Nikao

One of the last things to sort out before I leave in 10 days (yey!) is about tipping.
The last 2 times I went to Tanzania I head my own guide with me the whole trip and we simply tipped the tipping box of the camps.
But this time I will also be using the guides/drivers from the camps itself and I hear different stories about the tipping and what is included in the tipping box. Some say that money is distributed over all the people working in the camp, including drivers/guides. But others say (and I tend to believe this), that drivers/guides should be tipped separately.

So I'm curious how this normally goes, do you tip after each activity? or do you keep track and tip when you are leaving? bit confused here

qwovadis

For me 10-15% of cost of service

for excellent service divided between providers

and their attention and competence.. always do it separately.

Many abuses of the "kitty" touted on many tours

Frequently the folks who give the most get the least...

cary999

qwovadis your reply makes little sense

as typical

of your posts

insurance is rarely wise

sandi

with cary999, qwovadis is at it again... strange broken up statements... ugh!

If using camp/lodge guides or even if you have own guide throughout safari, they should be tipped directly. If the former, at conclusion of stay at camp/lodge; if the latter, at conclusion of the safari.

Only the camp/lodge staff tips are placed in the Tip Box at Reception to be distributed (porters, housekeeping, waiters, chefs, etc.) by management. Of course, if someone goes out of their way to be helpful, you can give them a separate tip.

How much is up to you, but I figure $10/day person for guide; $5/day person for staff. Always based on service received, you can give more or less.

loru100

We've always tipped the drivers/guides separately, although we usually have a private driver/guide. The tipping boxes we assumed were for cleaning staff, wait staff, cooks, etc.

We tip when we are leaving, not after each game drive.

Nikao

do you then keep track of who was driving you how many days etc? .. seems a bit complicated
especially with boat trips and walks available I guess the simplest way to go is to tip after the activity?

Nikao

btw qwovadis, I guess everyone is really pleased with you tipping over 50$ per day in a tented camp on safari??

cary999

"...50$ per day ..."
Indeed, per person, $100 per couple sharing.
But, hey, go for it!!!

regards - tom

sandi

Most safaris have a sole guide/driver for an entire safari.

If, on the otherhand, you're using camp/lodge guides, and with the possibility (though rare) you won't have the same one each day of your stay, which can happen if someone takes ill, has a day off or whatever, then yes... tip at the end of the day for the game drives.

If you have a boat safari, then sure if whomever is conducting, provide a tip... maybe $5 (or comparable in local currency).

It really shouldn't be confusing and certainly not complicated.

Guess we shouldn't be so hard on qwovadis, who is a big tipper. Unless he/she was thinking 10-15% on a restaurant tab! Ok for Africa, but certainly not in the US, where it's more like 20%... so maybe he's cheap!

Just wish we'd get full sentences than abstract statements!

cary999

"Just wish we'd get full sentences than abstract statements!"
Me also, but not likely. They need to "express" themselves. Rather they just go away. Lot of it is nonsense or spam to begin with.

I participate in a couple of auto/car forums and it's funny that for a troop of "grease monkeys" you'd think any old mutterings would be accepted. But if someone comes on like qwovadis, or with iPhone text slang/punctuation, they get severely jumped upon!!!

regards - tom

christabir

$20 guide/$10 tracker/$5 staff pp pn, generally. I have tipped more for great service and when we have been lucky to have our guide to ourselves. I also take note cards and at the end of our stay give our guide and tracker tips with a personal note. A personal note to staff, too, either in tip box or with manager.

We had a guide change once. We left the tip for our first guide with the manager with a note. When we "forgot" to tip a mekoro poler, we left the tip with our guide at the end. It occasionally happens.

Have fun!!

cary999

CB's practice is generous, on a per person/guest basis, I feel. I'm usually a under that in a typical safari camp. Depends, when was in TZ and only two of us per vehicle with private guide, it was double that for the guide.

regards - tom

sdb2

Nikao, at Manze I had a number of different drivers/trackers and it wasn't always clear who it would be the next day (so I couldn't really tip at the end of the day)---this was different than all other places I'd been where I'd had the same drivers/trackers for the duration. On leaving I figured a total amount of tips for the drivers/guides using similar guidelines as mentioned by christabir and asked the camp manger to split it among them in an appropriate fashion. For a driver/guide team I had more than once I personally handed them an extra tip. There was also a box for staff that I used.

At Impala, the camp policy was a tipping box that would be split among all staff. I figured a total tip (again using the usual guideline) for all who helped me and put that in the box. I was very happy with my driver (no tracker) and gave him extra directly.

KathBC

You may want to ask the front desk at each camp what their process is.

Also thought you tipped the driver/guide separately and then the rest in the camp tip box. Not always the case.

Some camps advised tipping driver/guide, waiter & room steward directly and then the remaining "behind the scenes" staff divided up the tip box.

cary999

FWIW, in TZ I followed our group (6 of us) practice of tipping the room maid every day, $2 pp, and our camp restaurant waiter (had same table every day) at the end of our stay at $4 pp per meal. And then I left some in camp tip box. Of course my guide tip was separate at end of safari.

regards - tom

sangeeta

So here's another question about tipping. What would you all recommend for a family? In my case, a family of 3. So far, we've always done the per person thing of $10 for guide, $5 for tracker if any, and $5 for staff. That adds up to $60 per day, + the little extra that one always adds at the end for a job well done. By the time you're done with a 14 day trip, that's good sum of money. Do other family travelers do the same?

cary999

I hope so, seems only fair to me.

regards - tom

christabir

tom and I differ on this issue every time. Do what you feel is best for you. I know people who tip more and who tip less. We met some who didn't know to tip at all. It adds up, but not a huge percentage of the entire trip. I plan for it so it's in the budget.

Nikao

thx for all the comments! I guess I'll just discuss with the camp manager when I get there and work something out. Just want to avoid to dissapoint people

As for sangeeta's question; as I understood it, it is generally 'agreed' / normal to only account for the adults. (which I think is a bit strange.. but thats what i'm told left and right)

and about tips beeing a good sum of money; I guess a lot of people make the mistake to see this as 'extra' money they are spending (a bit like the drinks along the way), while it is really a part of your total travel costs

sangeeta

Yes, I agree it is a part of the total travel cost and it isn't something I begrudge at all - quite the contrary, in fact. Always come away wishing I could have done more. Just that on other types of holidays, even other "all inclusive" type holidays, one rarely pays a grand just in tips, and I was curious how other families, especially those with children, handled it.

But it sounds like this arrangement is the norm, so it is what it is