tip for safari driver

Wondering how much to tip on safari? Our Complete Guide

If your bags are packed and you’re ready to go, you might be starting to think about all the final details for planning your epic African adventure. Many of our clients ask us how much to tip on safari and we’d say the best way to prepare is to know before you go. Our complete guide to tipping on safari in Africa is designed to help you know what to expect. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s put the final touches on your trip to Africa!

Cash or Credit Card?

One consideration you might not have thought about yet is whether to travel with cash or do your tipping on your credit card. As is always the case the world over, cash reigns supreme. You’ll need to tip in cash for city drivers and trekking teams, however you can opt to place your tips on credit card at the safari bush lodges. To do this, speak to the lodge manager on your last day in camp. They will take you to the office to charge your card and break down the totals you want directed to each staff member or group of staff.

How much to tip?

City restaurants: 10% of the bill at restaurants

Tours/Drivers: $20 per couple per day

Ranger/Guide : $20 per couple per day

Butler : $15 per couple per day

Camp Staff : $15 per couple per day

What currency to tip in on safari?

For most countries, tipping in USD is expected and appreciated. This is true for Kenya, Tanzania, Botswana, Rwanda and Uganda. In Namibia, however, you will be charged in the countries’ local currency if you are paying your tips via credit card. And in South Africa, you will be expected to tip in South African Rand, however USD will still be accepted. If you are paying your tips via credit card in South Africa, you will be charged in the local currency.

In Cities: 10% of the bill at restaurants 

Driver Guide in Cities: $20 per couple per day

Trekking Porters: $20 per porter per trek 

Trekking Guide and Trackers: $50 per couple per day

Butlers: $15 per couple per day

Lodge Staff: $20 per couple per day

It is important to note that these tipping guidelines are just that – guidelines. If you had an exceptional stay and wish to tip above average for that special staff member who went above and beyond, this is always appreciated. Safari workers are often working to support their entire families back in the villages, so a little goes a long way!

Read more: Our travel guide to Rwanda

Safari & Zanzibar

Ranger/Guide: $20 per couple per day

Tracker: $15 per couple per day

Butler: $15 per couple per day

Read more: A luxurious escape to Tanzania & Zanzibar

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Etiquette of Tipping on Safari: A Comprehensive Guide

• Travel Guides

Why Offer Gratuity to Safari Guides: Exploring Tipping Etiquette on African Safaris

Tipping is deeply ingrained in the fabric of service staff on an African safari, but it’s crucial to understand that it is not obligatory. Rather, it serves as a way to express gratitude and acknowledge exceptional service. The amount you choose to tip can vary. Let’s clarify what constitutes “exceptional service” and “standard service” to provide specific guidance on appropriate tip amounts.

Exceptional service on an African safari can encompass various scenarios, such as guides demonstrating exceptional knowledge, going the extra mile to track elusive wildlife, or providing personalized attention that exceeds expectations. On the other hand, standard service involves competent assistance and satisfactory customer care without notable standout features. Consider these definitions when determining your tip amount.

Making Informed Tipping Decisions

To assist travelers in making informed tipping decisions, let’s explore examples of situations where tipping would be appropriate and situations where it may not be expected:

Appropriate Tipping Situations:

• Your guide successfully spots rare wildlife, shares fascinating insights, and ensures an unforgettable safari experience.
• The camp staff consistently delivers exceptional service, attending to your needs promptly and creating a welcoming atmosphere.

Situations Where Tipping May Not be Expected:

• You encounter a guide who lacks enthusiasm, fails to provide adequate information, or displays unprofessional behavior.
• The service at a camp or lodge is consistently subpar, with staff members demonstrating indifference or neglect.
• Considering Cultural Norms and Customs

It’s important to note that tipping customs can vary across African countries. To ensure cultural sensitivity and align with local practices, familiarize yourself with tipping norms specific to your destination. In some countries, gratuities may be expected, while in others, a service charge may already be included. Researching and respecting these cultural nuances will help you determine the appropriateness and amount of tipping.

By incorporating these improvements, we provide travelers with clearer guidelines for appropriate tip amounts, examples to inform tipping decisions, and awareness of cultural norms to ensure respectful interactions during their African safari experience.

What Travelers & Staff Say About Tipping

Deciding whether to tip while on safari can be perplexing for travelers. To provide insight into this matter, let’s examine it from two perspectives:

The Traveler’s Viewpoint

For visitors hailing from the United States, tipping is customary. In contrast, individuals from Europe or Australia might need clarification due to differing norms. Some propose abolishing individual tipping and instead incorporating it into the overall trip cost. However, this notion faces practical challenges as African safaris involve multiple components. Furthermore, the question arises whether exceptional staff at one location should suffer due to a mediocre team at another.

Certain travelers oppose tipping, believing that employee wages should cover their livelihoods and lodge proprietors should provide better compensation. This argument is valid, but safari costs encompass more than just wages; they include various fixed expenses such as conservation fees, maintenance, and utilities. Many lodges take measures to minimize costs and ensure fair wages, considering workers’ challenging circumstances.

It’s worth noting that accommodation, sustenance, clothing, and medical care for staff living on-site are significant expenses for lodge owners. Unlike those with conventional commutes, these workers cannot easily return home, making tips crucial to their financial stability.

While many visitors expect to tip and budget accordingly, remember that gratuities are discretionary and reflect the quality of service you deem deserving.

The Staff’s Perspective

While some might assume staff desire tips for extra income, the reality is more complex. Tipping acknowledges various aspects beyond routine service, including:

• Separation from loved ones:  Staff often spend weeks away from families due to the remote nature of safari lodges.
• Travel expenses:  Staff residing in distant areas spend significant sums on travel, and guests’ tips help reunite families.
• Supporting extended family:  Many African workers provide for unemployed relatives; tips aid in vital family assistance.
• Prolonged work hours:  Staff dedicate substantial hours to ensure guests’ comfort, often performing numerous tasks behind the scenes.
• Thoughtful efforts:  Staff often go above and beyond, remembering names and catering to preferences, enhancing guest experiences.

Safari personnel ensure guests’ safety, comfort, and well-being under challenging conditions. While visitors enjoy leisure, staff contend with various challenges, often unapparent to guests.

Balancing Tipping Costs and Respect on Safari

Certain guests might view safaris as expensive endeavors, questioning the necessity of tips. However, from the staff’s perspective, observing affluent travelers with expensive equipment raises queries about hesitations toward relatively modest tips. Guests’ willingness to spend on lavish items while skimping gratuities may be perceived as incongruent.

Whom to Tip on Safari

Typically, tips are extended to non-professional staff who lack formal tertiary education. Professionals like spa therapists and guides, usually holding qualifications, are exceptions.

Typically Excluded from Tipping:

• Lodge or camp managers
• Bush-plane Pilots
• Airport desk staff
• Sales assistants in safari shops
• Medical or evacuation crews
• Lodge or tour owners

Typically Included in Tipping:

• Back-of-house staff:  cleaners, cooks, gardeners, maintenance workers, guards, anti-poaching units
• Front-of-house staff:  guides, spotters, trackers, waiters, waitresses, spa therapists, transfer drivers

Methods of Tipping Staff on Safari

Tipping customs vary among lodges, introducing complexity. Common methods include:

• Communal Tip Box:  Depositing cash into a locked box shared among staff.
• Manager Handoff:  Giving cash directly to the manager upon departure, specifying recipients or leaving it at their discretion.
• Direct to Staff:  Handing cash individually, signaling specific tipping intentions.
• Room Placement:  Leaving cash in the room is not recommended due to potential misunderstandings.
• Credit Card Addition:  Possible in some lodges, allowing adding tips to bills.

How Much You Should Tip on African Safari

Tipping practices often mirror visitors’ cultural norms. Americans and Canadians, known for their generosity, generally offer more substantial tips, while Europeans typically fall within a moderate range. Travelers from South America and the Far East might have different expectations due to varying customs. The suggested tipping ranges provided serve as middle-ground benchmarks, allowing room for individual variations that might even double these guidelines.

Tipping transactions usually involve local currencies or widely accepted USD. GBP and EUR are less commonly used. Carrying smaller denominations is advisable to minimize conversion losses when dealing with unfamiliar currencies.

Although sizable tips may appear magnanimous, excessive tipping can lead to unintended consequences. Overly generous gratuities may unintentionally undermine mutual respect and potentially perpetuate financial imbalances. Striking the right balance in tipping practices is vital to maintaining harmonious host-guest relationships.

Safari Guide Gratuities

Safari guides play a pivotal role in shaping the success of your journey, underscoring the significance of their contributions and expertise. Accordingly, allocating a more substantial gratuity is appropriate.

Suggested guidelines typically suggest offering around USD 10 per guest per day as a token of your appreciation for their guidance. It’s worth considering potential modifications to this amount, particularly when accounting for your group size. By adhering to these recommendations, you express gratitude for their pivotal role while ensuring fair acknowledgment of their efforts.

Appreciating Lodge Staff

Lodges commonly offer a structured approach to acknowledging their staff through tip boxes, ensuring fairness in distribution. A recommended range for tipping is typically between USD 5 and USD 10 per guest per day.

In situations where staff members have gone above and beyond to enhance your experience , providing extra individual tips in addition to the communal staff box can be an excellent way to show your recognition. This approach fosters a balanced and considerate gesture of appreciation towards the dedicated individuals who contribute to your stay.

Tipping Chimps & Gorilla Trekking Teams

Recognizing your trekking team’s efforts through tipping is a significant gesture when embarking on a chimpanzee or gorilla trekking adventure . Trip documents usually outline specific guidelines for this purpose. Here’s how you can show your appreciation:

Trekking Guides: Your trekking guide plays a pivotal role in ensuring a successful journey. A considerate tip of around $20 per person is customary to acknowledge their guidance and expertise.

Rangers: In most trekking scenarios, you’ll be accompanied by two rangers, enhancing safety and enhancing your experience, especially when encountering primate families. A gratuity of about $10 per person for each ranger is an appropriate way to show gratitude.

Porters: If you’ve opted to hire porters to assist with carrying equipment and supplies, their fees are generally around $20 per trek . Since you’re compensating them directly for their services, additional tipping is not obligatory.

Transfer driver: For transfer drivers, discretionary tips at around USD 10 per day for the group and acknowledge friendliness and assistance.

By adhering to these tipping practices, you’re recognizing your trekking team’s efforts and contributing to positive relationships and mutual respect during your journey.

Fostering Respectful Relationships

Avoid over-tipping to preserve local respect and balanced interactions. Excessive generosity may distort social dynamics and discourage mutual respect.

Final Reminders

The tipping on African safari guidelines presented serve as valuable references to navigate the intricacies of safari tipping. Whenever uncertainties arise, lodge managers stand ready to provide assistance and clarity.

Safari tipping embodies a delicate balance shaped by cultural norms and personal encounters. Skillfully navigating these customs enhances meaningful exchanges, fostering respect between guests and staff. Your thoughtful approach to tipping enriches the overall safari experience for all parties involved.

Nkuringo Safari Experts

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Planning an East African safari package can be a complex task, especially for first-time travelers. However, you don't have to worry about the hassle if you choose an trustworthy company. Take advantage of our expertise to navigate the local logistics and plan an unforgettable Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya or Tanzania safari.

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Tipping Etiquette: Guide to Tipping on an African Safari

• by John Morris
• July 11, 2019

Tipping at the Safari Camp or Lodge

How much should you tip a safari driver-guide, miscellaneous tipping.

• Wheelchair assistance at airport — $3 to $5
• Airport transfer (driver) — $10 per vehicle
• Bellman — $1 to $2 per bag
• Housekeeper — $2 per day
• Local restaurants (in the city) — 10% of the bill
• Massage therapist — 10% to 15%

John Morris

Follow along as I travel the world with one hand, a passport and my power wheelchair!

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A Guide to Tipping in Africa

Tetra Images/Getty Images

Tips are an important thing to get right when traveling to Africa . For most porters, safari guides, and drivers, tips make up a significant percentage of their salary. Over-tipping is less of a problem than under-tipping, especially given the economic stress many working Africans endure in order to put food on the table, buy school uniforms, and afford decent medical care.

Read on to find select tipping guidelines to help you budget the right amount of money to bring on a trip to Africa.

General Tips

When traveling, it's a good idea to keep a supply of small bills (either in US Dollars or the local currency of your destination). Making change is always difficult, especially in more far-flung destinations. Always give the tip directly to the person you wish to reward for services. For example, if you wish to tip housekeeping, don't hand your tip over to the front desk and expect it to get to the right person.

Generally, cash is more appreciated than goods, as it gives the receiver the freedom to spend their money as they see best. If you would rather give a gift , make sure that you do so responsibly. 

Meals and Drinks

Tipping 10-15 % is a normal tip for good service at restaurants and in bars. Most waiters earn an incredibly basic living wage so tips are a much-needed supplement and an appropriate reward for good service.

If you're just buying a beer or a coke, it's fine to leave the change rather than a specific tip. If you're dining with a large group at a nice restaurant, a service charge will usually be added to the check automatically so be sure to review the bill before adding an extra gratuity.

Service Staff

If you are staying at a  luxury safari camps there will often be a general tipping box at the front desk or reception. Tips deposited here will usually be spread evenly between camp staff; so if you want to tip someone specifically, make sure to do so directly. At budget hotels, tips for housekeeping are not expected but are nevertheless always welcome.

As a general guide, tip:

• $1.00 per bag for porters
• $1.00–$2.00 per day for hotel staff
• $3.00–$5.00 per day for personal butlers, trackers, drivers
• $10.00 per day for professional guides and/or drivers on your trip
• $5.00–$10.00 for guides on one day or half day tours
• $1.00–$2.00 for airport/ hotel transfer drivers
• 50 cents–$1.00 for gas station attendants

While service-providers in many African countries will gladly accept US Dollars, it is sometimes more appropriate to tip in the local currency. In South Africa , for example, tips should be given in Rand. 

Mountain Trek Staff

If you're planning to climb Kilimanjaro or go on other mountain treks in Africa , your booking company should be able to advise the appropriate tipping amounts. For a quick budget estimate, expect to spend 10% of the cost of your trek on tips. This usually translates at around:

• $15.00–$20.00 per day for a guide
• $8.00–$10.00 per day for a cook
• $8.00–$10.00 per day for a porter

Taxi Drivers

When tipping taxi drivers, the norm is to round up the final fare and leave the driver with the change. If the driver has gone out of his way to help you, has stuck with the metered fare (if the meter is working), or if the trip is over 30 minutes, consider tipping around 10%. 

When Not to Tip

Although it's good to be generous, especially in countries where poverty is a major problem, there are situations in which it's best not to tip. For example, children in Africa are often forced to spend time on the streets rather than in school in order to pick up tips (or handouts) from tourists. Unfortunately, paying them money only perpetuates the problem, depriving them of the education they need to make a living in the future. 

If you want to help street children or reward them for an act of helpfulness or kindness, consider buying them a meal or grocery items, or donating school supplies instead of giving them money. 

Similarly, if you experience an act of spontaneous kindness from an adult that you think should be acknowledged, ask your guide if it's appropriate to tip. While cash is often appreciated, it's possible that offering money could cause offense. In this case, offering to buy a cool drink or a meal could be more appropriate.  

If the service has been bad, or if a tip is demanded and you feel you are being taken advantage of, you don't have to tip. Tipping is a reward for good service in Africa as it is everywhere else in the world.

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Tipping in Kenya. The Ultimate Guide 2023

Tipping in kenya preview..

This is the ultimate guide for tipping in Kenya. Whether you’re on Safari, vacation or a business trip.

Tipping in Kenya is more of culture and norm to many especially to those in-service industries. They might not be paid as much but tips and gratuity make their overall earning better.

It is not like they depend on tipping but it goes a long way. I have worked in a hotel for a year and I know where and when tipping is necessary even when you still don’t have much.

Our pay was relatively low and we would work and give exceptionally high-end services even though our hotel was no near 4star.

Well, not a single day we were disappointed as the tips were equally good. Of course, because of our incredible services.

Without much ado, let’s delve in and see how and what should one be tipping in Kenya in the travel Industry.

How much should I tip Safari Driver/Guide in Kenya?

Most tour companies will have what we call two in one, meaning your driver will still be your guide.

They get paid differently depending on the contract they have with their employer. However, some have employed themselves meaning they own those Safari vehicles they tour guide with.

No matter how they are paid the pay will never be enough and those who own vehicles they have hectic loans to service.

Tipping them will come in handy and go a long way. Depending with their service you should tip them from Kes1,000 $10 to Kes2,000 $20 Per Day or even more if you`re able or just want to appreciate more.

I have witnessed whereby driver guides are gifted worthy goodies like high-end Cameras, Binoculars and others lucky enough to be surprised with brand new Tour vehicles as a present.

How much should I tip Safari guide?

Well, some tour Companies and tourists though only a few believe in having a dedicated driver and a tour guide. However, this calls on majorly when you have a large group. Or a Long dedicated Itinerary like this .

I usually see these arrangements in overland truck groups where you have your dedicated tour guide or tour leader to lead your all-inclusive camping itinerary.

Tipping in Kenya is common but this one is usually lucrative for the tour leader as he`s the one who collects all the tips and gets to tip the other service colleagues. Such as the Chefs, Driver and the pitching boys.

You can tip the Tour Leader from Kes1,000 or $10 Per Day Per Person if you`re a group of more than 10 Pax. If you`re less than 10. Tip them Kes2,000 0r $20 P/p Per Day.

How Much Should I Tip in a Restaurant in Kenya?

What is the difference between a restaurant and a Hotel? Well, this is where the real service matters. Make it a Culture whether you`re a tourist or not. Please tip these guys.

Tipping in Kenya shouldn`t be only on high-end restaurants but also in those street foods and ` Vibandas` we love.

If you`re visiting Kenya make sure you exchange your money to Kenyan Currency as tipping those waiters with a small change of $1 will be hectic in exchanging bureaus.

Once you exchange the money you will most likely be given in Numeration of Kes1,000 notes. Break further in Kes100,200 and 500 notes.

Even when am going to the countryside I make sure I have loose change. They believe if you stay in Nairobi you have a lot of money and you pay for that.

This is where a minimum of 10% of your total bill applies as a tip to your waiter but having been there, I always try and add something more and so should you.

How Much Should I Tip in a Hotel in Kenya?

I suppose you read the difference between a Hotel and a Restaurant above. There`s no much difference when it comes to tipping in hotels it is just like in the restaurants but this section has different, let me call them departments even though they are not.

Tipping Potters in Kenya.

Tipping in Kenya for potters is common. I personally feel indebted whenever someone helps me out of their own volition even if it is their duty to assist. I believe we all feel that way whenever.

So, upon checking in a hotel you will be met by these potters who will offer to assist you with your light or heavy bags straight to your room.

Each bag should stand for Kes100 up to 200 or even more according to your will. You will always see the grim and the brightness on their faces. Who doesn`t feel happy making someone else smile?

Tipping Receptionist in Kenya.

This is the person who welcomes you at the check-in point. As much as I respect and appreciate everybody equally.

I find myself friendlier with the receptionists. They can make or break your day in a snap. Tipping in Kenya is rising and receptionists are being appreciated more like never before.

Let me give you a secrete about these guys you may be not aware of. The time of checking in at the reception.

Don`t just stand there in a bossy way waiting to be attended to. Be friendly with the receptionist, ask him or her which is the best room? They know every room cons & Pros, if you`re nice you might just get the best room.

I always ask for an upgrade if the hotel is not full and since I mostly travel offseason. I have had an upgrade all the time thanks to the receptionists. Be nice it doesn`t hurt. A tip from Kes1000 a Day will be okay to them.

Swimming Pool Attendant.

This mostly applies if you have a young family. The attendant will engage your kids and probably teach them how to swim.

If you do not know how to swim, they can assist and teach you how to. A tip of Kes500 per session will be okay.

Room Service.

Yes, you have paid for room service but it is only noble of you to tip the attendant. Motivate them to even be psyched to serve you first hand.

Just to comb those who might not know room service is being served straight in your room. Be it breakfast lunch, or Drinks from the bar straight to the comfort of your bed.

Tipping in Kenya is common with room service please don`t spoil the culture. Each service you can tip Kes100 or Kes200 depending on the service.

House Keepers.

In most cases, it is unlikely you will get to see them. You will only find your room and beddings spotless clean. It’s not magic, it is the work of the housekeepers.

In case you leave your safe unlocked or forget your valuables these are the first-hand people who will come across it and they may just decide otherwise.

Well, be nice If you don`t get to see them, leave anything from Kes200 Per Day with a note. “To the House Keeper” somewhere visible.

Tipping in Kenya Bars and Clubs.

The most common phrase for tipping in Bars in Kenya is “Keep Change”. Most probably you are impaired and it is advisable to give your tip in the first drinks before you get high.

Otherwise even though rare. You will find writing a 5-figure cheque as a tip duh! Anywhere around Kes200 to 300 will be more than enough of course unless you want to add them more.

A secrete I want to share with you especially when in clubs in town. If you`re not so sure of the prices ask at the counter or just ask more than two waiters. I learned this the hard way. They know when you`re new in town.

How much do I Tip Taxi Guy/ Uber/Bolt in Kenya?

All these apps on and offline are all taxis. However, sometimes bolt or Uber might give you great offers or book an uber and at the end of your trip. You feel like you underpaid them.

Like I have repeatedly said be nice and Tip these people and if possible, don`t forget to give them that 5 Star rating.

Tip them anything from Kes100 or 200 upwards or 10% of the total bill. It will go a long way.

Conclusion.

Tipping in Kenya is a culture and it is said if you go to Rome behave like Romans. If you`re visiting Kenya for the first time first of Burst these Travelling Myths to Africa .

Then read these Travelling Facts and Tip as much as you can. Don`t get it twisted. Tipping should be from your own volition and nobody should ever force you to.

Most Hotels will have Tips and gratuity box within their premises whereby at the end of the Day the Tips are shared equally among the staff.

Pandemic hit Tourism industry so hard that it will take time to recover. The least you can do is to book and once on the ground just tip what you have it will go a long way.

Some may confuse Tipping with Corruption lets iron this. Tipping is from heart, corruption is evil.

Did I leave anything you feel I should add? Hit me up on the comment section. Asante na Karibu Kenya . (Thank You and welcome to Kenya).

Also, Read-:

• 17 Hidden Gem Attractions in Kenya you never knew existed.
• 11 Best Beaches in Kenya.
• 7 EngrossingThings to do at Kereita Forest.

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How to Tip in Africa on Safari

For many people on safari in Africa, tipping can be confusing. Gratuity is one of those things that is different all over the world, and it can be awkward trying to figure out etiquette and local customs – especially in a continent as diverse as Africa.

With over 3,000 different ethnic groups speaking more than 2,000 different languages, traveling in Africa introduces you to a whole new world of culture and history. Without a bit of research into the specific country you’re visiting, it can be tough to figure out what is expected of you as a guest. There are plenty of things you need to know before you go on an overland tour in Africa – especially when it comes to tipping. With this in mind, we’ve created a complete guide to tipping in Africa to help you better plan and budget for your safari.

If you need more budgeting tips for your trip to Africa, read our guide on How to budget for a saf ari in Africa . And, if you want to do more than give an amazing tip, check out our guide on how to travel responsibly in Africa to have a positive impact while exploring this exciting continent.

Tipping etiquette in Africa

Tourism is a key driver of the African economy accounting for 8.1% of the GDP with many people in the industry relying quite heavily on gratuity. Tipping is firmly entrenched in the tourism industry in Africa and you shouldn’t have to feel awkward about it at all. Gratuity contributes a substantial amount toward ensuring that those working behind the scenes to make your travels a success earn a livable wage. But you should never feel obliged to leave a tip if the service you received was unprofessional or inadequate.

Who do you tip while on safari and how to determine how much to tip in Africa

Who to tip in Africa is not very different from other continents. Generally speaking, you should tip back of house staff such as cooks, porters, and cleaners, as well as the front of house staff such as guides, spotters or trackers, waiters and waitresses, and transfer drivers. 10% gratuity is a great starting place when determining how much to tip on safari.

The tipping jar or kitty while on a group tour

How to give tips is another ticky and often awkward experience. From leaving money in your room when you check out to handing cash to individuals and adding on something extra to your credit card on your final bill – every camp or lodge has its system that you have to navigate.

While these are easy to do, it can still be uncomfortable for some. Thankfully, most camps and lodges will have a tipping jar or kitty which eliminates any awkwardness and does not allow staff to know how much specific guests tipped them. These tipping jars are either separated for guides, back of house, and front of house or accumulated together and shared out at the end of the trip when everyone has departed.

Tipping on Safari considerations:

Guide to Tipping at safari lodges

At every safari lodge, there are many people hard at work behind the scenes to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Most lodges have tipping advice and guidelines, so feel free to ask the reception or manager about their tipping policy. Generally speaking, there is often a communal tip ‘jar’ for this and a reasonable rate to go on is USD10 to 20 per person per day.

Tipping safari guides

Your safari guide will be your go-to person while on a game drive in Africa and are essential to the success of your safari. They’re responsible for keeping you safe in the wild, point out the often near-hidden animals that you traveled all this way to see and are chock full of interesting information about the wildlife and region. It is customary to leave a USD10 tip per person per day for your safari guide and is usually given at the end of your safari.

About Tipping safari trackers

Safari trackers accompany rangers on game drives and are the eyes and the ears of your safari. In other words, all those epic wildlife photos you’ve captured are largely thanks to these guys and tipping is always a great way to show appreciation. Tips for trackers are usually USD 5 per person per day.

Tipping in restaurants and bars

Tipping in restaurants and bars is considered the norm in Africa and waiters still rely on gratuity to make a livable income. For waiters, a 10-15% tip on the bill total is considered normal. Some restaurants may automatically add on a service charge for larger tables so it’s important to check your bill before adding on a tip. For bartenders, it is recommended to tip at least 10% of the bill for large orders. If you’re paying per drink then 1 to 2 USD should be sufficient.

Details on Tipping at the airport and hotels in Africa

At hotels and airports, 1 USD per item of luggage is an appropriate tip for porter service, but consider tipping more for awkward or really heavy loads. If you wish to tip the hotel maids, around 3-5 USD is a suitable amount.

Tipping drivers and transfers

In Africa you’ll generally find two types of taxis; kombis and metered taxis. It’s not usually customary to tip both types of taxi drivers. But a small gratuity of +- 1 USD for longer rides is always welcomed, especially if your final destination is way out of town. Uber is also common in major cities and tips are not customary in this instance.

About Tipping at petrol stations

Petrol (gas) attendants are pretty unique to Africa. These unsung heroes fill up your vehicle, clean your windscreen, check the oil, water and tire pressure. While a tip is not compulsory, a small tip is welcomed, preferably in local currency (e.g. ZAR5 in South Africa)

Guide to Tipping car guards

Car guards are another fairly unique African feature. Some of these guards are hired by the city and others are others may be doing it of their own accord and their tips may be their sole income. When it comes to tipping car guards, a small tip in local currency should be sufficient and it is recommended to only tip when you return to your car.

Tipping Guidelines by Country in Africa:

About tipping on safari in tanzania.

Tipping is customary on a safari in Tanzania. For those working in the service industry, including waiters, guides and trackers, tips can form a significant part of their income.

Currency to tip in:  It’s most common to tip in cash, both Tanzanian shillings and US dollars are accepted.

How much to tip in Tanzania:  We recommend tipping +- 8–10 USD per guest per day for a group guide, about 5–10 USD per guest per day for a safari chef, +- 2 USD per guest per day for the general staff and +- 3USD per city transfer.

Tipping Kilimanjaro:  Tipping while climbing Kilimanjaro is usually done as a group rather than per person. The recommended tipping amount for Kilimanjaro is as follows:

• Per guide – US$20-25 per day
• Per assistant guide – US$15-20 per day
• Per cook – US$15 per day
• Per porter – US$10 per day

Tipping Kenya

Tipping in restaurants and bars isn’t customary everywhere in Kenya, but in Nairobi and on the coast a gratuity culture has been well established. Still, the choice of how much to tip is all yours.

Currency to tip in:  Tipping in local currency (Kenyan Shillings) is preferred as the currency exchange is expensive.

How much to tip in Kenya:  For Kenya safari and tour guides at camps and lodges, a tip of 10 to 15USD per person per day is recommended, and tip half that amount for half-day activities. Porters at hotels usually tipped 50-100 shillings (+- 1 USD). And, hotel maids are accustomed to receiving 200-500 shillings (+- 1 to 3 USD) for a whole week of service.

Guide to Tipping in Uganda

Tipping in Uganda is firmly entrenched in the tourism and service industry and helps boost local income. Generally speaking, workers in the industry earn very low wages, and gratuity forms a big part in helping them provide their family’s necessities.

Currency to tip in:  The local currency is the Ugandan shilling (USh), though USD is widely accepted. In remote areas, it’s recommended to tip in local currency as foreign exchange can be difficult and costly.

How much to tip in Uganda:  In restaurants, it is common to tip USh1000 to USh1500 in Uganda. Tips for safari rangers and guides in national parks are usually between USh5000 to USh10,000.

Tipping on a gorilla trek:  It is not obligatory to tip on your gorilla trek in Uganda, but leaving a tip is usually a sign of appreciation of good service given to you by your guide. For gorilla trekking guides, we recommend tipping between 5-10 USD per person per day at the end of your tour.

Tipping on Safari in Botswana

Tipping in Botswana is always voluntary and should depend on the quality of service received. However, gratuity can be a significant part of the income of those in service industries, including waiters, guides and trackers.

Currency to tip in: We recommend you tip in Botswana Pula (BWP) in remote areas and while on tour however US dollars are widely accepted at lodges.

How much to tip in Botswana: It is customary to tip guides/drivers 10 USD per person per day, camp or lodge staff 10USD per guest per day (usually placed in a communal box) and transfer drivers and porters 3USD.

Tipping your mokoro poler in the Delta: It’s common to tip mokoro polers and 50 Pula (5USD) is considered the norm.

About Tipping in South Africa

Tipping is widely practiced and expected in South Africa, both by locals and tourists. However, you should never feel obliged to tip if the service you received is poor.

Currency to tip in:  Tips should be done in Rands and cash is preferred. Tipping by card is also appreciated, but the service staff member usually only receives it by the end of the week or month.

How much to tip in South Africa:  As a rule of thumb, a 10% tip is a good starting point in restaurants and bars. On safari, it is customary to tip guides between R100 to R200 per day depending on the size of your group.

Tipping in Cape Town:  Tipping in Cape Town follows the same process as the rest of South Africa. 10% of the bill is usually standard, however, if the service has been outstanding then higher percentages are always appreciated.

Tipping on Safari in Zimbabwe

Tipping in Zimbabwe is not compulsory but always appreciated, and the amount generally depends on your satisfaction with the service provided.

Currency to tip in:  As of June 2019 the US dollar, South African rand and all other foreign currencies are no longer considered legal tender throughout Zimbabwe. The only accepted currency is the Zimbabwe Dollar.

How much to tip in Zimbabwe:  It’s customary to tip waiters in restaurants 10 to 15% of the bill amount and to give car guards who watch over your car in supermarket or shopping mall car parks US$1.

Guide to Tipping on Safari in Zambia

Tipping is not as expected in Zambia as it is in most parts of the world. However, we encourage rewarding great service with a gratuity as tips make a significant positive impact on the salary of those working in the service industry.

Currency to tip in:  The preferred currency to tip in is USD, and cash is generally the most accepted method.

How much to tip in Zambia:  As a rough guideline, we suggest tipping 10USD per person per day for your ranger and tracker and 25USD to be divided amongst the rest of the lodge staff. When it comes to restaurants, some establishments will add a service charge for your bill; if not, 10% is standard.

Tipping on Safari in Namibia

Tipping is not compulsory in Nambia but recommended. Most lodges will suggest tipping amounts for guides, trackers and housekeeping staff which is usually an amount per day. It’s customary to leave a tip at the end of your stay, especially for guides and trackers.

Currency to tip in:  The currency of Namibia is the Namibia Dollar. This is tied to the South African Rand and 1 ZAR = 1 N$ and both are used freely in Namibia.

How much to tip in Namibia:  As a rule of thumb, a specialist safari guide is tipped from N$100 per guest per day. It is also a nice gesture to tip general camp/lodge staff; here we recommend about N$30 per guest per day. Like South Africa, Namibia also has car guards and petrol attendants, we recommend tipping them between 2 to 3 Namibian Dollars.

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African safari tips: how much should you be tipping on a safari?

In many countries, tipping is a normal part of any dining experience. When the check arrives, everyone knows adding a tip is the right thing to do . After all, your waiter contributes to a positive experience during a night out.

You wouldn’t leave your waiter without a tip, and the same should be true to the friendly staff who make your adventure in Africa enchanting.

Your safari guide plays a huge role in having a once in a lifetime experience in the bush. Whether they’re zipping along dirt roads to find your favorite wild animal or parking alongside river beds so that you can spy upon bathing elephants.

Waiters , spotters , and trackers also play a role in making your safari experience a magical one. When you’re on your next great adventure, consider tipping your local guide with these guidelines in mind.

Tour Guide Gratuities: Yup, It’s a Thing!

Safaris allow you to sleep under a bed of twinkling stars, and the chance to spy cheetahs and their cuddly cubs . Marching elephants and roaring lion sightings are all made possible with a safari.

Safari guides lead you through the plains of Africa to search for animals you’ve only dreamed of seeing. They’re highly trained and knowledgeable so that your safari experience isn’t just magical, it’s educational too.

Game rangers and guides can answer all your questions and wonderings about wildlife. Perhaps you’ve always wondered how fast a hyena can run ? Or what the largest snake in Africa is? They’re incredibly up-to-date with wildlife facts that’ll make your safari experience even more memorable.

While safari tours can end up costing quite a bit, you’re paying for the privilege of untouched wilderness and the luxury of your neighbors being a herd of grazing impala .

Although tipping isn’t compulsory on a safari, it’s always appreciated. After all, guides take care of all of your needs while you’re embarking on game drives from 5 am to 9 pm. And back at the camp, chefs, drivers, and waiters are doing just as much to ensure you can kick back and soak up all the beauty of the bush.

Tipping on a Safari: General Guidelines

Tipping your safari guide and camp staff contributes to them earning decent living wages. It’s not included in your prepaid safari, meaning the tipping is completely up to you .

Before heading to your safari destination, it’s a good idea to exchange your currency for the local currency. Tour guides generally accept cash over EFTs, so it’s worth your while to carry an amount of cash for tipping .

Being in a new country can bring about some confusion as to how much enough really is. The best way to think about tipping is to give as much as you can ; when have you ever regretted tipping someone too generously?

Here are some rough guidelines for how much gratuity is appropriate in the iconic safari destinations in Africa. The recommended tips are based on group tours, private guides, and the welcoming staff at your lodge or camp.

Tipping in Tanzania

Tipping in Tanzania can have a significant impact on the economy and the livelihoods of your guides. The currency is the Tanzanian Shilling , although US dollars are also accepted.

• Group game drive or walking tour per day: US$8-10
• Private game drives and guide per day: US$15-20
• General staff per day, per person: US$1-5

Tipping in Kenya

As a popular destination for safaris, camps and lodges in Kenya are exceptional, so tipping is a common way of showing your appreciation. Tipping in the local currency, Kenyan Shillings is always preferred.

• Group game drive or walking tour per day: US$10-15
• Private game drives and guide per day: US$12-15

Tipping in South Africa

Tipping your guide in South Africa based on the knowledge and expertise they displayed is a good start. For the general staff at camps and lodges, shared tips work well.

You can tip staff in the South African Rand .

• Group game drive or walking tour per day: US$9-15
• Private game drives and guide per day: US$10-17

Tipping in Botswana

Botswana Pula is the local currency in Botswana and the preferred currency. The average GNI (Gross National Income) in Botswana is around US$17.84 per day, which is about an eighth of the US GNI. So your tip can go a long way in this country.

• Group game drive or walking tour per day: US$10
• Private game drives and guide per day: US$10-15
• General staff per day, per person: US$1-3

Holiday Tipping Guideline

Tipping in many African countries is a way for those in the service industry to receive an extra source of income. Here are some extra tips about tipping.

Wondering when to tip?

The best practice for tipping is to save the tip for the end of your safari . Receiving a tip at the end of each excursion can put a lot of pressure on your guide to perform. It can also leave other guests in a precarious position and might disrupt the balance of the tour.

Show your gratitude by tipping the person directly

Depending on your camp, there may be a gratuity box . This generally goes to all staff, but there may be cases where you wish to tip a particular person. Tipping your guide directly is a great way to show your appreciation for their hard work.

If you’re in doubt, stick to 10%

If you’re unsure about how much to tip, you can always refer back to the general 10% rule . Tip your guide a 10% amount of the actual tour, and there will be smiles all around.

African Safari Guide to Tipping

Travelers are often left with the question of how, when, who, and how much to tip for a vacation at a safari lodge or camp. Tip staff as you would in any other industry service – based on how great they made your overall escape in the wild .

Has the idea of a safari stolen your heart? Be sure to check out these safari deals and specials before heading on your next African adventure!

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Tipping on Safari: The Best African Safari Tipping Guide on Who & How to Tip

Posted by Andrew Hofmeyr on August 23 2023 in Travel Tips & Planning Enquire Now!

Navigating the intricacies of tipping on safari is an essential aspect of ensuring an enjoyable and gratifying experience for both travellers and the remarkable individuals who make these journeys possible. Safari tipping etiquette varies across cultures and destinations, and understanding how to express your appreciation in a manner that aligns with local customs and acknowledges the dedication of safari staff can greatly enhance your African safari adventure. This safari tipping guide offers comprehensive insights into the art of tipping on safari, providing you with practical advice to navigate this delicate yet meaningful aspect of your journey.

Tipping on Safari in Africa, What is the norm?

In Africa, tipping is the norm. In fact, tipping often contributes a significant portion of income to those working in the service industry. This blog hopes to present an even picture that looks at both sides of the tipping equation. That said, the golden rule should always be that tipping rewards excellent service and care that you receive during your Africa safari tour. You should never feel obliged to tip for poor service.

A Country-by-Country Breakdown of What Money is Accepted Where in Africa

The great thing about booking a safari tour in advance is that many of your large expenses like hotel accommodation, and transfers are paid for upfront. In addition to this, larger establishments will accept credit or debit cards, especially in major cities or tourism hot spots like Arusha, Cape Town, Zanzibar, and Victoria Falls.

However, having a small amount of money in small denominations of local currency will ensure a hassle-free and smooth tipping experience. Wherever you go, tipping should be done in small denominations of local currency which is good for people who do not have access to foreign exchange, as well as tourists who do not want to travel around with large amounts of cash.

While US dollars are often acceptable and viewed as universal, there are regional currency differences between East African countries like Kenya, and Tanzania, as well as Zimbabwe, and their southern counterparts, Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia.

Tipping on Safari in East African Countries

In East Africa, the US dollar is widely accepted. However, even here, local currency in smaller denominations is preferred by porters and service staff. This is because exchanging foreign currency may not be easy for some people working with smaller amounts, and will incur exchange fees. To get around this, we advise changing a small amount of money into the local currency and asking for it in small denominations.

East Africa Currency & US$ Value*

• Tanzanian & Zanzibar: Tanzania Shillings (TZS). US$ 1 = TZS 2.5
• Kenya: Kenyan Shilling (KES). US$ 1 = KES 144.5
• Rwanda: Rwandan Franc (RWF). US$ 1 = RWF 1.2
• Uganda: Ugandan Shilling (UGX). US$ 1 = UGX 3.7

*Exchange rates were accurate at the time of publishing on xe.com.

For larger tips, such as the tips for your tour guides and background staff tip jars, etc. US$ or local currency are both completely acceptable. When using US dollars, it is worth noting that you should bring those printed post-2008, and which are not old or torn, as these can be problematic. Furthermore, having access to smaller denominations, in an easily reachable place, for day-to-day expenses, means that you will not have to flash your cash by pulling out large wads of notes to pay for a beer, or provide a US$ 1 tip!

Tipping on Safari in South Africa & Southern African Countries

Southern Africa is largely governed by the bloc's largest economy, South Africa. The value of the Eswatini Emalangeni, Lesotho Maloti, and Namibian Dollar are all pegged to the fortunes of the Rand (ZAR). In these countries, as well as parts of Mozambique, South African Rands (ZAR) are acceptable as tips.

Both Zimbabwe and Zambia favour the US dollar. While Zimbabwe is a special case because of internal turmoil, US dollars, and South African Rands are widely accepted and are legal tender. In Zambia, the preferred currency for tipping is the US dollar which is easily exchanged for Kwacha.

Botswana has perhaps the most stable currency in southern Africa, and when visiting Botswana, the Botswana Pula is the preferred currency.

Southern Africa Currency & US$ Exchange Value*

• South Africa: South African Rands (ZAR). US$ 1 = ZAR 18.8
• Botswana: Botswana Pula (BWP). US$ 1 = BWP 13.5
• Namibia: Namibian Dollars (NAD). US$ 1 = NAD 18.8
• Zambia: Zambian Kwacha (ZMK). US$ 1 = ZMK 19.4
• Zimbabwe: Zimbabwean Dollar (ZWD). US$ 1 = ZWD 361

In Zimbabwe and Zambia, out of necessity, locals are always up to date with current conversion rates and are happy to receive US dollars.

In all southern African countries, tipping is the norm. As in East Africa, it is good practice to carry small denominations of US$, and/or small denominations of local currency. When taking part in an all-inclusive safari package, cash will be used for markets, the occasional local restaurant, curios, and tipping, which means that you do not need to carry large amounts of cash. When visiting South Africa , cash in ZAR is always available from ATMs and can be easily accessed when needed.

A Note About Currency & Exchange Rates

Exchange rates are important when on safari, as favourable exchange rates mean excellent value against weaker currencies. A good way to get an idea of the value of the local currency is to visit a local grocery store and check the price of milk, bread, and soft drinks. This will give you a fair idea of the local currency value that you can check against exchange rates (see the latest ones at xe.com). Working with the exchange rate allows your budget to stretch a lot further, making both you and your suppliers happy.

Who Should You Be Tipping on Safari?

Typically, gratuities are extended to staff members who might not hold 'professional' designations in the traditional sense, implying that they haven't necessarily undergone extensive higher education to secure specific roles. There are, however, specific exemptions, such as spa therapists or guides, who generally possess formal qualifications.

When on safari in Africa, the following professions are NOT usually tipped: lodge owners, managers at camps, lodges, hotels, or restaurants, pilots or cabin crew when flying, desk staff at airports, sales assistants in shops or tour centres, medical staff like paramedics, nurses, doctors, or evacuation crews.

The people who benefit the most from tips, and the ones who it is customary to tip as they are the invisible workers who take care of you are back house staff like cooks, gardeners, cleaners, and guards, as well as the front of house staff like guides and trackers, waiters, drivers, and spa therapists.

These people are specific to safari lodges and the safari lodge economies. Outside of these, in South Africa for example, there are petrol attendants and car guards, waiters and waitresses, as well as contracted tour guides. It is always good to go back to basics, good service should be rewarded, but you should never feel obligated to tip.

How to Go About Tipping on Safari in Africa

Navigating tipping practices during a safari can be confusing as there is no standardised approach (hence this easy African safari tipping guide).

Each camp or lodge operates on its own tipping system, which requires a bit of manoeuvring. For clarification, you can always approach the manager of the lodge who will be more than happy to advise you on their specific tipping guidelines. Generally, however, the following methods are commonly employed:

The Communal Tip Box

Usually situated at a central point (like a tip jar in a restaurant), which is convenient and unobtrusive, guests can simply place their tip into a securely locked box. Occasionally, distinct boxes are designated for front- and back-of-house staff, trackers, and guides. The manager is responsible for tallying the tips and distributing them equitably amongst the staff. The benefit of the Tip Box strategy is that eliminates awkwardness that can result from handing over money from person to person, as well as maintaining privacy for guests.

Direct to Manager

Managers are the captains of the safari ship. In some cases, handing tips to them on departure effectively takes the who and how questions out of your hands and gives the responsibility to the manager. Some guests will specify for whom and why the tip has been given, while others leave it to the discretion of the manager. This is an acceptable, and common practice.

Direct to Staff Tipping

Direct tipping poses pros and cons. On the one hand, if you have received outstanding service from an individual and want the personal gratification of rewarding this service personally, then this is the way to go. On the other hand, it opens the gate for selective tipping where other staff who do not have the opportunity for one-on-one contact, may miss out. In addition to this, it also exposes the amount of money that comes from the guest. It may be that it is better to balance your strategy by doing both, tipping general staff and then giving a special bonus if you feel it is warranted. Either way, this should only be done when you leave, and try to be discreet.

Leaving Cash on the Bed When You Leave

DO NOT LEAVE CASH ON THE BED WHEN YOU LEAVE. While this may seem discreet and like a nice surprise for staff, safari staff, when finding cash will likely assume that it has been forgotten and radio the driver or guide to return. Honesty is a key pillar in remote locations, and staff are trained to hand over any items left in rooms to the lodge manager.

Credit or Debit Card Tips

While the cash-less approach is ideal, it is a very limited option as very few lodges have credit card facilities due to the often exorbitant surcharges. If your lodge does have credit card facilities, communicate directly with the manager, and make sure the gratuity amount is clearly stated on the receipt. If you are short of cash for a generous tip, this can be a good option.

When Should You Be Tipping on Safari?

To keep things simple, the basic rule is to tip at the end of your meal, lodge stay, or game drive. For example, if you are staying for three nights at a single lodge, that includes multiple game drives with the same guide, tip when you depart for your next destination. If your accommodation outsources your activity, then tip at the conclusion of the experience. The same applies to your restaurant experiences, if it is in-house, tip at the end, if it is a once-off, then add the gratuity to the bill. The best-case scenario is to provide a single tip at the culmination of your stay at each lodge, camp, or hotel.

Your safari guide will not anticipate a gratuity after every individual activity or even at the end of each day. Adopting such a practice might inadvertently place pressure on a guide to tailor their performance to the guest offering the tip, potentially disrupting the harmonious relationship between the guide and all guests. Furthermore, it could create an uncomfortable situation for your fellow guests if you were consistently offering tips while they chose not to.

How Much Should You Be Tipping on Safari?

There are many factors that influence how much to tip on an African safari. The level of service experienced, your individual financial constraints, your personal philosophy on gratuities, as well as the dynamics of your group, and safari package. The guiding principle remains to contribute as generously as feasible when the occasion arises, but be cognizant of the fact that there is both too much and too little. A trained guide or ranger, for example, should always receive more than a cleaner because their skills and training should be rewarded. If porters were to get larger tips than rangers, then porting would be incentivized over conservation. Aim to be both generous and fair.

Regardless of the amount you decide upon, there's no need to express apologies for it. Simply offer the tip in the manner you prefer and express your gratitude sincerely. The staff members always warmly receive gestures of appreciation, acknowledgement, and thankfulness. Now, what is the appropriate tip for a Kenya safari? How much should you consider tipping on a safari in Tanzania? What's the suitable amount for a safari butler?

Safari Tipping Guide: 6 Tips For Tipping on a Budget Safari

Here are six easy-to-follow steps to use as a safari tipping guide when planning your African budget safari:

Check your itinerary thoroughly and anticipate when, where, and who you may need to tip. For example, the transfer from the hotel to the lodge, a tip for the waitress at dinner, or the services of the safari guide and tracker. Then, decide on the basic amount you feel comfortable giving, and make note of these small amounts throughout your trip.

Once you have anticipated all the tipping throughout your trip, organize your expenditure into sections; for example airport and hotel day 1, safari lodge days 2 & 3, Zanzibar bungalow days 4 & 5 etc. Then, for each leg of your journey, label envelopes that will hold the assigned tips. Doing this will streamline the process and make it easy to manage the tips throughout your safari adventure.

When getting currency, either local or US$, be sure to get small denominations, eg. US$ 1, US$ 5, US$ 10, & US$ 20 dollar bills. Small denominations are easier to manage, separate, and hand over, and will not require establishments to scramble for change. Using US$ 50 or US$ 100 notes, in addition to the inconvenience, can make you a target for criminals. In many countries, while US$ can be used to pay for things, change will be given in the local currency. Carrying small denominations of US$ will save you leaving Botswana for example, with a surplus of Pula that you can’t use.

In most East and southern African countries, you will need to carry cash with you. South Africa is the only country where you can reliably withdraw cash from ATMs on a regular basis, which removes the need to forward plan for tipping on safari. For all other African safari destinations, it's advisable to carry cash with you. When using ATMs in South Africa, be safety conscious and follow a few safety rules like never accepting help from strangers and avoiding distractions, it often helps to have a friend with you at the ATM, and if you are a solo traveller and feel unsafe, seek help from a bank employee.

Carrying cash does come with risk. When staying at a hotel or lodge, use the in-room safe, or enquire with the manager of the establishment about using their safe room for both money and passports. Most safaris will go off without any problems, and this should be seen as a precaution and not a necessity.

In Africa, the US Dollar is king. Most African safari destinations, outside of South Africa, readily accept the US Dollar, particularly in regions like Zimbabwe and Victoria Falls. Opting for the US Dollar streamlines transactions, especially when traversing borders or engaging in a multi-destination safari, thus avoiding the complexities of flipping between local currencies.

Embarking on an African safari means meeting a host of individuals who contribute to the success of your journey. The dedicated lodge staff ensuring your comfort, the diligent cleaners maintaining a pristine environment, the skilled drivers navigating the wilderness with expertise, and the insightful trackers and guides who steer you through the wild African bush, all contribute to an unforgettable African adventure. Tipping, in the context of this remarkable ensemble, is a simple gesture that can have a profound effect on their lives.

There you have it, our complete African safari tipping guide. If you have any questions or want to start planning your African safari adventure today - contact African Budget Safaris .

If you liked this post, these trips cover similar ground…

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• 7 Day Fly-In Botswana Safari - Delta & Chobe Tented Camps
• 11 Day Budget Kenya & Tanzania Family Safari
• 4 Day Budget Kruger Safari to Klaserie Reserve Lodge

About the Author

Andrew hofmeyr naturalist, artist & writer.

Places Mentioned in this Post

1. South Africa

2. Botswana

4. Zimbabwe

5. Mozambique

7. Tanzania

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“You can visit Tanzania All year round – Here’s why!”

Tipping in Tanzania Safari is not mandatory but expected as a custom. On your Tanzania Safari Tours , tipping your guide, hotel staff, cook, or anyone who serves you during your stay is expected. Our detailed Tanzania Safari Tipping Guidelines will help you understand, when to tip, how much to tip, and whom to tip in Tanzania.

Tanzania Tipping Etiquette

Jerry Tanzania Tour’s Tanzania Tipping Guide suggests that tipping is firmly entrenched in the tourism industry in Tanzania and travelers shouldn’t feel awkward about it at all. Although Tipping in Tanzania Safari is supporting the safari crew members financially but you should never feel obliged to leave a tip in case you don’t feel the service you received was immoral or insufficient.

Tipping On Tanzania Safari Considerations:

Guide to tipping at safari lodges.

Numerous people are striving hard behind the scenes to make your safari experience an unforgettable one. You can ask most lodges for their tipping advice and guidelines so that you can tip their staff accordingly without any hesitation. There is often a communal tip ‘jar’ placed in lodges and a reasonable rate for Tipping in Tanzania Safari is USD10 to 20 per person per day.

Tipping Safari Guides

Tipping Safari Guides In Tanzania is very essential as they are your go-to persons while on a game drive in Tanzania. A good safari guide is essential for a successful safari in Tanzania. Safari guides keep you safe in the wild, is chock full of interesting information about the wildlife and region, and point out the often near-hidden animals that you travelled all this way to see. For tipping your safari guide it is customary to leave a USD10 tip per person per day.

About Tipping Safari Trackers

Safari trackers are the people who accompany rangers on game drives and are very alert helping you take the best wildlife photos on your safari. We suggest that you tip trackers USD 5 per person per day.

Tipping In Restaurants And Bars

If you are on Luxury Safari Tanzania you will receive excellent service and royal treatment at various bars and restaurants. We suggest you tip 10-15% on the bill total for the waiters. For bartenders, it is recommended to tip at least 10% of the bill for large orders and if you’re paying per drink then 1 to 2 USD should be sufficient.

Tipping Safari Drivers

In Tanzania, it is customary for Tipping Safari Drivers Tanzania to support them financially. For tipping drivers, USD7-USD8 is good to go. A small tip in local currency should be sufficient for your safari drivers.

The Tipping Jar Or Kitty While On A Group Tour

There are numerous Tipping Customs In Tanzania starting from leaving money in your room when you check out to handing cash to individuals and adding on something extra to your credit card on your final bill but the easy and less uncomfortable way to do it is adding money in a tipping jar or kitty which are either separated for guides, back of the house, and front of house or collected together and shared out at the end of the trip when everyone has departed.

About Tipping on Safari in Tanzania

Tipping in Tanzania Safari is done in both Tanzanian shillings and US dollars and we recommend tipping + 8–10 USD per guest per day for a group guide, about 5–10 USD per guest per day for a safari chef, + 2 USD per guest per day for the general staff and + 3USD per city transfer.

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Tipping In Tanzania Safari FAQ’s

We Have Compiled A List Of The Most Frequently Asked Questions About Tanzania Safari Tours In General, And About Tanzania Safari Packages, Get The Real Tanzania Safari Guide From Jerry Tanzania Tours.

It is a delicate one to answer because there are factors: the service you received, your personal budget, and your ideas around gratuities. The rule of like, tip as much as you can when the tick comes. People should not mourned a substantial tip.

Simply hand it over in all that jazz form and say thank you sincerely. Gratitude, appreciation and recognition are always warmly received by staff in Tanzania Safari Lodge.

There are certain Things To Do In Tanzania . So according to Tanzania Safari Tours and activities you can give tip according to your choice. But generally tourists use to give $10 to 25$ per person and per day.

It is usual to vacation a tip for your guide/driver at the end of tour. It is entirely up to you what you choose to give, but our recommendation is to tip your guide around $8-10 per person, per day. Basically holiday makers use to give from 5% to 10% of the whole Tanzania Safari Tours.

Tanzania Guide ’s salary ranges nearly from 10,000 tsh (Tanzanian Shillings – 5 USD) to 40 USD per day. Going on to annual salaries as high as $68,500 and as low as $13,500, the mainstream of Safari Guide salaries currently range near $22,500 (25th percentile) to $41,500 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $56,000 annually.

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Tanzania Tipping Guide

by Khuzeima Zavery | Jun 9, 2023 | Travel Guide

Tipping is one of those things that can cause anxiety and uncertainty if you are not familiar with the norms, cultures and traditions. This is especially true when you are traveling to a remote place that you have never visited before – say Tanzania.

We have created our handy Tanzania Tipping Guide to help answer some of the most common questions we get from our guests. We update it from time-to-time to incorporate more answers for questions our guests have asked.

 Let’s get straight into it.

• Is tipping mandatory on a Tanzania Safari?
• Which is better, personal tips or a tip jar?
• What is the right time to tip?
• How much should I tip?

#1 Is tipping mandatory on a Tanzania Safari?

No. Tipping is not mandatory in the Tanzanian service and tourism industry. However , it is a bit customary. It is seen as a way to show your appreciation for the services provided. However, whether you tip or not should come down to your level of satisfaction with the service, you should never be forced into a situation where you feel you absolutely have to tip.

Our view is that tips, when deserved, can help boost the confidence of the staff and validate the care and attention that they provide.

Simplified rule: If you are satisfied and want to tip, absolutely do so. If you aren’t satisfied, it is ok to not do so.

#2 Which is better, personal tips or a tip jar?

Most camps and safari lodges and camps have a community tip jar at the reception. On balance, we find that these jars have a greater common good since a successful rendering of a service often involves a lot of staff that you will likely never meet or see – the background team.

Tip jars ensure that your tip and appreciation go to everyone that made your service so great.

However, you are always welcome to tip individually as well. If you do want to tip a particular team/staff individually then you certainly can. It is NOT frowned upon in any way. E.g. a helpful porter, a dedicated waitress.

#3 What is the right time to tip?

The right time to tip comes down to your own personal choice: whether you choose to tip individually or in a tip jar.

At camps and lodges If you are tipping individually, it is perfectly acceptable to tip each time a staff member serves you, e.g. porters, waiters/waitresses. It is also acceptable to tip a staff member individually at the end of your stay; however, keep in mind that sometimes it may be difficult to locate a particular staff member at the end.

If you are tipping in a tip jar, the standard practice is to tip during checkout.

For your safari driver-guides When it comes to tipping your safari driver-guide, the customary practice is to at the end of the safari, as you bid farewell. Not only does this allow you to assess the overall quality of their service but also is seen as a parting gift.

#4 How much should I tip?

There are no set rules or expectations of a particular % amount in Tanzania. It is left to you to decide what you feel comfortable with. Our guidelines may help you determine the appropriate amounts in some situations.

If your expectations have been exceeded, feel free to go above the guidelines. If you are not,

Tip: For ease of tipping, we recommend carrying some loose change with you, either one-dollar bills, or equivalent in the local Tanzanian currency. You can also carry Euros or Sterling Pounds, both are generally accepted – just keep an eye on the currency conversion rates .

Always remember, tipping is a personal decision, and the amount should be based on your satisfaction and financial means.

Tipping your safari driver-guides

Small Group Safaris, between 2-4 people You may tip between USD 10 and USD 20 per traveler, per day.

Large Group Safaris, more than 5 people You may tip collectively between USD 30 to USD 40 per group, per day.

For half-day safaris and tours, you may tip half the suggested range. Tips to Safari Driver-Guides are usually given at the end of the Safari when bidding farewell.

Tipping staff at camps and lodges

You may tip between USD 2 and USD 4 per traveler, per day – at checkout if you are tipping in the community tip jar, or you may also tip a similar amount individually to help and support staff that have served you personally during your stay.

Tipping Staff at Restaurants

Tips of between 3-5% of the total bill are considered normal, whereas tips of about 10% of your bill would be considered very generous. If you are paying by card, and the establishment does allow you to process a tip payment, then you can do that as well.

Tipping Porters

Hotel and airport porters may be tipped USD 1.00 to USD 3.00 either each time you happen to use them or in general upon checkout (if part of a Camp or Lodge).

Tipping City/Airport Transfer Drivers

Final thoughts.

While this Tanzania Tipping Guide is designed to help you get a starting point, it is by no means cast in stone and you may use your own experience and you own good judgement to tip, or not to tip, the way you deem reasonable.

As an important reiteration, you should never be made to feel pressured into tipping. If you are ever in such a case then engage your safari guide, or better yet your safari operator, and bring up the issue so that it can be worked on.

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Tipping on Safari: Our guide to FAQs on tipping on holiday in Africa.

If you travel with a reputable safari company and stay in small, smart safari camps and lodges, the staff you meet throughout your trip will be paid a living wage. There is no need to tip out of a feeling of charity; tip if you get outstanding service, which we’d like to think you will on a trip we’ve helped you plan.

Please also note that these suggestions are simply that. We’ve been asked many times to give some ideas of how much to tip so people aren’t either stingy or ridiculously over the top. Our thoughts won’t always agree with the information some of the lodge teams might give you, but here goes:

What currency?

US dollars tend to be used by those on safari throughout Africa, with the exception of South Africa and Namibia. Take low value denominations of $5 or $10 if you can.

Try and avoid $100 bills or notes older that 2006 as both of these can be problematic.

Tipping in camps and lodges

In safari camps and lodges you’ll normally find a gratuity box and anything put in this will be distributed to all members of the general camp staff from the chefs to the laundry attendants. We suggest something around $10-20 per person per day (so $20-$40 if you’re a couple). For ease, you may wish to ‘prepare’ tips in separate envelopes for each camp and then put this into the gratuity box at the end of your stay. Tipping your safari guide

On safari this is US$15-20 per person per day, handed directly to the guide at the end of your stay.

Generally, you tip less per person, so a family of five could expect to pay around US$50 to the camp staff and US$60 to the guide in total per day. Beach lodges and hotels holiday tips

Tipping is rarely expected when staying on the beach, and should only be done as a reward for good service. Beach lodges sometimes have a communal staff gratuity box, which will be distributed to all members of staff including those behind the scenes.

Kilimanjaro climb tips

Again it is worth stressing that all of the climb teams we use for Kilimanjaro are paid a fair wage for every trip and also get training, uniform and health insurance. Typically the tip is passed to the head guide and this is distributed back at the offices. The guides and porters we use are always complimented on their efforts to ensure people are comfortable and safe, and we suggest budgeting US$300-US$350 for a luxury climb on the Machame Route (our most popular).

Gorilla tracking tips

If your holiday includes gorilla tracking please also allow an extra US$30 per guest per day to include US$15 to the head guide, US$10 for any back up guide and US$5 (per group) to each tracker.

Porters are available on most gorilla tracks and we suggest taking one to carry your backpack and assist when the going gets steeper or slippery. They’re not paid a wage and it’s an additional way for the community to earn money from gorilla conservation. The porters are generally paid US$15 each per track and we suggest a tip of US$5.

Chimp tracking tips

If your holiday includes chimp tracking please also allow an extra US$20 per guest per day to include US$10 to the head guide, US$5 to the tracker and US$5 to the national parks scout.

Cultural Experiences/Dances tips

Drummers or dancers may come to your camp or lodge. This is an optional activity but if you attend, we do recommend that you tip US$5 to US$10 per person.

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Our tipping guide applies to all safari & touring countries in africa e.g. kenya, tanzania, south africa, botswana, zambia, zimbabwe, namibia, rwanda, uganda, mozambique, malawi etc., remember to multiply the recommend tip by number of persons in your group, safari game viewing tipping guide for shared & private game drives.

• For SHARED safari and tour game viewing guides, you may tip $15 to $20 per person per day, and tip half that amount for half-day activities.
• For PRIVATE safari and tour game viewing guides, you may tip $20 to $30 per person per day, and tip half that amount for half-day activities.
• For accompanying "wildlife spotters" (common in Southern Africa) who assist in tracking and spotting animals during game drives, you may tip $5 to $10 per person per day, and tip half that amount for half-day activities.

Gorilla, Golden Monkey and Chimpanzee Primate Safari Treks Tipping Guide

• Primate Guide: $15 per person to each guide - each trek has 1 or 2 guides depending on the primate family, group size and trekking range
• Primate Tracker: $10 per person for the group of trackers.
• Primate Ranger: $10 per person for the group of rangers - each trek has 2 security rangers (front and rear)
• Porter: $10 per person plus the hire cost of porterage. The cost to hire a porter is $20 per trek

Other Tippping Guide

• Airport VIP Terminal Meet & Greet Arrival & Departure Service: $5 per person per service
• Short airport - city hotel transfer driver tips can be between $3 and $5 per transfer / person depending on the distance covered and the time taken (less than 1 hour)
• Long airport -  lodge transfer driver tips can be between $7 and $10 per transfer / person depending on the distance covered and the time taken (more than 1 hour)
• Luggage porters at the hotel or airport: $2 per porter movement
• For day tours, you may tip $10 to $15 per person per day, and tip half that amount for half-day activities e.g. city tour in Nairobi, Cape Town, Victoria Falls, Zanzibar, Arusha etc.
• Specific activity tour tips e.g. African Queen Sunset Cruise, cooking classes, balloon safari: $5 to $10 per person in the communal staff tipping box or tipping jar so that they can be shared by all staff members
• Lodge or camp communal tip box: US $10 - $15 per person per day - tips are shared by all service staff
• City or beach hotel staff including housekeeping personnel tips: $2 per person per day
• Restaurants: 10% of the total bill
• Scuba diving: $10 per tank dive and $3 to $5 to the boat captain per trip
• Deep sea fishing: $10 to $15 per person per day, and tip half that amount for a half-day trip
• For tips guidance for Kilimanjaro climbs, click here to read more
• Make sure you carry US $ dollars in singles for small tips

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The Ultimate Tipping Guide while on a Kenya safari

While tipping isn’t obligatory in Kenya, it’s a commendable gesture to express your appreciation for your guide and the diverse services you’ll encounter.

Tipping not only uplifts the morale of those in the service sector but also supports local communities at a personal level. Although Kenya doesn’t have strict tipping norms, the following guidelines can assist in discerning suitable tip amounts. To simplify tipping, it’s advisable to have an assortment of one-dollar bills on hand for smaller gratuities. This practice can also enhance visibility for those searching about tipping in Kenya, promoting responsible tourism.

Navigating the tipping customs during a Kenyan safari can indeed be perplexing. Here are some straightforward guidelines to aid you while journeying through Kenya’s coastal areas, urban landscapes, and it’s majestic national parks.

What is the preferred tipping currency? Should You Tip in Kenyan Shillings?

When in Kenya, it’s advisable to tip in Kenyan shillings . This is because, for many locals, exchanging small denominations of foreign currencies in East Africa can be a cumbersome process. If you’re caught without shillings, US dollars are generally accepted for tips, but it’s prudent to avoid giving large denominations, like a $50 bill, as it may be hard for them to change.

Your safari or tour guide can guide you on where to exchange your money upon your arrival in Kenya. Typically, there’s an opportunity to exchange currency at the Nairobi airport before heading to your initial hotel stay. It’s essential to ensure you have ample local currency, as your expenditure and patronage of local services and products, inclusive of tipping, significantly contribute to the African economy. Your economic participation is a valuable gesture that supports and strengthens the Kenyan community.

Tipping in Kenyan Restaurants and Bars

In local eateries and bars predominantly frequented by Kenyans, tipping isn’t the norm. However, if you’re impressed with the service, leaving a gratuity is a kind gesture that’s always well-received.

On the other hand, when dining at restaurants oriented towards tourists, the tipping culture aligns more with what you might find in North America or many European countries. For these establishments, it’s customary to leave a tip of about 15% for the waiter, depending on the service quality. Remember, the tip should reflect your satisfaction with the service, and while it’s encouraged, it’s ultimately at your discretion.

Read our guide on Kenya safari prices to know what determines the cost of safari tours in Kenya.

The Etiquette at Kenyan Hotels

In Kenyan hotels, tipping is a gesture that demonstrates appreciation for the service provided. Here are some customary practices:

Waiters and Bartenders:

If you’re dining or grabbing a drink at the hotel, it’s typical to leave a tip for your waiter or bartender. You can tip individually or add the gratuity to the bill, especially if you’re charging the bill to your room.

Hotel Porters:

Housekeeping:

If you’re satisfied with the cleanliness and service of your room, tipping the hotel’s cleaning staff is a kind gesture. The customary amount is similar to the norms in North America or Europe, which is around 10 to 15% of your room rate per day. This, of course, depends on the quality of service rendered.

Denominations:

When tipping, it’s usually more helpful to give smaller denominations, making it easier for the recipient to use.

As always, while these are the general guidelines, tipping is at your discretion, based on the quality of service you’ve received and your personal comfort level.

Tipping Guidelines for Safari Guides in Kenya

When you embark on a safari adventure in Kenya, it’s both a thrilling experience and an opportunity to support the local community. Here’s what you need to know about tipping your safari guides:

• When to Tip: It’s standard practice to tip at the conclusion of your safari or any pre-booked tour.
• Amount to Tip: Aim to set aside approximately US$20 or 2,000 Kenyan shillings per room (or tent) each day. For solo travelers, a tip of around 1,000 Kenyan shillings is deemed appropriate. However, for families occupying a single room or tent, consider raising the tip to roughly $25 per person daily.
• Understanding the Impact: While Kenya is a developing nation with economic challenges, the safari industry plays a pivotal role in providing livelihoods. Many working in this sector depend significantly on tips to sustain their families. Thus, your generosity directly contributes to their well-being.
• Beyond Monetary Gratuity: Your safari in Kenya is more than just a vacation. It’s a vibrant cultural exchange. While tipping is a tangible way to show appreciation, remember to also express gratitude, engage in conversations, and immerse yourself in the culture.

It is good to note that, while tipping is a kind gesture and deeply valued, it should also mirror the quality of service received. Always tip in accordance with your personal comfort and satisfaction levels.

Tipping Drivers and Other Staff on Your Kenyan Safari

Tipping during your Kenyan safari demonstrates appreciation for the services rendered. Here’s how to navigate tipping your driver and other staff:

How to Divide the Tip : If you’re following a daily tipping recommendation, it’s customary to allocate half of this tip to your driver/guide and the remaining half for the support staff at your camp or lodge.

Tipping Method: Many establishments offer a tip box at the reception where guests can leave their gratuities for the staff. You may also find it appropriate to place your tip in an envelope and hand it over to the manager. It’s essential to remember that the collected amount in the tip box usually doesn’t go to the driver/guides, hence they’re tipped separately.

Spotters : Spotters, sometimes accompanied by local apprentice guides, often join the vehicle crew, primarily focusing on spotting wildlife during game drives. Their sharp eyes and expertise can significantly enrich your game-viewing experience. Depending on the value they add, you can decide to tip them separately or suggest to the driver/guide that they share their tip with the spotter. In popular East African national parks like the Masai Mara , their presence can greatly enhance the safari, so recognizing their contribution is encouraged.

As with all tipping, it’s vital to consider the quality of service received and your personal comfort when determining the appropriate amount. It’s more than just monetary; it’s a token of gratitude for making your trip memorable.

When Not to Tip During Your Travels in Kenya?

It’s essential to be mindful of when and where you offer gratuities or handouts during your travels. Here are some instances when you should refrain from tipping or giving money:

• Children in the Streets : Do not provide tips or money to children asking in urban areas. It’s crucial to remember that these children ought to be in school. Although their requests might evoke empathy, these children are sometimes exploited by adults who may be nearby and who the money ultimately goes to.
• Beggars : As a general rule, avoid giving money to beggars in Kenya, regardless of age or location. Handing out money can inadvertently promote and perpetuate begging.
• Demands for Tips : If someone explicitly demands a tip or if you’ve experienced exceptionally poor service, it’s entirely within your rights not to tip. Always ensure that your tips are gestures of appreciation and not obligations.                                 
• Quality of Service : Kenyans are known for their warm hospitality and exceptional service. However, if you come across a service that falls significantly short of the mark, you don’t need to provide a tip.

Check out some of our best-priced Kenya Safari tour packages , which can be customized any time to suit your needs, ideas and budget. 

While you’ll find Kenya comparatively affordable, especially when contrasted with Western nations, it’s essential to spend responsibly and understand the broader implications of your financial choices. Kenya is a mesmerizing destination, known to charm visitors into returning. As aptly put by Pliny the Elder, “There’s always something new out of Africa,” a sentiment that resonates with many who venture into its vast landscapes 

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How Much Should I Tip My Guide? We Asked Guides How Much to Give.

Tipping is part of life, but it often feels confusing and stressful. Whether you’re on a river trip, a safari, or taking a ski lesson, we asked all the hard questions to provide these guidelines on how much to give—and how to do it right.

Heading out the door? Read this article on the Outside app available now on iOS devices for members! >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Download the app .

I was on a backcountry hut trip in British Columbia last winter, and at the end of an incredible, powder-filled week, my group of friends and I realized what most of us had forgotten: cash. Specifically, enough money to tip our two hard-working ski guides, as well as the cook, who’d been making us delicious meals morning and night, and the hut caretaker, who’d been pre-heating the sauna and shoveling the path to the outhouse.

It was a major oversight on our part. In the end, we cobbled together what cash we had and the rest of us chipped in via PayPal, a clunky fix.

In America, we know that when we go into a restaurant, it’s expected that, assuming the service is decent, you will leave your waiter a 15 to 20 percent tip on the bill. But when you go on, say, a guided backcountry ski trip or a whitewater rafting trip with a commercial outfitter or an afternoon of guided fly-fishing, the assumptions of gratuity are less clear. Are you always supposed to tip in those cases, and if so, how much?

“Guiding is very similar to the restaurant industry. It’s a service industry,” says Shane Robinson, a Seattle-based mountain guide and the founder of Graybird Guiding . He also guides for the company Alpine Ascents International . “Unfortunately, guides are probably not paid as well as they should be. So, most guides rely on those tips to make ends meet.”

Tips for outdoor guides and instructors vary wildly—some people tip a lot, some less, others don’t tip at all—and every destination is different. If you’re traveling internationally, many countries don’t have a tipping culture like the U.S.

“Tipping these days is much more common, but it’s not across the board,” says Dave Hahn, a long-time guide for RMI Expeditions who has guided on peaks like Mount Rainier and Mount Everest. “I think of a tip as a reward for a meaningful time or for someone putting themselves out there for you, not as an expectation.”

Given that guides are often the one who makes your trip or instruction stand out above the rest, we recommend always being prepared to tip. But sorting out how much to give and when to give it after a shared adventure can be awkward, confusing, and feel so hush hush, like no one’s talking openly about it.

Well, we are. We asked all the hard and awkward questions to provide these dos-and-don’ts guidelines on how to tip like a pro.

1. Do the Math

Typically, the gratuity rate for guides should be around 10 to 20 percent of the total trip cost. That means if you’re paying $500 for a day or two of guided rock climbing, an appropriate tip for your guide would be between $50 and $100.

2. Do Tip Even On Pricey Trips

Maybe you’ve just thrown down $5,000 for a Grand Canyon river trip. That’s a huge chunk of cash for a guided trip. Do you really have to tip on top of that? The answer is yes. “I sometimes find that when the cost of the trip is higher, people tend to tip less,” says Canadian guide Holly Walker, an ACMG-certified hiking and ski guide and owner of Fall Line Guides .

What helps me is to go ahead and factor in a 10 to 20 percent tip based on the total price of the trip into my initial budget to reduce the shock factor. So for that $5,000 trip, I’d tip $500 to $1,000 to be split up amongst the guides.

3. Do Prepare Ahead

Being a good tipper means planning in advance. You don’t want to get caught at the end of your trip without any cash. (Like, um, me.) Sandy Cunningham, CEO and co-founder of the adventure travel company Uncharted , advises her clients to pack a dozen or so envelopes, each filled with predetermined amounts of money and labeled for their recipient: driver, guide, cook, cleaning staff, etc. “You have your travel pouch with all the important things: passports, vaccination cards, envelopes with tip money,” Cunningham says. “That way you’re ready.”

4. Do Tip at the End of Your Trip

Some guiding services will offer a tip for the guide to be added onto your credit card purchase when you book the trip. But tipping is a token of gratitude that should be delivered at the end of your trip, based on a job well done. Typically, there’s a parting moment, when you and your guide are saying your goodbyes. That’s the best time to pass over the envelope and say thank you for the experience.

“At the end of your time, you pull the envelope out and give it to the person directly,” says Cunningham. “I will often bring my own thank you cards and write a personal note, too.”

5. Do Bring Cash

“I joke that I’ll take whatever form you’re paying in. We’re grateful for however it comes,” Shane Robinson says. But cash is king. If you can’t get cash or don’t want to travel with a wad of bills, American guides are accustomed to receiving online tips via Venmo these days. Just make sure you get their Venmo handle so you pay the right person. “It’s sometimes easier to divide up an electronic tip amongst a guide staff,” adds Hahn.

Venmo is currently only supported in the U.S., so if your guide is Canadian or from any other country, cash is the best form of payment. If you book your guide through a site like 57Hours , the app has tipping built in, and that’s a fine way to tip your guide. If you’re tipping porters, drivers, and local guides directly, cash is always preferred.

6. Do Give U.S. Dollars

Ask Walker, the Canadian guide, about preferred currency and she will say: “U.S. dollars are always OK.” So, feel free to get cash from an ATM at home before leaving the country if you don’t want to deal with picking up local currency when you arrive. “Unless it’s stipulated otherwise, people love U.S. Dollars, especially if their currency is weak,” adds Sandy Cunningham.

7. Don’t Forget About Instructional Settings

Guiding can come in many forms—including lessons from a wide range of instructors. Say your kid takes a private lesson from an instructor at a ski resort in the U.S. or you sign up for a mountain bike clinic or a running retreat. A tip is always appreciated. Again, 10 to 20 percent of the lesson price would be about right. Many guides also teach avalanche safety classes or mountaineering courses, and though tips are far less common in those situations because they’re less service oriented, the guides say they’re very grateful when people think to tip afterward. “As guides, the work is essentially the same,” Robinson says.

8. Do Remember the Rest of the Staff

Whether you’re at a backcountry hut, a wilderness lodge, or a safari camp, you might have a guide or two, as well as a cook, caretaker, or cleaning staff. At the end of your trip, plan on tipping out everybody in a service position. First, tip your guide 10 to 20 percent of the total cost. If you have multiple guides, you can tip the lead guide and they can split that up amongst the other guides. Then leave a separate tip—look for a designated tip box, or ask your guide where to leave it—to be distributed amongst the rest of the staff.

“If you’re heli-skiing, you’ve got pilots, waiters, housekeeping, bartenders, tail guides. If you’re on Kilimanjaro, you’ve got porters, people building tents, local guides,” Hahn says. “Those are times when you probably want to touch base with your guide. You can say, ‘How do I take care of the support staff?’ I don’t want to be bashful about those conversations. I consider that part of my job as your guide to make sure that local staff gets tipped properly. They’re much more dependent on those tips than I am.”

9. Do Collect Your Tips if You’re in a Group

If you’re traveling with family or a group of friends, it’s best to collect your cash into one joint gratuity. You can agree on a set amount per person or each contribute what you’re able. That way, the guide isn’t receiving stealthy handshakes with cash from a dozen different people from the same group. “Having the group collect the tip is definitely preferred and nicer for everyone,” says Walker. “Everyone can still say their goodbyes, but it’s less transactions that way.”

10. Don’t Tip in Beer

Any sign of gratitude—be it a hand-written card or a gift certificate or a nice bottle of whiskey—will be appreciated. But again, cash rules. “Buying your guide a meal or beer at the end of the trip—everyone will appreciate that. That’s nice in addition to your tip,” Hahn says. “My point is anything is nice. If someone had a really good trip and credits you with it and expresses that, they don’t always have to say that in money.”

11. Do Tip Even If You Didn’t Summit

So, you paid for a guided trip and for one reason or another, things didn’t go as planned. Like all adventures in the outdoors, final outcomes can be unpredictable. “Nobody should have to pay for service that was subpar,” Cunningham says. If your guide really let you down, factor that into your tip.

But if you didn’t make it to the summit, that doesn’t mean your guide didn’t work hard. “Sometimes good guiding means saying no,” Hahn says. “There’s this perception that you didn’t get us to the top of the mountain, so perhaps you didn’t work as hard as you might have. But obviously, on those days where it’s avalanche conditions or storms or something happened where you had the good sense to not get anyone hurt, that’s still hard work.”

12. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Questions

Gratuity in general has so many nuances, especially so in the outdoor world. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. “Before you go, check with the operation that you’re booking through if you have any questions about tipping,” Hahn says. Outfitters these days will often provide an exact number or a range of what to consider tipping.

But maybe don’t ask your guide out right what you should pay them as a tip: That exact number is still up to you. “I guided a family for a week and as we were saying our goodbyes, they said, ‘If you were us, how much would you tip you?’” Walker recalls. “It felt very awkward to ask me that directly. I told them, ‘I would tip a percentage that I thought was appropriate.’”

The bottom line is, be prepared to tip. Guiding is hard and often low-pay work, and gratuities are always appreciated.

Outside Correspondent Megan Michelson is an avid traveler who has used many guides on her adventures around the world.

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• Tanzania Safari

Tipping guide while on Tanzania Safari

• 31/10/2020 04/09/2021
• Tanzania Safari , The Expert's Voice

It is never compulsory to tip while on your Tanzania safari tour , but is customary to tip the people that make your Tanzania safari a success! This guide is to help make your life easier, next time you visit Tanzania for your safari or beach vacation.

Having a rough idea on what to expect in regards to tipping in Tanzania will definitely help alienate some of the awkward moments that you may encounter during your safari.

As per above introduction, tipping in Tanzania is not a must but is highly customary and therefore highly expected but also highly appreciated by the persons that are serving you.

Who Do I tip on Tanzania safari?

The most obvious person to tip while on your safari in Tanzania is your professional safari guide who also doubles up as your driver. The tip for the safari guides in Tanzania is quite dynamic because the cost of living is changing rapidly in Tanzania and Africa at large. What was a decent tip for the guide in 2010 is not a decent tip to a guide at this time in the year 2020.

How much to tip safari driver – Tanzania?

A tip of at least USD 20 per day per safari guide while on a safari in Tanzania is just about a good tip. You however can tip as much as you wish depending on firstly how happy the guide has made you and how much you can afford.  It is only recommended to tip your Tanzania safari guide at the end of your safari trip, when parting ways with your guide. Some forum suggests paying a tip on a daily basis but we do not recommend that. Please tip your safari guide only at the end of the safari and preferably; please put the tip in a closed envelope.

Read also what to wear on Tanzania safari , if you have already booked your next safari in Tanzania. Incase you have not booked your Tanzania safari already, you may also be interested in reading our below topic;

How to book a safari in Tanzania? 

A porter who carries your luggage from your car to your room will also be happy with a tip of a slow as Tsh 2000. You can tip these lodge / camp staff individually on the spot, or alternatively, you may also choose to put your tip in a tip box that is usually kept at the reception area of any lodge or camp, and for this you should tip on the last day of your stay, preferably when checking out of the lodge. In the case of tipping through the ‘tip box’ the tips are shared among the staff on the last day of every month.

Who else to tip on Tanzania safari and how much?

Other staff that you may need to tip while doing your safari in Tanzania includes the safari chef, in case you are doing your basic camping safari; staying in public or special basic camping sites. Others include the local guides who accompany you on a walking safari in the Selous or Lake Natron , or the Ngorongoro Highlands. You also may need tip the porters who accompany you when doing a hiking / trekking safari in Tanzania.

General tipping guide for Tanzania safari as of the year 2020 (subject to change) is as below;

• A private safari guide: USD 20 – 30 per day / per group. You can tip as much as you wish and as you can afford!
• A Group guide (when travelling in a convoy of safari jeeps for group tours): USD 15 – 25 per guide per group in the safari jeep.
• Safari chef (cook) for camping safaris: USD 10 – 15 Per day per group
• General Staff (Porters, Waiters, Waitresses, Bar Man/Women): USD 1 – 2 Per staff (after service).
• Arrival / Departure City transfers (like Kilimanjaro Airport): USD 3 – 5 Per transfer driver, per group.

Please note that the above general tipping guide is only applicable for safaris tours in Tanzania and Kenya. For tipping on Mount Kilimanjaro climbing please read more on our Kilimanjaro Climbing tours .

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or need further information on how and what to tip on Tanzania safari .

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Tipping in Kenya

Our top picks for holidays to Kenya

We'll always tailor-make your Safari for you. Here are some of our favourites to inspire you.

Black Kite Fly-in Safari

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Gabar Goshawk Fly-in Safari

Experience Amboseli, the Maasai Mara ecosystem and Laikipia during this economically priced safari. Two simple camps offer adventure before a stopover in Nairobi and a final stay in the charming, wildlife-rich Il Ngwesi Eco-Lodge.

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US$5,110 - US$5,770 per person

De Brazza Monkey Fly-in Safari

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Enjoy a range of activities in the remote wilderness of northern Kenya before exploring the wildlife-rich plains of the Mara ecosystem. Private vehicles and guides heighten the personalisation of this highly immersive safari.

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Hamerkop Fly-In Safari

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Different wildlife, contrasting camps and a whole host of activities, this is a safari for those wanting to get out and about and not just sit in a vehicle.

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Rothschild Giraffe Safari

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A example of a luxury Kenyan safari, starting at the iconic Giraffe Manor before fabulous stays on the spectacular Solio Reserve and Sala’s Camp in a remote corner of the Maasai Mara.

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Big Cat Fly-in Safari

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Golden Jackal Fly-in Safari

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Lanner Falcon Fly-In Safari

Three sister camps offer access to wonderfully remote regions across northern Kenya and the Maasai Mara ecosystem. Enjoy an exclusive safari experience focused on great wildlife, superb guiding and considerable comfort, with a range of activities.

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African Finfoot Fly-in Safari

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How much to tip the safari guide/driver - Tanzania Forum

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How much to tip the safari guide/driver

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We thought our guide was terrific. We tipped him $20 each per day. Most guides make the vast majority of their income from tips. Your tour operator should give suggested guidelines.

To understand how much to tip one must first understand what the wage scales are there (which most tourists don't). There is a minimum wage list provided and voted upon by the Bunge (Parliament) every year or two, and this becomes the wages paid in the country, for the most part. The current list has wages listed (and I am ignoring domestic workers which is very low wages) from 100,000 ($55) per month for many and most to ~400,000 /= for those in the mining sector. Those in the Tourism sector are pegged at 250,000/= (~$140 per month). So, the person who provides a $20 per person tip for a 7 day safari is essentially providing a month's pay per person to the Driver/Guide. That would be like laying down a $1,000 tip in a restaurant for a waiter for a meal, newspapers would probably report this. Most people would say that was over the top.

What the "normal" Western person might offer there, relatively speaking, is most always much more then what they would do in their own country.

So now that we know what is over the top, what would be a good compromise. I typically say between $5 and $10 a day per vehicle can be provided, if the service was good to excellent. If the service was poor then I would give them nothing. That gives them something extra to spend on their family, and they don't hit the jackpot.

Thanks Karl. That was helpful. I think I will tip my guide/driver $100 for 6 days safari which is a little above what you have recommended.

I would wait to make your final decision until you experience the safari. Some do the bare minimum while others go above and beyond. I suggest taking several $20s and put into an envelop for tipping your guide. Decide whether 3, 4 or 5 are appropriate at the end of the safari.

Recognizing that this is a controversial and much discussed topic, I'd just like to explain. Our tip was in the range suggested by our TO, which hires guides full time who apparently are very happy there. Our guide spent up to 10 hours a day with us. He shared his expertise about birds, people and wildlife. He changed tires twice, and spent one overnight dealing with a vehicle problem. He found us 102 lions (truth here!), and was relentless about finding us a rhino. We saw and learned about a huge number of birds, many of which he spotted for us. He was funny and friendly and a skilled professional. While it was a financial stretch to take this journey, we felt outrageously privileged to be able to do it. Tipping well felt like sharing the joy.

Haricot, I think what you described is pretty much their job. Your guide is hired full time and paid as such...maybe the 102 lions are worth tipping for, but I think you hit the nail on the head that we tend to (over) tip - because of the shared experiences and most of us find our guides have become comrades for the safari duration....but not all are like that. Also, it is common knowledge that being a guide is a very lucrative business. The country needs teachers and people to support their infrastructure in order to progress - but tourism pays better.

Yes this is a personal decision but I would urge people to tip responsibly. Remember this is a tip...you are not paying their salary. If you book with a reputable TO your guide will already be receiving a decent salary. I know many Tanzanians who work incredibly hard in jobs that are nothing to do with tourism, their salaries are inline with those Karl mentions (and often less) and they don't ever receive a tip. They work long hours, often away from home, always 6 days a week and often 7 days a week. Rather than entertaining tourists these people work helping to try and improve the education of young Tanzanians. If you have spare cash I would urge you to support an organisation that helps young Tanzanians get a better education and therefore hopefully a better life, rather than over tipping your guide. I am not saying don't tip your guide, just be sensible and then use your spare cash to help those that really need it.

Edit. Also agree with QM....it is well known that guide get good tips. Many kids we meet now tell us they want to be a safari guide rather than a teacher or doctor, not because they like wildlife but because "Rich tourists will give me big tips"......for me this is a worrying scenario and not something we should be encouraging.

Shep, just for the record, we do contribute to education of children as well.

All of the answers here are from what I consider my Tripadvisor friends... smart and responsible folks who are very helpful. I want to make my affection for these folks clear, before I state how much I categorically disagree with most of the comments.

I like this guy!

I've traveled extensively in developing countries. I think I've seen the absolute worst poverty and I've seen the extraordinary wretched excess in developed countries. I have come to grips with the reality that I can't really do much to solve the massive problems of economic disparity and exploitation and poor education and all the rest.

But I can make a difference in a few lives. So when I left Tanzania the first time I got involved in a non-profit doing educational work. I serve on the Board of that organization now, and do my best. We don't try to solve the problem of poor and underfunded education in Tanzania. We try to solve the problems of poor and underfunded education for individual students in individual situations - over 400 so far.

Idiot She and I donate to organizations doing the big work, but we also choose to target individuals with support that we know will make a difference in their lives. In Tanzania, we funded a small house and garden in which a widow and her 5 daughters have a stable base from which the kids can go to school and the garden might provide a little extra cash. In a remote section of Guatemala there are a series of Habitat For Humanity houses, and the payments for the houses keep building more houses. In the case of our guide - we know him, care about him, and decided to give him two generous tips after out two safaris.

Giving our guide a generous tip didn't hurt anybody - and it didn't take money away from others. I don't believe for a minute that counseling people not to "over-tip" their guide means that they will give more money to Tanzanian people who need it more. In most cases, it just means they'll have more pocket change for Starbucks.

Our second tip was actually larger than our first - and that was after reading the comments of my friends here. Frankly, I think most of you have missed the point. You are treating tips as a strictly commercial exchange. You comments all correct and valuable in that sense.

If someone wants to know how much to tip a waitperson in the US for a meal, the correct answer is 15-20%, depending. That's the facts. But I have a friend who frequents the same place and he knows the waiter is a struggling immigrant... and once that kid got a $100 tip. OK - maybe, with careful research, he could have targeted that gift for greater impact. But then again, he is already doing other good stuff. He just wanted to make a difference in this particular kid's life.

Haricots really liked her guide. They tipped him a very generous amount. They targeted the one Tanzanian person they know and like the best - one who has a good job by Tanzanian standards but who, by American standards, lives in poverty and works extraordinarily hard - the targeted and chose to give him a tip they considered commensurate with the impact he had on their very expensive visit to Tanzania.

I happen to know Haricots. I know that she and her husband are smart and generous in their support of women and education and safe water and medical care through various non-profits. The neediest Tanzanians will benefit from their ongoing donations, as do the neediest folks in South America. They are doing it right.

And sometimes they choose to make one of those gestures that will make a significant difference in the life of a family. That's what they did with their guide.

I wish every visitor who really likes their guide, who believes he did a truly excellent job, would dig deep and give not the required or appropriate tip - but a generous gift. My friends here are correct when they tell you what is the "correct" tip - but they are off base when they speak negatively about generosity. I am a frugal person. I don't believe in throwing money away, or tipping for poor service or out of guilt - but for heaven's sake, a one-time generous tip to a guide is not wrong. I do not see it as over-tipping and I don't see it causing any problems at all.

And after you are done tipping - please do some research and then give generously to a non-profit doing work you consider valuable in Tanzania or some other developing area.

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A Shockingly Low Percentage Of People Tip Rideshare Drivers — Here's The Awful Truth

On Assignment For HuffPost

You probably have a good relationship with your barista, your hair stylist and the bartender at your local pub. So it makes sense that you tip them frequently and well. But that rideshare driver who just showed up? You’ll never see them after this jaunt, so it’s easy to think your tip matters less.

Perhaps that’s one reason why, when you get a reminder to tip, during the ride and after, you might choose to ignore it. It may seem like a small thing to you, but according to drivers, not tipping makes it harder than ever for them to make a decent living behind the wheel.

Yes, money is tight and rides can be pricey, especially during surge periods. But do you know how much of a costly trip to the airport — say, $50 — ends up in the driver’s pocket? Often, it might be as little as $10, or 20%. And remember that while your barista doesn’t need to source their own beans and your mixologist doesn’t have to supply beers to the bar, rideshare drivers must provide their own vehicles, pay for insurance and fill up the tank, all on their own dime.

How many people tip?

Nicole Moore is the president of Rideshare Drivers United , which she described as “an organization of drivers, fighting for drivers, led by drivers.” She said that tipping is important for everyone in the industry.

“Sometimes we drivers get as little as 20% of the total fare,” she said. In her home state, California, she said, “after expenses and because of the lack of benefits, drivers are making less than minimum wage.”

You may skip a tip from time to time, assuring yourself that everyone else is tipping regularly. That’s not the case at all, said Sergio Avedian , senior contributor at The Rideshare Guy , an online resource for rideshare drivers. “I average higher than most among my peers here in Los Angeles, and I usually only have about 15% of my passengers tip me,” he said.

Recent data backs up his observations. A recent study by Gridwise , a data analytics company and app that helps drivers track their earnings, showed that 28% of Uber and Lyft ride-hailing trips result in a tip, as reported by Business Insider . That’s much lower than other services, with 90% of food-delivery trips getting a customer tip, compared with 75% of grocery-delivery trips. In another survey of over 500 gig drivers, Gridwise reported that 78% of gig drivers said tips mattered significantly to their overall incomes.

Is anonymity making it easier to be a cheapskate? After all, even if you’ve stiffed someone, odds are you’ll never see that driver again. “I’ve driven more than 10,000 trips in Los Angeles, and I’ve never seen the same person twice,” Avedian said.

How did we get here?

Avedian offered a bit of background on the history of rideshares and tipping.

“Uber, which was the first on the scene, set up their system without an easy way to tip,” he explained. “People often didn’t even realize it was possible to tip their driver. Back then, though, drivers were making from 60% to 80% of the value of a ride, which is now much, much lower. At best, we get half the cost of a trip, or less. Then Lyft came along five years later in 2017, and they made a provision for tipping from day one, so then Uber jumped in and had a tipping function, too.”

But with just over one in five passengers choosing a tip of any size, times are tougher for rideshare drivers.

Of course, there are times when service is awful and a tip shouldn’t be given. “I agree that not every driver should be tipped,” Avedian said. But if the ride was a good one, he said, remember that “tipping is an important revenue source for the driver.”

Do drivers even know if you’ve tipped them?

Uber drivers don’t know what kind of tipper you are until the ride is complete, based on how the Uber app functions.

Levi Spires is an Uber driver who creates content about rideshare culture . He explained it this way: “Unlike food delivery, your Uber driver doesn’t know if they’ll get a tip until about five minutes after you’re out of the car. Drivers don’t know who tips us until after you exit the car and we rate you.”

Avedian said that there’s a similar delay with Lyft. He also noted that with both services, drivers’ tips can have extreme delays. “Sometimes tips show up days, if not weeks, later,” he said.

Since riders are not verified like drivers, your driver can’t see anything other than the name that you’ve provided (which might not even be your real name). Avedian said that Uber had been testing out the inclusion of notice on the request screen designating what they called a “Top Tipper Rider.”

“Unfortunately, they got rid of it after a few months of piloting it,” he said.

Spires said he often receives requests to wait for passengers, and often those requests come with the promise of a tip. “But we drivers know that people who promise tips sometimes don’t tip,” he said. He once received eight cents from a passenger who asked him to wait and promised to tip $8, but he had no way to contact the person or ask if it was a mistake. In the last four years of driving, he said, “Eleven percent of my total income is from tips.”

Being asked to wait, as Spires mentioned above, makes life even tougher for rideshare drivers, for whom time is truly money. If every person asks their driver to wait 10 minutes, that driver has less available time to work. So even if you can’t tip big, at least show up where you need to be.

“It’s rude to make your driver wait, said Uber driver Matthew Reid . “Being ready at pickup is almost — almost — better than a tip.”

Who are the best tippers?

Jeff Hoenig is a part-time Uber driver who works in Myrtle Beach and Charleston, South Carolina. He’s the author of “Driving On the Sunny Side With 10,000 Strangers: Celebrating The Lives of My Uber/Lyft Riders .”

With a current passenger count now exceeding 13,000 rides, he has some thoughts on what’s considered to be a good tip. “If it’s a very short ride, any tip should be appreciated. I’ve gotten $5 tips on $3 to $4 rides, and I’m very thankful for those. But then there are long rides of an hour or more for which we receive no tip. In those cases, that tip would have made all the difference in the world.”

Still, even though he tends to get a higher percentage of tipping passengers than drivers in other cities, most people don’t tip him at all. “As great a job as I do, and as much fun my passengers have, about 55% of my last 5,000 rides have not tipped.” He wishes that riders knew more about the drivers’ share of costs: “If they could see clearly what the driver was getting, I think some of them would be mad, and maybe they’d be more generous.”

Over the years, he’s kept an informal tally of those most likely to tip. At the top of his list: tourists. Other folks who are usually more likely to tip include locals who are traveling in the area, people going to the airport, other rideshare drivers, bartenders and older couples heading out for dinner. His list seems like the perfect mix of people who are in good moods, might recognize him from around town and/or those who understand the necessity to tip in a service culture.

But in the end, service matters more than demographics, he believes. “I give the best ride I can, no matter who’s in the car,” he said. “Good karma and good tips will come.”

What’s enough? And what more can you do?

“I think a large number of riders don’t realize what a huge difference even a dollar or two makes,” Reid said. “Drivers bear all the risk and expense of being on the road. Costs are up, safety risks are increasing and fares from the rideshare companies are down. Tips make a large part of our weekly earnings, and every tip is appreciated.”

Moore, the drivers’ union president, said she considers 20% of a ride’s cost to be a fair tip. But she said you also can do more if you’d like: “Tip your driver, but also tell your officials that drivers need the protections that other workers have. We think this industry needs stronger regulation to ensure fair wages for driver pay and also to protect passengers from being charged exorbitant amounts.”

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Domino’s says it will tip customers who tip delivery drivers

Domino’s says it will tip customers who tip delivery drivers Domino's is launching You Tip, We Tip – a promotion that tips customers who tip their delivery drivers, beginning April 29, 2024. (Domino’s Pizza Inc./Domino’s Pizza Inc.)

Domino’s is launching a new promotion called “You Tip, We Tip.”

>> Read more trending news

The idea behind the promotion is that if customers tip their delivery drivers, they will get a tip in return, Domino’s said.

“Domino’s drivers have been hustling to deliver hot, delicious pizzas since 1960, and we love that customers have been tipping them for their great service since day one,” said Kate Trumbull, Domino’s senior vice president – chief brand officer. “But these days, everywhere you go, there’s a tip screen. The pressure to tip is real, even when no extra service is provided. So, we decided to flip the script and show our appreciation by tipping customers back.”

How does it work? If you tip $3 or more for a delivery order, you will then get a $3 coupon, People Magazine reported. The coupon can be used on another online delivery about a week later.

The company did a similar promotion in 2022 when customers would order online and pick up in-store. It was called “Carryout Tips,” according to People Magazine. They would get a $3 coupon for a future order.

The new promotion starts on April 29, Domino’s said. More information about the promotion can be found on Domino’s website.

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Domino’s says it will tip customers who tip delivery drivers

(Gray News) – Domino’s Pizza plans to reward customers who tip their delivery drivers.

The pizza company is launching a new promotion April 29 that will give customers a $3 tip to use on their next online delivery order when they tip their driver.

“Domino’s drivers have been hustling to deliver hot, delicious pizzas since 1960, and we love that customers have been tipping them for their great service since day one,” Domino’s senior vice president Kate Trumbull said in a news release.

“But these days, everywhere you go, there’s a tip screen. The pressure to tip is real, even when no extra service is provided. So, we decided to flip the script and show our appreciation by tipping customers back.”

Domino’s is the first quick-serve restaurant to tip customers for tipping their delivery drivers, according to a new release.

Copyright 2024 Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.

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A millennial Lyft driver who used the gig to explore all 50 states explains his strategies for maximizing earnings and tips

• Kreskin J. Torres, a Lyft driver, has traveled across all 50 states, documenting his dining experiences.
• Torres is working on a book, an app called Rideshare Foodies, and is organizing a national potluck.
• He said gig driving is just temporary and has helped him achieve his larger goals.

Kreskin J. Torres, 35, has eaten his way through all 50 states — including Alaska and Hawaii. His ticket to doing so? Driving for Uber and Lyft .

The Army veteran and Baltimore native has documented his dining on his blog Rideshare Foodie . After seven years, he's learned the most profitable times of day to drive, the best locations to find riders in each city and the optimal strategies for maximizing tips .

"You just got to work smarter, not harder," Torres said. "From my experience, I've been in every state, so I know how every city works now."

At the same time, he's been able to pursue his foodie passions. Torres is now working on a book called "Taste of the States," his recommendations app called Rideshare Foodies, and planning a series of events to honor dishes from various states and their history.

While driving for ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft can be a flexible way to earn money for people like Torres who have more than one hustle, it can also be a recipe for burnout. Among the dozens of drivers Business Insider has spoken with over the past few months, many are already dreaming of what's next — starting a business or finding new modes of employment .

And that's Torres' main career advice for those considering it. After all, he's not planning to do the job forever, as he hopes to transition away, though it helped him jump-start new paths for his future.

"Do not make this the end all be all," Torres said, noting how Uber and Lyft have threatened to pull out of Minneapolis. "When it started, it was advertised as a gig, a side hustle."

Traveling the country as a gig driver

As a veteran, he said this job has been relatively stress-free and helpful for not feeling lonely, a similar sentiment he's heard from veterans with PTSD.

"I enjoy meeting and connecting with different people and getting to see different places," Torres said.

He decided to spend his next few years on the road using driving to fund his adventures and to meet locals who could point him to the best restaurants and experiences.

"The great thing is you get to learn about different cities and how everything operates," Torres said.

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He moved to San Antonio , though he works mainly around the more-profitable Austin area, and has explored the South and Southeast.

While he doesn't make much money from his blog, he said driving has allowed him to try everything from Navajo tacos in Arizona to biscuits in chocolate gravy in Arkansas to huckleberry swirls in Montana. Driving has led him to some of his favorite restaurants like I693 Red Zone Grill in Jackson, Mississippi; Strawberry's BBQ in Holcomb, Missouri; and Rice & Roll by Xing Xing in Wichita.

Learning the most profitable places and times to drive

Torres noticed he would get more profitable rides driving around suburbs, airports, and sports stadiums, locations coveted by drivers as they get more tips and sometimes elevated fares.

He learned New Year's will always be profitable , though rides slow down around February before picking up in mid-March. It's led him to be more methodical about the types of rides to take, as well as planning when to save more of his earnings and when to splurge a little on food and travel.

"After seven years, I'm a lot more experienced. It depends on the time of the season, so I usually can do a lot more business in college towns," Torres said. "I would visit a city, see what they're known for, a little history behind it."

Torres was making enough to comfortably travel the country, though he's always been careful since he said passengers are sometimes confused by his out-of-state license plate. He also faced a permanent deactivation from Uber last year over a dispute over the color of his car.

He doesn't have a wife or kids, nor does he have an apartment, as he mainly lives out of his car to save money. He acknowledges that growing competition on the road and lower earnings could put a greater dent in savings for people with families or permanent residences.

Torres has transitioned to driving full-time for Lyft , and he typically is online for 12 hours a day but only actively drives five to six hours in between waiting around airports.

He said he's increasingly put himself in his passengers' shoes to determine the best places and times to drive — he likely won't put in the effort to drive during rain, and he's more likely to do later trips around concert venues or bars.

To continue supporting his travels, he said he sometimes does airport rides at 3 or 4 a.m., as well as rides between 6:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. during the morning rush. He also said being online around noon is fruitful for corporate workers, while 3 p.m. is right when schools let out. He usually tries not to drive around evening rush hours but sometimes resumes later at night.

He also devotes more time to driving between Wednesday and Sunday, when rides are more frequent, whether for "whiskey Wednesdays" or Friday afternoon happy hours. This is also when he can best network with passengers and hear their stories, as he said he occasionally gets to drive famous people.

Torres said drivers should consider this a short-term opportunity while working toward long-term goals. As he eases off the app, he has his eyes set on more international travel in the coming months. He's also investing more time in his food app, a local recommendation tool that functions like a Facebook group in which people ask questions about, for example, the best bartender in the area or where to go for particular dishes. It has launched on Android and set to be released on Apple by the summer.

"The most positivity that you can get out of it, do whatever you can and get the most out of it," Torres said. "The next few months will probably be my last time doing this because I'm focusing on other things, so I always had a plan for the things I was going to do."

Are you a ride-hailing driver who's struggling to pay bills or has had recent success? Have you recently pivoted to a new career from driving? Reach out to  [email protected] .

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Release Date:

OS Builds 22621.3527 and 22631.3527

2/27/24 IMPORTANT: New dates for the end of non-security updates for Windows 11, version 22H2

The new end date is June 24, 2025 for Windows 11, version 22H2 Enterprise and Education editions. Home and Pro editions of version 22H2 will receive non-security preview updates until June, 26, 2024. 

After these dates, only cumulative monthly security updates will continue for the supported editions of Windows 11, version 22H2. The initial date communicated for this change was February 27, 2024. Based on user feedback, this date has been changed so more customers can take advantage of our continuous innovations . 

For information about Windows update terminology, see the article about the  types of Windows updates  and the  monthly quality update types . For an overview of Windows 11, version 23H2, see its update history page .  

Note  Follow  @WindowsUpdate  to find out when new content is published to the Windows release health dashboard.      

New! The Recommended section of the Start menu will show some Microsoft Store apps. These apps come from a small set of curated developers. This will help you to discover some of the great apps that are available. If you want to turn this off, go to Settings > Personalization > Start . Turn off the toggle for Show recommendations for tips, app promotions, and more .

New! In the coming weeks, your most frequently used apps might appear in the Recommended section of the Start menu. This applies to apps that you have not already pinned to the Start menu or the taskbar.

New! This update improves the Widgets icons on the taskbar. They are no longer pixelated or fuzzy. This update also starts the rollout of a larger set of animated icons.

New! This update affects Widgets on the lock screen. They are more reliable and have improved quality. This update also supports more visuals and a more customized experience for you.

This update affects the touch keyboard. It makes the Japanese 106 keyboard layout appear as expected when you sign in.

This update addresses an issue that affects Settings. It stops responding when you dismiss a flyout menu.

Improvements

Note:  To view the list of addressed issues, click or tap the OS name to expand the collapsible section.

Important:  Use EKB  KB5027397  to update to Windows 11, version 23H2.

This non-security update includes quality improvements. Key changes include:

This build includes all the improvements in Windows 11, version 22H2.

No additional issues are documented for this release.

This non-security update includes quality improvements. When you install this KB:

This update adds a new mobile device management (MDM) policy called “AllowScreenRecorder.” It affects the Snipping Tool. IT admins can use this policy to turn off screen recording in the app.

This update adds support for Arm64 .msi files using a Group Policy Object (GPO). You can now use the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) to add Arm64 .msi files. You can also use a GPO to install these files on Arm64 machines.  

This update addresses an issue that affects the netstat -c command. It fails to perform effective port exhaustion troubleshooting.

This update addresses an issue that affects a low latency network. The speed of data on the network degrades significantly. This occurs when you turn on timestamps for a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) connection.

This update addresses a race condition that might stop a machine from starting up. This occurs when you set up a bootloader to start up multiple OSes.

This update addresses an issue that affects an accelerator backing store management path. A memory leak occurs that affects some devices.

This update affects media allocations. It improves their memory granularity for some hardware setups. This lowers overcommitment. Also, performance is more efficient.

This update affects Windows Subsystem for Linux 2 (WSL2). Intermittent name resolution fails in a split DNS setup.

This update addresses an issue that affects universal printers. The system creates duplicate print queues for them.

This update makes Country and Operator Settings Asset (COSA) profiles up to date for some mobile operators.

This update addresses an issue that affects the container networking Address Resolution Protocol (ARP). It returns the wrong Virtual Subnet ID (VSID) for external ports.

This update addresses a memory allocation issue in the Host Networking Service (HNS). The issue causes high memory consumption. It also affects service and pod deployment and scaling.

This update addresses an issue that occurs when you elevate from a normal user to an Administrator to run an application. When you use a PIN to sign in, the app will not run.

This update affects hypervisor-protected code integrity (HVCI). It accepts drivers that are now compatible.

This update includes quarterly changes to the Windows Kernel Vulnerable Driver Blocklist file, DriverSiPolicy.p7b . It adds to the list of drivers that are at risk for Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver (BYOVD) attacks.

This update addresses an issue that affects Protected Process Light (PPL) protections. You can bypass them.

This update addresses an issue that affects Bluetooth Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) hardware offload. A stop error occurs on PCs that support it.

This update addresses an issue that affects the Distributed Transaction Coordinator (DTC). A memory leak occurs when it retrieves mappings.

This update addresses an issue that affects Windows Local Administrator Password Solution (LAPS). Its Post Authentication Actions (PAA) do not occur at the end of the grace period. Instead, they occur at restart.

This update addresses an issue that affects the Resilient File System (ReFS). A high load might make the system unresponsive. Also, signing in might be slow.

If you installed earlier updates, only the new updates contained in this package will be downloaded and installed on your device.

Windows 11 servicing stack update - 22621.3522 and 22631.3522

This update makes quality improvements to the servicing stack, which is the component that installs Windows updates. Servicing stack updates (SSU) ensure that you have a robust and reliable servicing stack so that your devices can receive and install Microsoft updates. 

Known issues in this update

How to get this update.

Before installing this update

Microsoft combines the latest servicing stack update (SSU) for your operating system with the latest cumulative update (LCU). For general information about SSUs, see Servicing stack updates  and  Servicing Stack Updates (SSU): Frequently Asked Questions .

Install this update

If you want to remove the LCU

To remove the LCU after installing the combined SSU and LCU package, use the DISM/Remove-Package command line option with the LCU package name as the argument. You can find the package name by using this command: DISM /online /get-packages .

Running Windows Update Standalone Installer ( wusa.exe ) with the /uninstall switch on the combined package will not work because the combined package contains the SSU. You cannot remove the SSU from the system after installation.

File information

For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the  file information for cumulative update 5036980 .  

For a list of the files that are provided in the servicing stack update, download the  file information for the SSU - versions 22621.3522 and 22631.3522 . 

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