A Trekkers Guide to Tipping on an African Safari

A Trekkers guide to Tipping on an African Safari

This blog about a Trekkers guide to Tipping on an African Safari is very helpful especially to travelers who are going to East Africa for the very first time. Tipping in Africa is always considered as a contribution towards the guides who often assist travelers while on a safari holiday. Though the practice is voluntary, the substantial amount toward given to these guides is geared towards ensuring that those working in the service industry earn a living wage. It should, of course, be done on merit, for good service, and nobody should feel obliged at any point to hand out wads of cash for poor service.

In Uganda and Rwanda, tipping your porter, guide/driver at the end of your gorilla trekking safari depends on how you have been impressed and how much money you have of course. Other areas were tipping considerations should be very much considered is transportation and restaurants, where practices are quite different.

The first and most important a Trekkers guide to Tipping on an African Safari encourages that tipping is entirely your decision and you should never feel obliged to tip, anyone. Be aware though that your tip can make a big difference to the staff at lodges, and it is always truly appreciated.  Below we give you a Trekkers guide to Tipping on an African Safari, the tipping advises to help you plan and spend your budget well.

How much money can I give for a tip?

Tipping in Uganda and Rwanda is often done in small denominations. This means that often, especially if you’re only in a country for a short period, you may not have local currency. We advise changing a small amount – using this guide you can calculate about how much you’ll need for tipping during your stay in each country – of money into the local currency, and asking for it small denominations.

Who should I give a tip?

At local restaurants, most servers will be happy with a 10% tip added to your bill payment. However, if you liked the waiter and plan on going returning to that establishment again, go ahead and tip as you would in your own country. This will increase the odds of you having similar or even better service when you dine at the establishment again. Porters and guides/driver also expect tipping from you because they spend most of their time with you on the trip. On the other hand, taxis, taxi-vans, and boda-bodas generally don’t expect tips, since they offer a public service.