Tipping in Africa
Tipping is not included in the cost of your trip, nor is it compulsory. Only tip if you genuinely believe the service warrants it, and you may decide to tip less or more, depending on the level of service you receive, your group size, and your personal circumstances.
A lodge may have its suggested tipping amount, which can differ slightly from ours and will likely reflect the lodges’ levels of luxury. The more luxurious the lodge, the higher the tipping amounts tend to be. So please take the below amounts as a very broad guide based on two people. That said, we have given a window of amounts to allow for variables such as group size and luxury levels. Please tip what you feel is most appropriate, but do not feel pressured to tip any specific amount – it is entirely your choice.
Please also plan to tip in cash – leaving a tip via credit card or bank transfer is not always possible. Tipping is always done at the end of a stay at each camp, not during. Usually, you would tip a guide or butler directly and the general staff via a tip box. But if you are unsure, feel free to ask the manager at each property.
Tipping Guidance
Amounts are shown in US$ and South African Rand:
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US $10-20 / R175-350 per person per day to your ranger/guide during safari.
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US $5-10 / R90-175 per person per day to your tracker/spotter during safari (if you have one).
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US $5-15 / R90-260 total tip per day per person for the safari lodge communal tip box – this covers all the people behind the scenes.
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US $5-$10 / R90-R175 total tip per day per person for staff communal tip at larger hotels.
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US $5 / R85 per person per day to your mokoro poler (Southern Africa only).
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US $5 / R85 per person for a guide on a shared tour – for example a sightseeing tour.
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US $10 / R180 per person per transfer for a transfer driver (e.g. city tour).
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US $10-20 / R175-350 per person for a guide on a private sightseeing tour.
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US $1-2 / R20-40 per piece of luggage for porters at airports and hotels.
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US $5-10 / R90-R175 per person per day to your private butler.
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US $10-15 per person per trek to your primate trekking guide/s in Rwanda/Uganda (usually there are two guides and it is standard practice to tip after each trek).
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US $5 per person per trek to each of your primate trekking rangers and trackers in Rwanda/Uganda. Usually, you will have one walking with the group, and an advanced team of 2-4 who track to locate the primates and clear space for your viewing.
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US $20 per person per primate trekking porter, per day in Rwanda/Uganda (this is the wage paid for the porter to their association) plus a further tip of US $5 if you are happy with their service.
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Meals in restaurants and hotels – 10% of the bill, which is customary on meal accounts if you are satisfied with the service.
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We recommend tipping your driver/guide/porter/tracker directly. For the general camp/lodge staff and massage therapists, gratuities in cash may be left in an envelope with the management or put in a staff tip box usually in the main area.
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