Just because you're a solo traveler you don't have to feel the need to make up for a second (phantom/fantasy) traveler.

Believe me, $10/day will be most appreciated. For $100, it wouldn't surprise me if the guide didn't introduce you to the entire family as his best new friend! Have you join for a meal and maybe even find you a husband.

Joking aside, base your gratuity on services provided, as elsewhere.

Happy travels.

$100 is approx half the average ANNUAL per capita income in Ethiopia. Why not donate at least some of this to a local hospital/orphange etc. just to spread your goodwill around a little wider than just those lucky enough to work in the tourism industry?

So based on annual income of $200, the tip should for 8 days should be 5 cents. Be generous, give him a dime. And a penny for each wife and kid.

regards - tom

cary999 - where exactly did I suggest dividing up the annual per capita income to arrive at a tip? I was attempting to make a serious point, but if you want to trivialise world poverty with smart**** comments like that then go ahead....

Thanks for the advice. I ended up following the suggestion in the new Lonely Planet guide, which recommended 50-80 birr a day. I opted for ~80 birr/day (a total of ~$50).

We are traveling to Ethiopia on January 12 to 26, 2011. I am looking forward to it.
One of the places we will be passing thru is Mago National Park, has anyone been there? I wonder what animals we will really be se seeing ? Has anyone travled or heard of Let'sgo travel out of Uganda, they have partners apparently in Ethiopia, that is the compay we are going with.
They were referred to me by Into Africa our of Kampala Uganda, whom we traveled thru Uganda with last January...
Is Addis Ababa high altitude and should we get altitude sickness pills?
PJG

pjg -- you'll get more answers to your questions if you start a new topic

just a suggestion