I have asked Sandy and Patty about tipping. I am so confused. I understand $10 minimum per day per person per guide. So, we have 2 guides for a family of 8 for 11 days. That is $440 per guide. What I am having a hard time with is for lodging. We have 4 rooms at a variety of lodges--Samburu Serena Lodge, Aberdare Country Club, Lake Naivasha Sopa Lodge, Fairview in Naiorobi and then finally a Siringet Mobile Camp in the Masa. When you say $5 per person per day for staff is that for the Masa Maira only or do you tip that high for the hotels. For example it would be $40 a night in tips for a hotel. Is that right? Or do you say we have four bedrooms and it's x amount per bedroom? I don't know why I find this so confusing but I do. We just want to do the right thing. Betty

Yes, on average $7-$10/person/day towards your guide/driver - for a couple/2 passengers = $15-$20/day.

For camp staff, figure $6-$10/day per couple/2 passengers. Whether you've visiting in the Mara, Samburu, Naivasha, etc. the camp staff figure should be the same.

If I recall, you have a few young children... then you can reduce the $ amount for them. But, only if guide/driver or camp staff don't have to undertake extra or unusual services to accommodate their needs.

The way I figure it, it comes to $880 for the guide/driver and about $440 for camp staff. Total $1,320 or divided by 8/pax = $165/person ($15/day which is avg)... not much in the scheme of things. In fact, a bargain.

Thank you very much, Sandy. When you figure the cost of this trip this is so little in the scheme of it. We want to be fair but don't want to ruin it for ourselves and others. Once we get there we will probably understand it beter. Betty

I tip the same at lodges or camps. There's usually a staff gratuity box and the tips are pooled and split amongst the staff.

For your hotel night in Nairobi, I'd tip individually for services i.e. bellman, housekeeping, restaurant staff if you dine there.

BTW those are just guidelines and you should feel free to tip whatever you think is appropriate based on your level of satisfaction with the services provided.

Are you driving everywhere and will have the same guide throughout?

Betty, at one or two camps in Tanzania there was no tip box, so the envelopes we brought with us for just this purpose actually came in handy. Good for tipping your guide, too.

Another thing to add to the ever-increasing packing list.

We will have the same guides for the entire trip. Richard and Fidel. We are so excited. We leave on the 5th of August and I started packing today so that I can figure out what we need to take and eliminate. We return on the 19th of August. Much too short of a trip. I think that is a good suggestion on the Fairview. We will do individual tipping there. Thanks. Betty

Leely,
Thanks for increasing my packing.. and I was 'nearly' done LOL!!

Imelda