How Much To Tip Safari Guides/Cooks?

Old Jan 16th, 2008, 01:58 PM
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How Much To Tip Safari Guides/Cooks?

How much do people tend to tip their guides and cooks? I would especially like to hear from people who did budget tours. For a group of 4 on a 5 day trip ($750 per person), would $100 from all of us be excessive, stingy, or appropriate? Thanks in advance!
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 02:23 PM
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Total 4 person 5 day trip cost is $3,000?
I think $100 tip total is low.
regards - tom
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 02:33 PM
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Though you're doing a budget camping safari, your guide makes your trip. He gets you where you're going safely, maintains your vehicle, does the game sighting, assists the cook in setting-up/breaking down camp. And, then the cook prepares all your meals.

At a combined $100 from all of you is $25/person for 5/days = $5/day for both guide & cook. I believe this is a bit low! A lot low, in fact.

Try to, at minimum, double that! And, tip each separately.
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 02:35 PM
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But then again, I'm just your typical big mouth, high tipping, American cowboy !!!! (To reference other tipping threads).

regards - tom
ps -
ps again - shooting from the hip like a cowboy, I'd say $300 total, or better yet $100 from each of you. Nice round number
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 02:40 PM
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I'm a good tipper I swear!! I just have no idea what the standard is for this sort of thing. I worked as a waitress for a long time so i do know food tipping just not trip tipping. So is $50 a person more reasonable? Or 10% at $300?
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 03:33 PM
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Usually it's done by the day. A general guideline would be $10 per day for the guide and $5 for camp and lodge staffs (usually there is a communal tip box.) Each traveler should tip.
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 03:38 PM
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The guidelines that ShayTay gave are the ones I have been given.
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 04:41 PM
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"Tipping is not compulsory. If, however, you want to tip because you have received good service, we have enclosed a brief guideline to assist you:
- camp, game lodge & specialist guides: US$10 per guest per day
- mokoro paddlers & trackers: US$5 per guest per day
- general safari camp/lodge staff: US$5 per guest per day
- transfer driver: US$2 per person
- touring driver and/or guides: half day tour US$5 per person, full day tour US$10 per person
- hotel staff: US$1-2 per guest per day
porterage: US$1 per person per movement"

These are the tipping recommendations by a very renowned African operator. Looks similar to the recommendations by other posters, doesn't it?

The only difference is that, if booking with this operator, you certainly pay US$3000 per EACH person per camping trip, and that some lodge rates go far beyond US$1000 per night - so it's a complete different league.

Btw, these are the current tipping recommendations by Wilderness Safaris and also valid for Jao, Mombo, etc.
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Old Jan 16th, 2008, 06:11 PM
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Thanks everybody. This has really helped.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 02:10 AM
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I worked alongside WS some 8 years ago and cannot believe they still maintain the same tipping guidelines. It was shockingly low then and is ridiculous now - especially with the low currency value of the USD and bearing in mind the typically 'well heeled' clientelle that flows through their camps. Your guide works extremely hard to keep you safe and to ensure that you have a good time. If you have a 'wow' experience and he goes that extra mile to talk you you, share with you and care for your well being... tip him what you would tip anyone else in the 'real' world, a healthy 10%. He would be delighted.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 05:05 AM
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who is to say that $20/day from a couple in a country where many people live on $1/day is bad? I would expect the high cost of safari to cover an adequate SALARY for a guide. Tip should be for excellent, above expected behavior from the guide, not as his actual salary. tipping 10% is customary only in food industry. others have different guidelines. It certainly doesn't make sense if in your total cost you have such things a flight transfers. what does the guide have to do with your flights to get 10% of their costs? In this case, the cost of the safari doesn't include that, so that's not an issue.
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Old Jan 18th, 2008, 10:41 AM
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Here is another upmarket operator with "ridiculous" low tipping recommendations, must also be someone not from the "real" world:

"Is not expected but always enthusiastically received if you are happy with the service. We suggest you tip your guides directly, and if you wish please give anything for the camp staff to the management to be shared out. When asked 'how much' I say from US$5 to US$10 per person per night at camps."
Robin Pope Safaris, Zambia
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