Tipping on East African Safaris
Tipping etiquette when you’re on safari can sometimes be tricky to navigate. Here is a basic guide to safari tipping, to help you avoid any awkward moments.
Safari tipping: Why should you tip?
Tipping in East Africa when on safari is considered customary, but not mandatory. It’s a way of showing your appreciation for the people who work to make your safari experience an unforgettable one.
In East Africa, many safari staff have to travel long distances to work, which is expensive. Some staff stay on the premises semi-permanently, which means spending long periods away from their families and homes. Most staff are supporting their extended families and don’t keep all the money they earn. Tipping helps the workers to earn a bit extra on top of their usual wages.
Safari guides and camp staff typically work long hours, getting up before dawn to organise early-morning tours and meals, and staying up long after the last guest has gone to bed. They take care of all the “unseen” chores that go into running a smooth operation – and many of them make an extra effort to ensure that their guests enjoy a special experience.
While we pay a fair wage, tipping allows our staff to put aside extra money and live more comfortably while supporting their families. Our staff go the extra mile to earn gratuities, and every contribution is greatly appreciated.
Who should you tip on safari?
The real success of your safari lies in the quality of the guiding and the level of service you experience at the camp. While you’ll get to know your guide quite well during your stay, there are also plenty of behind-the-scenes staff that you may not ever see, but who are working hard to make your stay a pleasant one – like chefs, housekeepers, and askaris.
It’s customary to tip your safari guide, as well as the core camp staff who look after you during your trip. There is usually a tip box somewhere in the camp, which is shared between all the staff, while your guide should be tipped directly.
How much to tip? Safari guide and staff
As a guideline, we suggest tipping the following amounts:
- Your safari guide: between US$5 and US$15 per group per day (depending on group size).
- Camp staff: between US$5 and US$10 per traveller per day.
It’s also customary to tip the drivers who transport you safely to and from camp, especially on longer road transfers like from Nairobi to Ol Pejeta Bush Camp. Generally, you should aim to tip around $2-$5 per transfer, depending on the length of your journey.
If you’re dining out away from your lodge, you should tip your waiter or waitress at least 10% of your total bill, assuming everything was satisfactory.
It’s also appreciated when travellers tip the people offering them extra experiences and entertainment. For example, it’s usual to tip the following people, depending on your destination:
- Kenya and Tanzania: The traditional Maasai dancers who may perform at your lodge.
- Zanzibar: PADI staff, boat skippers and transfer drivers.
- Rwanda and Uganda: Guides, trackers, security staff (rangers) and porters.
How to tip discreetly
Tipping is usually done on departure from your camp. There are a few different ways you can leave a tip:
- Place the cash in a communal tip box
- Give the money to the lodge manager to distribute to the staff
- Give the money directly to the individual staff
- Leave the money in your room, in a labelled envelope (it’s best to inform the manager of this to ensure it is shared)
- Add the extra money to your debit or credit card bill.
At Asilia Africa lodges, you can tip your guide in person, and we’ve made it easy to tip your camp staff collectively, using the secure tip box found in the public area of most of our camps.
If you’re unsure about who to tip or where to place the money, please speak to one of our lodge managers.
What currency to use when tipping?
Tips can be made in Tanzanian Shillings, Kenyan Shillings, US Dollars, Euros or Pound Sterling.
Please note that gratuities are completely at your discretion and are much appreciated by our staff for service that went above and beyond your expectations.
Now is a great time to take a safari holiday with Asilia – book any Asilia property for 7+ consecutive nights and get all your inter-camp travel free! Or take a look at our Signature Small Group Safari Tour to enjoy more time in the bush for less.
