is Travelife-certified and the region’s largest taxpayer, aims to set new industry norms through its collaboration with KPAP.
With growing global scrutiny on sustainability and labour ethics in tourism, this guide may serve as a blueprint for destinations facing similar challenges, underscoring the need for transparent, ethical practices across the adventure travel sector.
Why the Travel Industry Must Pay Attention
Mount Kilimanjaro is not just a trekker’s dream — it is one of the world’s most iconic adventure tourism destinations and a vital contributor to the Tanzanian economy. For global tour operators, destination management companies, and the wider travel ecosystem, the development of an ethical climbing framework has potential ripple effects that go far beyond the African continent.
Operators offering Kilimanjaro climbs, international wholesalers promoting Tanzanian travel packages, and adventure-focused travel agents must now consider how these evolving ethical standards will impact customer expectations, supplier partnerships, and even marketing language.
The Ethical Dilemma Behind the Bucket List Dream
Behind the breathtaking sunrise views at Uhuru Peak lies a complicated reality: growing numbers of climbers have led to a host of ethical concerns, ranging from environmental degradation to the mistreatment of mountain crew members. With thousands of porters supporting the climbs annually, issues such as underpayment, lack of proper equipment, unsafe working conditions, and exploitation by budget operators have stirred increasing global scrutiny.
Agness Mkumbo, a Kilimanjaro expert with Altezza Travel, emphasized that the tourism industry’s responsibility extends beyond merely marketing “sustainable” experiences. “More trekkers seek destinations and operators that respect the environment and support local communities. However, many don’t fully understand what lies behind the buzzword ‘sustainability,’” she explained. “On Kilimanjaro, it comes down to three simple things: keeping the mountain clean, ensuring fair wages for the crew, and supporting the local economy.”
This message resonates across the entire responsible travel movement, where consumer demand for ethical tourism is rising — but so is greenwashing.
Practical Solutions to Global Challenges in Adventure Tourism
While several discussions have been held globally on ethical climbing practices, there has been no unified, enforceable code across Kilimanjaro operators — until now.
Altezza Travel, which is Travelife-certified, a UN Tourism Organization member, and the largest Kilimanjaro operator with over a decade of experience, has stepped forward to develop actionable guidelines. These guidelines are expected to include recommendations for choosing certified operators and aligning with recognized organizations like the Kilimanjaro Porters Assistance Project (KPAP).
According to Mkumbo, KPAP membership — which is free — indicates that a company provides porters with fair wages, hot meals, proper tents, and medical attention. Many operators allegedly avoid joining KPAP under the pretext of high operational costs, despite the fact that membership requires only fair treatment of staff, not financial contributions.
For travel professionals and operators worldwide, the implication is clear: transparency in labor practices is becoming a decisive factor in choosing ground partners, especially in developing adventure markets.
Keeping Tourism Dollars Local
One of the core pillars of the upcoming ethical climbing guide is encouraging travelers to book directly with Tanzanian operators, as opposed to foreign resellers who often divert a large percentage of revenue outside the country.
This guidance is especially relevant to global tour wholesalers, online travel agents (OTAs), and booking platforms who act as intermediaries. By encouraging direct bookings, the guide not only keeps more money in the local economy but also enables investment in critical community infrastructure — including schools, clinics, and road networks.
Mkumbo pointed out that Altezza Travel operates as a 100% Tanzanian-owned business, and in February 2025, it was officially recognized as the largest taxpayer in the entire Kilimanjaro region, across all industries. This distinction underlines the potential for tourism to become a powerhouse for local development, when operated ethically.
Global Impact and What Travelers Should Expect
As ethical travel becomes a top consideration for modern tourists, Altezza Travel’s new guide could serve as a model for other destinations with high-impact tourism, such as Machu Picchu, Everest Base Camp, and the Inca Trail. Destinations that rely heavily on porters, fragile ecosystems, or cultural heritage sites may soon feel pressure to release similar accountability frameworks.
For travelers, this initiative will likely:
Shift demand toward certified and transparent operators
Increase scrutiny of booking platforms and their partners
Lead to higher pricing expectations, especially with fair wage and environmental costs factored in
Inspire more engaged and informed travel decisions
The Role of Collaboration and Industry-Wide Adoption
Once finalized, Altezza Travel intends to collaborate closely with KPAP to distribute the ethical climbing guide broadly among climbers, tour operators, and booking platforms. The vision is to set new industry norms on the mountain — and potentially inspire systemic change across the entire adventure tourism segment.
“We all share the same goals,” said Mkumbo. “Our hope is that fellow tour operators will adopt these guidelines, helping to establish consistent and ethical practices across the Kilimanjaro climbing community.”
What This Means for Tour Operators, Agents, and Travelers Worldwide
Tourism professionals who market Africa-bound itineraries, especially those featuring Kilimanjaro, should now begin to assess:
Which operators on their roster are KPAP-aligned or Travelife-certified
How transparent their supply chain is in terms of wage policies and equipment standards
Whether they can promote ethical experiences in line with this new Tanzanian standard
As traveler expectations evolve, and sustainability transitions from marketing buzzword to certifiable practice, Altezza Travel’s move represents both a wake-up call and a road map.
The travel and tourism industry, especially in adventure segments, must be prepared for growing consumer demand for social accountability and ecological integrity — values that are no longer optional but essential.
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