Operation Bad Altitude: Team Kilimanjaro 2011 News
September 8, 2009 on 6:18 pm
Filed Under:Current Operations
The Bad Altitude snowball is gaining momentum with over 30 Tanzanian operators responding to tender requests to guide Team Kili up 19,331 feet of inactive volcano, the mighty Mount Kilimanjaro.
Tour outfitters have been asked to meet strict assesment criteria to comply with PALA’s budget, beliefs and ethical responsibilities. Some of these include:
- Membership to both IMEC and KPAP to ensure porters and other staff are properly equipped, fed the same meals we are fed and paid to, or above, the standards set by The Kilimanjaro National Park and the Tanzania Association of Tour Operators. Porters are the heart and soul of Kilimanjaro’s tourist industry and have suffered less than ideal wages and treatment through the years. PALA intends to support them in every way possible during this trip, even if it means helping carry stuff or washing dishes with them after meals. These trips would not be possible without them.
- First aid equipped and trained guides: A priority of Operation Bad Altitude is to ensure the safety and health of all staff and team members during the expedition. Team members will have “descent buddies” and there must be enough guides and assistant guides provided to escort altitude affected team members or staff safely to the bottom without compromising the summit attempt.
- Highly competitive cost: As all Team Kili members will be paying for everything themselves, cost is of high importance. This doesn’t necessarily mean the cheapest as we must take into consideration the previous criteria.
- Commitment to local community: A preference will be given to local operators that contribute back to their community. All operators have been chosen because they are Tanzanian owned, local companies in both Moshi and Arusha which are the main gateway towns to Kilimanjaro. PALA wishes to help toward promoting a responsible tourism culture in this region. Many of the respondents have charity ties, close community relationships and some even run schools.
All the respondants to date have been of the highest calibre, putting to shame most international operators with staff treatment standards, community. As you can see, Bad Altitude’s impact encompasses much more than our own back yard and is contributing toward positive change in two completely different countries… please help by donating to the cause!
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