PLEASE TIP!
 

I have just returned from 12 days in SA, 8 days in private reserve lodges. My trip report will follow this plea. On the last day from our last reserve we gave our cash tips to both our tracker and ranger. As our tracker was driving us to the airport he thanked us profusely. Apparently we were the only guests out of 8 others who tipped the trackers/rangers. These guys gave customer service new definition. In fact, on the last night a young (non-tipping) couple mentioned they would like champagne. Our tracker went out of his way to set up a romantic dinner with champagne, etc. If you were to see where the staff live, as many of you have, you would see why these tips are so needed. Not sure whether it is ignorance or frugality on part of guests, but whichever, non-tipping shouldn't occur. Tips should be part of your travel budget, as is food.
Interestingly, we were also told that guests are divided among the rangers/trackers by their last names. Americans are divided equally, since we are seen as tippers, and, therefore, the wealth is shared among the group.

I have been to reserves many times and the people I met on my most recent trip all knew that. Almost 80% of the people that I became friends with asked me about tipping and I gave them my recommendations. I think many of them were more generous than me. I certainly hope the non-tippers are the minority of the travelers.

Excellent reminder.

Could the other people have added the tips to their bill and labeled it ranger, tracker, etc tip? If not, shame on them.

Handing an envelope personally to the ranger/guide/tracker is better, I agree.

Appalling behavior by the non-tippers.

Cultural and Nationality issues aside, I think it is sad, how many safari goers refuse to tip. Some claim it is not done in their home countries, others claim it should not be necessary considering the cost of the safari, and still others claim (WayuU) that they are doing enough good for mankind and the environment and so need not tip. All rediculous excuses. These people work hard and received little compensation from the camp owners. If you have a gripe with your expenses, take it up with the tour operator or the camp owners, don't take it out on the guides and staff. Even if tipping isn't common in your own countries, look around in Africa and ask yourselves whether the few bucks you leave behind will really be missed. We Americans are not without our flaws, but I like to think that a lack of generosity is not one of them. If economy is essential, then cut one day off your safari. Thanks Elaine for bringing this topic to the top again.
Regards-Chuck

Elaine, just wondering, were they Americans?

Thanks for posting this Elaine. I never imagined anyone would spend so much money on a safari and be so cheap as to not tip. As a percentage of the trip, the cost of tipping is insignificant. I can only attribute this to people being cheap, because certainly everywhere I've gone I've been informed that tipping is customary. Moreover, many operators even suggest an amount to tip. So, people must know. Shame on anyone who in any way manages to rationalize that they should not have to tip. Would you go to a restaurant and complain that because your meal was expensive that the waiter did not deserve a tip? I hope not.

The subject of tipping brings up a few questions for me. When do you tip considerably more than the amount recommended? Certainly for above average service, and perhaps alot more for exceptional service. For example my guide at Duma Tau took us boating during siesta time and took us out on a game drive at 9:30 one night in search of aardvark. We were the first ones out each day and the last ones back. I don't know when he slept. That definitely deserved much more than the customary tip. But do you also tip the staff more if you travel alone, because part of that goes to housekeeping, and they still have to clean a tent just for me? Or if you only have a few people in a vehicle? Or, if there are only a few guests in camp such that each staff member would end up with only a pittance of a tip? And how much is too much? Is there a point at which we set unrealistic expectations? I hope the answer to this question is no, because even if one tips twice the recommended amount(s), it's still probably only around 5% of the trip cost. Lastly, do you tip your guide at the end of each day or the end of your stay? I have always tipped at the end of my stay, but on this last trip I saw others tip at the end of each day. If you're a good tipper could that influence the guide in taking your desires into account more strenuously than other guests in the vehicle?

I'm with SafariChuck on this one. It is irrelevant if tipping is not customary in your country. You are not on safari in your own country. You are in Africa, in a camp, where tipping is not only customary, but is meant to be a substantial portion of wages. In my opinion, TIPPING IS NOT OPTIONAL!

I agree that you should plan your tipping in advance and budget for it. I admit, once I got there and was trying to figure out how much I should leave, I couldn't decide. If $10-15 per day was average, do you count as a full day, when he picked me up and then did a half a day on the drive? So I left feeling like I probably over tipped, but oh well.

After working in the service industry (waiting tables and in a ski resort) I am appalled at the number of people who don't tip and are proud of it. If the service is lousy and the server/guide is rude or outwardly hostile, then I won't tip. But you have to push me to go that far.

I was in Salzburg and met a couple during a day tour that were on a 6 month holiday around Europe. Over coffee they stated to me that their tip was "Be good to your mother." Ha ha ha. I thought it was a cute little joke and then later realized that WAS what they did. The day tour was over, we were settling up the bill and the woman said "Well, here's your tip. Be good to your mother." I felt horrible for this guy, and proceeded to fork over more than what was necessary.

Then after going to Africa this summer and being amazed at how knowledgable the guides were at what they did, and how adept at making a whole car load of strangers with different interests feel like they got the safari of their life , I can't imagine not leaving something. Especially when it is mentioned in almost every resource about African safaris available. Although recommended amounts differ, it is talked about in guide books and online. So even if tipping isn't done in their country of residence, most are at least be aware of the practice on safari. So not leaving something is a shame.

Just my 2cents or 15%.

Also when you pay for a private vehicle and request a specific guide you should really tip very generously, because you have potentially reduced the guide's earning potential, by depriving him of other guests.

Yup! agree with Napamatt .....

Elaine: I'm surprised that this is the reaction you learned from guides/trackers as most travellers get the required tipping guidelines from their TA prior to the trip!

Rgds,
Hari

I went on an organized night game drive in Kruger and didn't tip-the one and only time I haven't tipped. The vehicle held 22, the guide was inept, children held the spotlight and every time they shone the light in an impalas eyes they would yell "STOP" and the guide would stop and back up and say "Impala" I don't think we made it 1/2 a mile from camp before it was time to return from our 2 hour drive. Very poorly run drive and didn't feel it was worth the money and a tip. We went on other drives at different camps in Kruger and they were done quite differently and we tipped well.
If you get shi**y service, why should you tip?

I can't believe that anyone is not aware of the tipping policies. I think they rationalize away tipping to justify their cheapness. I also am aware that many cultures feel that Americans overtip and that we are foolish to do so.
If we find the service is poor and we choose not to tip, we need to let the sevice person know that the lack of tip is due to the poor service. Otherwise, they just think they were "stiffed" and there is no lesson learned

Dennis - you should not, I agree. Only once have I ever not tipped a guide and tracker, and having made my feelings clear on a couple of issues, I hope it wasn't too big a surprise. The guide in question gets some recommendations on this board, so maybe he learnt something, or we were simply unlucky and he was having a bad week.

I agree, and I always tip.

But, I do find the whole concept of tipping offensive. Why should it be the responsibility of the guest, and not the employer, to pay a living wage to the employee.

I have always believed that tipping was merely a way for a restaurant/lodge/etc. to hide fees and advertise a lower price. I would much prefer if the lodge raised its rates by, for example, $50 per night and then passed it along to the employees. The same goes for restaurants -- they should raise their prices by 20% and pass it along to the waitstaff. I don't tip when I visit my doctor, accountant, financial advisor, etc.

I was on a trip that advertised all gratuities were included in the price and felt relief I wouldn't have to struggle with that whole business of how much to give to who, should it be left in one envelope, or distributed individually, and so on. But...when we were getting ready to leave our first camp, the tour leader announced at breakfast that he was gathering tips for the camp staff. When I piped up that tips were included and we had already paid for them, he said that he thought they deserved more. As everything had been very ordinary, nothing above and beyond, I disagreed with him and told him I wasn't going to make him look the hero-big-tipper. The rest of the group did pay up and I ended up feeling like a turd; however, he didn't ask again when we were departing the rest of the camps.

Having been a waiter/bartender way back in my college years and a couple years afterwards, if you give good service, there's nothing wrong with the customer showing their appreciation with a tip.

And I wouldn't tip either, if the wait staff or guides and/or trackers earned as much per hour or yearly as a doctor, accountant, financial adviser, or lawyer. ;)

Meant to add that in some countries, gratuities are included in the bill, but then servers can give crappy service and still get tips. I'd rather it be at my discretion.

Michael, I agree. In Japan, that's what it's like and it's pleasant to get nice service and know that it isn't because they hope to get a big tip. However, since it is the way it is, we tip, and generously if service was good. Also, the idea that the manager might pass along the tips does not always work. I have heard stories (and will not elaborate) where the staff did not get the tips passed along by guests if they were handed to management.

"But do you also tip the staff more if you travel alone, because part of that goes to housekeeping, and they still have to clean a tent just for me?"


This was written above....we left tips for housekeeping in additon to the guides, but then we were in Botswana and Zimbabawe and maybe that is different from South Africa.
Yes, we questioned guides and they were so professional, but obviously Americans do tip a lot more frequently (and I am English) and many people 'stiff' the guides. I agree, they should be paid a decent wage, but if you talk to the staff at the camps they desperately need the tips and even if they don't say so overtly, you can read between the lines.
It is similar to a cruise ship..if you don't want to pay the tips don't go on the cruise. It is a part of the expectation whether we like it or not!!!! And, I do agree that we pay so much money at these camps that the staff should be paid a decent salary. It is appalling that we should be expected as guests to ensure that their families survive!!

I agree with you too, Michael. I happily tip in Africa but do not agree with tipping in prosperous developed countries-- including my own-- where there's no excuse for low wage levels. So I try to avoid going to those countries or those parts of my own country where tipping has gained a foothold.

Incidentally, I wonder if those safari operators who are doubling their camp rates are also paying a significant increase to their staff?

John

John, good point!