Here are the tipping guidelines to follow for your safari:
- Private Safari Tour: USD 15-25 per day (shared by everyone in the vehicle)
- Group Safari Tour (in Tanzania): USD 10 per day, per person
You can tip in USD or local currency (Kenyan Shillings in Kenya, Tanzanian Shillings in Tanzania). Tipping should be done on the last day of your tour, after it has concluded and when you say goodbye to your guide.
You may also consider tipping the accommodation staff, but this is usually done via a common tip box at the reception. The suggested amount for this is not specified.
FAQs on Tipping
1. Why should I tip?
At Budget Safaris Tanzania, our crew members earn above minimum wage. However, tipping helps ensure they can maintain a good quality of life. The tipping system in East Africa follows the American-style, where the tip is a crucial supplement to the crew’s income, covering the gap between modest wages and the rising cost of living.
2. Why don’t you pay higher salaries to your staff instead of having tipping?
If we increased salaries to replace tipping, it would significantly raise the tour price. Moreover, crew members prefer the tipping system because it allows them to earn a livable wage without surpassing the tax threshold. Tipping also motivates guides to perform their best.
To give you an idea, if you tip $100, the guide receives the full amount. If we were to include this as part of the salary, we would need to raise prices by over $150 to cover taxes and fees.
3. Can I prepay the tips?
Unfortunately, prepaying tips is not possible. If you do prepay, up to 30% of the amount could be deducted due to taxes and fees. Therefore, we prefer not to handle the tipping process.
4. When should I pay the tip?
Tip your guide on the last day of your tour, after the safari has concluded.
