Tipping on an African safari is a common practice, though never mandatory. No one will force you to pay extra, but it’s a deeply ingrained custom in the safari industry. I always encourage travelers to tip those who provide an exceptional and unforgettable safari experience. It’s a powerful way to show your appreciation, support local communities, and leave a positive impression. Knowing you’ve acknowledged their hard work often enhances your own enjoyment of the trip.

The amount you tip should reflect the quality of service you receive. Feel free to give a higher tip for truly exceptional assistance and a lower one for mediocre service where staff are just going through the motions.

It’s worth understanding the broader context of tipping in Africa. Many safari staff travel long distances to work, incurring significant expenses, or even live semi-permanently on premises, spending extended periods away from their families. Most also support extended families, meaning their regular wages often stretch thin. Tipping provides a crucial additional income that significantly helps these dedicated individuals.

Safari guides, trackers, and camp staff typically work incredibly long hours. They’re up before dawn to prepare for early morning activities and meals, and they often stay up long after the last guest has retired. They handle countless “unseen” tasks that ensure a smooth operation, and many go above and beyond to make your safari truly special.

This is a really insightful point, and you’re right—it’s not a clear-cut issue for many travelers. When I’m asked about this, I always want to understand the individual’s perspective first, as that often shapes their approach to tipping.

It’s interesting to see how different cultural backgrounds influence tipping. Travelers from the United States often come from a culture where tipping is standard practice. On the other hand, those from Europe, Australia, or Asia might not be as accustomed to it, leading to uncertainty about how to approach tipping on safari.

Some people suggest doing away with tipping entirely and simply adding the amount to the final trip bill. While this is a commendable idea in theory, it’s incredibly difficult to implement in practice because a safari has so many different components and service providers. Plus, would truly exceptional staff at one lodge be penalized by having their tips averaged out with less-than-stellar service at another?

Another common concern is the belief that staff wages should be sufficient to cover living expenses, and lodge owners should simply pay more. Again, this is a noble idea, but the reality of safari operating costs is complex. Your safari payment covers far more than just wages—it includes concession fees, fuel, insurance, security, maintenance, food, beverages, Wi-Fi, entertainment, and a myriad of other expenses. Significantly increasing wages would inevitably lead to a higher cost for your safari, as other critical expenses, like conservation fees or pumping borehole water, are already fixed. Many lodges are already working hard to cut costs where possible, by using solar power or starting their own kitchen gardens, all while striving to pay their workers as much as they can.

It’s also important to remember that a major expense for lodge owners is housing, feeding, clothing, and medically caring for staff who often live on the property for weeks or months at a time. These dedicated individuals can’t simply catch a bus or train home after their shift, nor can they easily work a second job.

You might think, “Of course, staff will want tips! Who wouldn’t want ‘free money’ on top of their salaries?” However, it’s not quite that simple. A tip is far more than just a “thank you” for making your bed or showing you a lion. It’s also a significant recognition of the following:

Time Away from Loved Ones: Safari staff often spend weeks at a time away from their children, families, and friends because getting in and out of remote bush camps is challenging. A tip helps compensate for not being able to return to a spouse or child after a long day’s work.

 

Travel Expenses: Many staff live in distant rural areas or cities that are both difficult and expensive to reach. Your gratuity, especially in foreign currency like US Dollars, goes a long way in helping them cover these travel costs and reunite with their families.

Supporting Extended Families: Most employed individuals in Africa carry the bittersweet burden of supporting extended family members who are unemployed or in school. This support network is crucial for raising children and preventing unemployment from leading to negative outcomes. A good tip has wide-ranging and positive ramifications, as the vast majority of workers use their earnings for essentials like school fees, doctor’s visits, and groceries, rather than frivolous luxuries. Many do not have access to social security or comprehensive medical aid like workers in other parts of the world.

 

Demanding Work Hours: Safari staff work incredibly long hours. They’re often up long before your 5 AM wake-up call to prepare your hot tea or coffee and stay up well after your last nightcap to put out campfires, patrol perimeters, prep game-drive vehicles, and manage countless other chores that ensure a seamless operation in the wilderness.

Exceptional Personal Touches: Tips acknowledge the extra effort staff make—like remembering your name, mixing your favorite drink without being asked, or tracking down that specific bird you’ve always dreamed of seeing. Our clients consistently highlight how incredible African safari staff are, precisely because of all these thoughtful “little things” they do with genuine friendliness and grace.

Safari staff are truly the unsung heroes of your adventure, directly responsible for your safety, comfort, health, and nutrition. They often work under challenging circumstances that remain entirely unseen by guests. While you’re relaxing with drinks in the boma, kitchen staff might be fending off marauding vervet monkeys. Or, as you enjoy a peaceful boat cruise, they could be dealing with pipes broken by elephants searching for water. The behind-the-scenes efforts that go into running a lodge are incredible, and a safari tip is a powerful way to acknowledge this extra, often unseen, work.

Some guests might feel that “a safari is expensive enough” and view tips as an unnecessary added expense. However, consider this from the perspective of a staff member who returns to a village without running water or electricity. It can be puzzling for them to see visitors with expensive cameras, binoculars, watches, and jewelry—items often worth several years of their salary—hesitating to pay a relatively small amount in tips. The unspoken thought, whether right or wrong, might be: “If a guest can afford a $10,000 safari, surely they can afford to tip $100.”

So, what’s the best currency for tipping on your African safari? Good news—foreign currency is definitely okay!

The best and most widely accepted currency for tipping is the US Dollar (USD). You’ll find USD commonly listed and accepted throughout tourist areas in Africa.

After US Dollars, Euros (€) and British Pounds (£) are also excellent choices. Staff in the tourism industry are accustomed to exchanging these currencies and will happily accept and appreciate them. Of course, you can also tip using the local currency of the country you’re visiting.

Important Tip Regarding Foreign Currency: If you’re using foreign currency, make sure the bills are relatively new and crisp. Some places, particularly with US Dollars, may not accept bills printed before 2016. It’s generally requested that bills be printed within the last 10 years because older, worn-out bills can be difficult to exchange at banks and currency exchange offices. I recommend bringing the crispest, freshest bills you can get.

When it comes to tipping on safari, a general rule of thumb is that gratuities are typically given to staff who haven’t necessarily undergone extensive formal education for their roles. However, there are exceptions, such as spa therapists or specialized guides, who often hold formal qualifications.

You typically would NOT tip the following individuals on safari:

> Lodge or Camp Managers

> Pilots

> Cabin Crew (on small charter flights)

> Airport Desk Staff

> Sales Assistants in Safari Shops

> Medical or Evacuation Crews

> Lodge or Tour Owners

You WOULD typically tip the following individuals on safari:

Safari Guide: Especially in East Africa, this is often the same person who will guide and drive you throughout your entire trip.

Back-of-House Staff: This includes the crucial team working behind the scenes, such as cleaners, cooks, gardeners, maintenance workers, guards, and anti-poaching units.

Front-of-House Staff: These are the individuals you interact with more directly, like camp/lodge guides, spotters or trackers, waiters and waitresses, spa therapists, and transfer drivers.

In many ways, your safari guide is an integral part of your entire safari experience. In most East African safaris, you’ll have the same guide for your entire trip. They’ll pick you up from the airport, take you on all your adventures, and drop you off for your flight home.

Your guide is not just your driver; they’re also your personal educator. They’ll show you incredible wildlife, sharing insightful details and stories about animal behavior, local cultures, and everything about the destination you’re exploring. They are truly valuable assets to your safari.

Given the valuable time you’ll spend together, it’s highly encouraged to leave a token of appreciation for your guide when you say goodbye at the end of your trip. Handing over cash, based on the number of days you spent with them, is a highly encouraged practice.

You’re talking about the many individuals who make your safari experience seamless, like hotel servers, porters, housekeepers, and chefs. When you check into a safari lodge or camp, a whole team works to serve you. This includes staff who carry your bags to your room, chefs who cook your meals, servers who attend to you during dining, bartenders, housekeepers, and even personal butlers if you’re on a luxury safari.

With so many people involved, you might feel a bit overwhelmed and think you need to tip every individual separately. Don’t worry, that’s usually not necessary. Nine out of ten times, you’ll find a staff tipping box at the reception. You can simply place some cash in this box at the end of your stay. This “tip pool” benefits everyone, which is great because many staff members, like kitchen staff and security guards, work behind the scenes without direct interaction with guests.

If you prefer to keep things simple, you are absolutely welcome to leave one tip in this staff tipping box at the end of your stay. However, some guests might wish to give a bonus directly to specific individuals they interact with often, such as the porter who carries their luggage or a butler who serves them frequently. This is entirely non-obligatory; no one will be upset if they don’t receive an individual tip from you.

If you feel pressured to hand over cash directly, say to the porter who carries your luggage, you can discreetly give them a few small bills (e.g., $1, $2, or $5) if you wish. Alternatively, once they’ve completed their task, you can look at them and say, “I appreciate your help, and I’m going to leave something in the tipping box at the end of my stay,” or “I’ll be sure to leave something extra for you at the reception.” In my experience, they will be 100% happy with this and will gladly thank you.

As an extra tip, if you’d like to leave something additional for specific staff members with whom you’ve built a connection, you can leave some extra bills in your room when you check out for the housekeeper. For your butler or server, you can leave something on the dining table at the end of your last meal. It’s a simple, sweet gesture, especially since you often develop a friendly rapport with them during your stay.

If you’re planning a chimpanzee or gorilla trekking expedition in Uganda or Rwanda, it’s helpful to understand the key individuals who will make your experience safe and smooth. Being prepared with this knowledge will ensure you can appropriately show your appreciation.

During these excursions, your group will typically be accompanied by:

• One main guide: This person will lead your group and take primary care of you throughout the trek.
• Two security personnel: They’ll “sandwich” the group for safety, with one leading and one trailing, keeping you secure in the middle.
• A group of trackers: These dedicated individuals start their day incredibly early, heading out before you to locate the gorilla family or chimpanzee troop you hope to see. Once they find the wildlife, they communicate its exact location to your guide, who then leads you there.

The last person who might join your entourage is a porter. It’s very common to hire a porter for these experiences to carry your belongings. While optional, it’s highly recommended. Porters are readily available at the entry gates daily, waiting to be hired. Hiring one is a fantastic way to support local people seeking work. The minimum price to hire a porter is $20 USD.

As you can see, many individuals contribute to making your trekking experience smooth and safe: your guide, trackers, security personnel, and potentially a porter.

I recommend bringing cash that can be handed directly to each member of the group. Here’s a suggested guideline per traveler:

• Trackers: USD 20 (they will split this among themselves).
• Guide and Security Personnel: USD 20 (they will share this amount).
• Porter: Bring something extra for your porter on top of their $20 USD minimum wage. This extra amount is a gesture of appreciation for their direct service.

Being prepared with these tips will ensure you can acknowledge the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in your unforgettable trekking adventure.

If you decide to include cultural experiences in your safari itinerary—which I highly recommend—it’s wise to have cash on hand for these visits.

For example, if you visit a Maasai village outside Ngorongoro or Serengeti, it’s common that at the end of a tour, presentation, or performance, they’ll put out a tipping box or offer handcrafted items for sale. It’s always advisable to have cash ready for these scenarios in case you wish to buy something. Even if you choose not to purchase goods (which is one way to support them), it’s good karma to leave a small donation for the people who have hosted and entertained you.

Similarly, on most African safaris, you might enjoy various cultural performances at your lodge during dinner. Many community groups, like the students I saw performing at a lodge in Rwanda, will set out tipping boxes after their vibrant shows. They mentioned they were raising money for university supplies, and I was happy to contribute some bills to their basket. These small gestures go a long way in supporting local communities and their initiatives.

When on safari in East Africa (like Tanzania, where you are now, or Kenya), here’s a general tipping guideline in USD:

• Transfer Driver: $5 per person. Consider giving more if they provide extensive help with your luggage.
• Safari Lodge/Camp General Staff: $20 per person, per day. This can often be left in a communal tip box at reception.
• Safari Guide: $20 per person, per day.
• Trackers: $15 per person, per day.
• Butler: $15 per person, per day.

When you’re exploring cities in Africa, here are some common tipping practices:

• Guided Tour: $20 per day. If you have the same guide for a multi-day tour, you can give the total amount at the end of the tour.
• Transfer Driver: $5 per person. Again, an increase is appropriate for extra luggage assistance.
• Restaurant Waiter: 10–15% of the total bill. This is usually not automatically added, so remember to include it when paying. For larger groups, always double-check if gratuities have already been included in the bill.
• Hotel Porter: $5 per service provider.

Tipping in South Africa and Namibia often uses the local currency, South African Rand (ZAR):

• Safari Guide: R400
• Tracker: R300
• Butler: R300
• General Staff (Lodge/Camp): R400. There’s typically a communal box for this, which benefits behind-the-scenes staff like chefs, kitchen staff, and ground maintenance.
• Day Tour Guide: R350. For multi-day tours with the same guide, calculate per day and give the total at the end of the tour.
• Restaurant Waiter: 10–15% of the overall bill. Confirm it’s not already added, especially for larger groups.
• Petrol Attendant: R5 per refill. These attendants will fill your tank and often clean your windows too.

Beyond the general safari tips, specific regions and activities across Africa have their own unique customs:

Mauritius

• Restaurants: Tipping is optional, especially if a service charge or sales tax is already included in your bill. If unsure, you can discreetly ask the manager.
• Porters & Hotel Workers: Tipping is expected.
• Taxi Drivers: Tipping is generally not expected.
• Boat Skippers & PADI Staff: It’s customary to tip boat skippers (who share with their crew) and PADI staff, usually via a communal tip box.
• Golf Caddies: Tipping is the norm.

Mozambique

• Boat Skippers & PADI Staff: Similar to Mauritius, it’s customary to tip boat skippers (who share with their crew) and PADI staff, often through a communal tip box.

South Africa

• Golf Caddies: Tipping them is customary.
• Car Guards & Petrol Station Attendants: For self-drivers, it’s customary to tip “car guards” (who watch your parked vehicle) and petrol station attendants a small, nominal amount. Note: It’s illegal for anyone other than trained staff to pump fuel in South Africa.
• Rovos Rail Staff: Staff on the Rovos Rail luxury train will expect to be tipped.

Seychelles

• PADI Staff, Boat Skippers & Golf Caddies: It is customary to include these individuals when tipping in Seychelles.

Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania)

• Climbing Team: It is customary to tip your guides, cooks, waiters, porters, and tent crew who ensure a successful summit. You can find more detailed information on specific Kilimanjaro tipping policies [here]
• Gear Donation: A lovely gesture is to hand over spare (clean) items like socks, scarves, gloves, boots, headlamps, and batteries to the team who assisted you. These “expensive extras” are greatly appreciated as they make their challenging jobs a little more comfortable.

Zanzibar (Tanzania)

• PADI Staff, Boat Skippers & Transfer Drivers: It is customary to include these individuals when tipping in Zanzibar.

Tanzania & Kenya

• Maasai Dancers: It’s customary to tip groups of Maasai dancers who perform at your lodge.

Rwanda & Uganda

• Gorilla Trekking Staff: When on a gorilla trekking safari, it is customary to include your guides, trackers, security personnel (rangers), and porters in your tipping.

Planning your tipping budget for an African safari can seem a bit daunting, but with these simple tips, you’ll be well-prepared and stress-free.

1. Examine Your Itinerary

Go through your itinerary and note down every instance where you might be expected to tip. This could include your transfer driver from the airport, the hotel porter, or the waiter at dinner. Decide how much you’re comfortable or able to give in each scenario. If you’re ever unsure, don’t hesitate to ask your Africa safari expert for advice.

2. Organize Your Tips with Envelopes

A great way to keep track of your cash is to divide your tips into separate envelopes. You can label these per day or per accommodation. This makes handing out tips much smoother and helps you manage your budget effectively.

3. Carry Small Denominations

Always try to get smaller bills, like USD $5, $10, and $20. These are much easier to hand over, and you’ll find that many places won’t be able to break larger $50 or $100 notes. In some countries, like Zambia, you’re legally required to receive change in local currency, which can leave you with currency you can’t use elsewhere.

4. Bring Cash with You

While South Africa is an exception where you can reliably withdraw money from ATMs, making tipping quite easy there, for most other safari destinations in Africa, it’s best to bring plenty of cash with you. ATMs can be scarce or unreliable in more remote areas.

5. Keep Your Cash Secure

Safety first! Always use the in-room safe provided at your accommodation. If there isn’t one available, ask the lodge manager to store your valuables, like money and passports, in the lodge’s safe or strong room.

6. Opt for US Dollars

The US Dollar (USD) is the most widely accepted currency across much of Africa, especially in places like Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. Sticking to one currency makes it significantly easier, particularly if you’re crossing borders or embarking on a multi-destination safari, avoiding the hassle of dealing with different currencies like Botswana Pula or Kenyan Shillings for tipping.