Tipping on an African safari can feel a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re not familiar with the local customs. Although tipping is not mandatory, it’s a meaningful way to show appreciation for the hardworking individuals who make your safari experience unforgettable—from guides and trackers who ensure you have incredible wildlife sightings to the behind-the-scenes staff keeping the camp running smoothly.
In this post, we’ll walk you through the tipping process, explain why it’s important, and provide practical tips on how to ensure your gratuity reaches the right people, helping you navigate this part of your adventure with confidence!
Just a reminder that if you are a client of Hills of Africa, you will receive a detailed and customized tipping and expenses guide, which is tailored to your itinerary. Not only does this ensure everything runs smoothly during your trip, but helps you plan efficiently and effectively.
Why is it important to tip?
Tipping is a meaningful way to show your appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the lodge staff, who go above and beyond to ensure your safari experience is truly exceptional. These workers often spend weeks away from their families, dedicating themselves to making your vacation unforgettable.
The staff work long hours, starting at the crack of dawn to prepare your early morning tea and coffee for game drives, and continuing late into the night, ensuring your safety as you relax by the fire or head back to your tent. Their efforts are constant, even when unseen, all to make sure your experience is seamless and enjoyable.
Moreover, the tips you give don’t just impact individual staff members—they have a broader impact. In many African cultures, those who are employed are often responsible for supporting not just themselves, but also extended family members, including the elderly, children, and those without jobs. By tipping, you are directly helping the staff and their families, providing vital financial support that makes a real difference in their lives.
Who do the tips go to?
When you tip on safari, your money goes directly to the person who provided the service, ensuring they receive your appreciation for their hard work. This could be your safari guide who expertly led you on game drives, the housekeepers who kept your lodge spotless, or the driver who handled your transfers. Unlike the payment for your stay, which covers operational costs like electricity, insurance, food, and maintenance, tips are a personal way to acknowledge the individuals who made your trip exceptional.
At safari lodges, tips are generally divided between both front-of-house staff, such as waiters and bartenders, and back-of-house staff, like housekeepers, security, chefs, and maintenance teams.
If you’re staying at a hotel, your tips will go to the back-of-house workers who ensure a smooth and comfortable stay.
It’s important to note that you do not need to tip camp managers, airport staff, or lodge owners. Instead, focus on tipping those directly involved in providing your day-to-day services. Your gratitude in the form of a tip can make a significant impact on the lives of those who dedicate themselves to enhancing your safari experience.
How to tip?
There are a few different ways to tip which can get a little bit confusing, but we’re here to help so you can feel confident on how to tip!
For your guides and trackers, it’s best to tip them directly. Place the tip in an envelope with their name on it and give it to them during your last game drive as a heartfelt thank you for their expertise and all the amazing wildlife encounters they shared with you.
At most lodges, there’s a communal tip box for the behind-the-scenes staff, including chefs, housekeepers, maintenance, guards, and anti-poaching teams (if applicable). Some lodges may have two tip boxes—one for front-of-house staff like waiters, massage specialists, and drivers, and another for the back-of-house team.
If there’s no tip box, you can give your tip to the camp manager. You can either designate certain amounts to certain workers, which the camp manager will follow, or you can tell them to distribute the tips evenly between all of the workers.
Some hotels and very few safari lodges will actually allow you to add a tip to the credit card bill. To do this at a safari lodge you will need to talk to the camp manager about how you want the funds to be distributed and the camp manager will take care of everything. At a hotel, you can organize the tip with the reception. If the hotel does not take credit card tips, you may hand the tip money for the housekeeping staff at the reception and they will gladly take care of it.
Still unsure about how tipping works at a specific lodge? You can always ask us at Hills of Africa for guidance, or speak directly with the camp’s general manager, who will be happy to explain.
How Much to Tip?
The customary tipping amounts are fairly consistent among all of Africa. Here are the amounts that we recommend for the various people you will meet on your vacation.
VIP assistance at airports (passport control and connecting you to your driver) – 5 USD per guest
General safari camp/game lodge staff – 15 USD per guest, per day
Camp Guides – 15 USD per guest, per day
Game Trackers – 10 USD per guest, per day
Transfers – 5 USD per guest
Private guided tour – 25 USD per guest
Hotels – 10% of total bill
Porters at hotels and airports – 2 USD per porter
Guides for chimpanzee or gorilla trekking – 40 USD per guest
Again, these are merely suggestions of how much to tip, feel free to tip however much you feel is appropriate for the quality of service you received.
Tips for tipping
- Learn Your Itinerary If you’re a Hills of Africa client, you’re already covered! We’ll provide a detailed document for each day of your trip with suggested tipping amounts for guides, drivers, porters, and more. If you’re planning independently, take time to review your itinerary and identify where you’ll need to tip, such as for transfers, meals, or porter services, and decide how much to allocate.
- Bring Small Bills in USD for tipping The US Dollar is widely accepted for tipping in Africa. We recommend bringing small bills (fives and tens) as it can be difficult to break larger denominations. Be sure only to bring bills printed after 2008, as older bills can sometimes cause issues.
- Separate Tips into Envelopes We have found that the best way to organize your tips is to divide your tip money into labeled envelopes, specifying which camp and position (e.g., drivers, trackers, or back-of-house staff) it’s for. This keeps the tipping process discreet and ensures you’re prepared for each step of your journey.
- Keep Your Cash Secure Always store your cash safely. If your room has a safe, use it to store your cash and any other valuables you may have. If not, ask the camp manager to store it in the camp’s secure safe for peace of mind throughout your stay.
There are so many dedicated individuals who work hard behind the scenes to make sure your safari experience is nothing short of extraordinary. Tipping on safari is a wonderful way to express your gratitude for the exceptional service you receive, and it’s a meaningful part of African hospitality culture. While tipping is generally expected as a custom, it’s important to remember that it’s not obligatory – it’s simply a way to say thank you for amazing service.
At Hills of Africa, we aim to make this process stress-free, which is why every Hills of Africa client receives a one-of-a-kind, personalized tipping guide tailored to your specific itinerary. Of course, what we provide are only guidelines, tipping is a personal choice and should always reflect the quality of service you’ve experienced. If your guide goes above and beyond to ensure you have incredible wildlife sightings or if the lodge staff makes your stay feel particularly special, you’re welcome to tip more than the suggested amount. We encourage you to tip and show your appreciation in a way that feels right to you!
By following our advice and utilizing your personalized tipping guide, you can feel confident and prepared to handle tipping throughout your safari. Once that is out of the way, you can focus on what really matters—enjoying every incredible moment of your African adventure.