On safari, is it better to tip with money (I know always appreciated)or are there alternatives (packable) that would suffice or be of more interest? If money is the better, then how about US dollar coins?

Thank you for any opinions!

No coins. While US bills are accepted and changed by the banks, coins are not. Coins are a problem, a curiousity...not a tip. If you want to tip someone less than a dollar, change your dollars into local currency on arrival and tip with those.

Cash is king. Cash is necessary and what these people live on...so anything else that you give as a gift is over and on top of the appropriate cash tip. Once you have given an appropriate cash tip, something that you don't want or need to carry home (a baseball cap with your hometown team, extra film, leftover mosquito repellant, pens, shoes, flipflops, extra journal notebooks are appreciated. It's not that these things are worth very much, it's just that for people who are poor everything counts.

But many of the things that you would bring are actually cheaper there anyway...so just tip in cash.

Thank you this makes excellent sense!

What is the appropriate amount to tip?

Thanks!

Where is the best place to change money? Bank, airport? or hotel?????? First time safari!!!!!! Thanks.garthc

One other thing that might be useful for you to know...

Not only would coins not be acceptable, but actually some places in Tanzania are quite particular rules about foreign bills too. Of course, this won't be the case when tipping, but you may find in locals hotels, shops, etc. (and even some foreign currency exchanges!) that alot of places won't accept "old" American bills, but instead only the "newer" ones (I believe there's a difference in the size of the head on the bills etc.) Maybe someone else knows more about this? It's just definitely something to be aware of, when exchanging your money at the bank before your trip...

And I definitely agree with all of tashak's comments... extra gifts are nice and very appreciated, but only on top of a cash tip.

Garth when we were in Tanz in Feb we cahnged some money at JRO airport and that turned out to be the best rate I saw for the rest of the trip.
J

garthc,
If you're staying or stopping at the Impala, you can also change $ there if you need to/want to.

Please let us know how your trip went when you return!

If you are going to Kenya, there are ATMs everywhere in Nairobi and other larger cities and towns as well. That will give you a pretty good exchange rate. Don't know about ATM availability in Tanzania.