TigerPhotog

Folks,

Firstly, Thanks for all the tremendous/prompt help I have received from all of you regulars here (you know who you are), amazing group of experts here !! Our trip is due next week (29th).

I think we are ready with everything including medicines, plug adapters and a nice new mosquito net (Thx Spassvogel for that). .

Had a few random questions:

1. I am definitely going to make our guide eat with us everyday. I understand about breakfast and lunch (in the bush, together), but what about dinner, what charges(roughly) am I looking at for dinners at the lodges and camps for this 1 extra person ?

2. I have heard that Olakira does not allow guides for dinner with the patrons ? Is that true?

3. Do these guys sleep in the 4x 4 or the lodges/camps have some staff boarding where these folks sleep?

4. What are the usual prices for drinks/beers/sundowners etc ?

5. Is $20/day tip for our guide good enough(will give it at the end, of course) ?


Trying to budget this thing and get all the cash (various denominations required), hence the aboe questions.

Thanks, and I will definitely share some of my better photos for you folks to see !!

rwcorne

I saw your question in an earlier thread looking for any recent migration reports. Here is a new one that was posted today:

wildebeestmigration.blogspot.com/

Enjoy your trip and let us know about it when you return. I'll also be visiting Olakira Ndutu and would like to know the answer to your question above. I'm not sure if you'll be back before we leave, but, I think we are both in for a treat. Based on this migration report, Olakira looks perfectly situated for our visits.

atravelynn

"I am definitely going to make our guide eat with us everyday."

Your guide may enjoy a break with his buddies now and then. While to us the entire couple of weeks is all fun and vacation, to the guides they are working when they are with their guests. A mix of some meals together and time away for the guide is nice.

Most guides have guide lodging that may be provided or they pay for.

To answer the tips, how many in your party? This is a private trip, right?

Don't know cocktail costs, but I'd bring lots of $1 bills--new ones without creases or tears.

TigerPhotog

Rwcorne, thx for the link, good to know the latest update. When are you leaving?

Atravelynn, hehe, I did not mean to say that, I meant, "I will be welcoming our guide to eat with us as/when he wants to". .
Yes, it's just me and my wife, a private trip.

Thx!

spassvogel

1. I am definitely going to make our guide eat with us everyday. I understand about breakfast and lunch (in the bush, together), but what about dinner, what charges(roughly) am I looking at for dinners at the lodges and camps for this 1 extra person ?

>>>>>>>>>As much as we would enjoy their company I am supporting atravelynn's answers. These guides need some private time with their guide-buddies and home-cocked meals.
Mostly the camp managers are having dinner with guests but not the guides - unless you do a private safari with your own guide. Then of course he would join you because you requested so. But I am not too sure whether they "enjoy" it. Sometimes guides might feel intimidated by "rich" clients and appreciate dinner with their peer.

2. I have heard that Olakira does not allow guides for dinner with the patrons ? Is that true?

>>>>>>>When we stayed there the manager had dinners with us but not the guide. Reason see above.

3. Do these guys sleep in the 4x 4 or the lodges/camps have some staff boarding where these folks sleep?

>>>>>>They have got guide rooms/quarters.

4. What are the usual prices for drinks/beers/sundowners etc ?

>>>>>>I have no clue as these are mostly included in the rate unless you are on FB without drinks.
I would assume prices are moderate in those kind of tented camps (Asilia)

5. Is $20/day tip for our guide good enough(will give it at the end, of course) ?

>>>>>>>To show appreciation the thumb rule is 10US$pppd - at the end of the trip. Plus 5pppd for overall camp staff.
If you would like to give more if the service was outrageously good - you are more than welcome to do so. But please keep in mind: Outrageously high tips will create expectations which cannot be met by each and every traveller - some travellers don't have money trees in their gardens ;-)
When we stay for almost 12 days in one camp the guide (exclusive use of car/guide) gets 200US$ from us(couple) and shows great appreciation for that requesting to be our guide each time we come. So I take it as a sign we are doing well with that.


Trying to budget this thing and get all the cash (various denominations required), hence the aboe questions.

>>>>>> Take loads of 1US$ notes plus some 5, 10 and 20US$ bills. If you need to take 50US$ bills make sure you only get the ones with the "large heads" and fairly new ones - nothing printed before 2000 or even 2002! Avoid 100US$ bills.
Share the cash between your party and create a fake purse:

- old credit cards
- some cash (pile of 1 and 5 $ bills)
- old passport if available
- some other old cash cards

just make it look "real" and worthwhile.

Based on recent incidents:

- carry your photographic and valuables with you at all times (also to the mess-tent)
- charge batteries while having dinner or during siesta and don't leave anything behind at night!
- take a copy of each passport and put it somewhere safe
- take some big envelopes with you in order to put your valuables into it and hand it out to the camp manager.
- At all times carry your memory cards with you.

Happy travels!

SV

sandi

I'm in agreement with lynn. But it certainly nice to ask if your guide would like to join you. Otherwise, guides are provided sleeping at camp/lodge which can be individual rooms, or shared bunk facilities with meals, often their local cuisine. And, yes... driving/guiding all day is work for them and they do appreciate alone time or with their buddies.

Depending on the outfitter handling your safari, either the guide's expenses have been prepaid - room/meals - or they've been provided a daily allotment to pay directly.

The additional cost to you for guide's dinner, depending on where, can run $40.

As to Olakira and other small camps where dining is often "family" style, one long table for all guests. Unless a camp isn't full, there's really isn't room for additional diners.

$20/day from the two of you to guide is appropriate; can be more or less, always depending on service provided.

Safari njema!

raelond

When we stayed at Olakira our guide ate with us and there were separate tables for each party. I much prefer everyone eating together. It was Easter when we were there and I and a few other guests requested that we all eat together. Management said they couldn't do that as some guests may not like it. At Ndutu Lodge and Serena Lodge our guide couldn't eat with us. We carried our passport etc. on us at all times and had our camera with us even at meals. You never know when a photo op may come your way.

TigerPhotog

Thanks all, appreciate the great inputs. I will definitely make sure I carry our important docs/passports and photo gear *everywhere* with me(backpack),don't care for staring eyes , Better be safe than sorry, right?

All this info puts things into perspective, thanks a lot !

Of course, I would rather my guide spend his time with his buddies and also stay updated on the sightings/locations etc so as to plan our next move. That's what I do when I go to safaris elsewhere. I was just curious to know what the usual protocol on a private safari in Africa is...now I know.

ShayTay

I use a moneybelt worn under my clothes for my passport and the bulk of my cash. I wear it against my back, not my stomach and hardly know that it's there. On safari, there shouldn't be much need to have money readily available, but you could keep a few dollars handy in your backpack for miscellaneous tips, etc.

At the camps, you usually run a "tab" for laundry, drinks, etc. and pay when you leave. Expect to pay several dollars for an alcoholic drink, even a dollar or two for a soda or bottle of water. $10 pppd for a tip is an average amount, but take along extra funds because I suspect you'll be so impressed by your guide that you'll want to give him extra at the end of your stay (that's when you tip him.) As noted, there are tip boxes for camp staff tips and $5 pppd is a good guideline. Again, just put your tip in the box at the end of your stay.

Make sure your cash is the newer "big head" style bills and that they are not marked, worn or torn. I usually work out how much cash I need and in what denominations, then call my bank ahead of time and give them my requirements. It's waiting for me when I drop by and I check out each bill before I leave.

All the responses about your guide sharing your dinner are good. The policies vary by camp or lodge. If your guide shares dinner with you, he will usually will stay up with you until you head off to your tent and bed. Staying up late then means that your guide does, as well, which may mean he's not as sharp the next day.

TigerPhotog

ShayTay, that is some very fine information, thanks a lot !!!

Leely2

Safari njema, TigerPhotog!

TigerPhotog

Thank you !!!