Guideline ranges travellers commonly use
- Safari guide: about US$20–30 per day for the group (more for a large group or exceptional service)
- Camping safari cook: about US$10–15 per day for the group
- Lodge and camp staff: about US$10 per guest per day, in the communal tip box
- Restaurants in town: about 10% if service is not included
- Porters at hotels and airports: US$1–2 per bag
These are guidelines, not rules. Tip what feels right for the service you received.
Is tipping expected on safari?
Tipping is not included in our safari prices and is never compulsory. But in Tanzania's safari industry it is customary, and tips make a real difference to guides, cooks and lodge staff and their families. Tip for good service — and feel free to tip more for great service, or less if something was not right.
Tipping your safari guide
Your guide is with you from the first morning to the last: driving, finding wildlife, explaining what you see and looking after you. Most travellers tip their guide at the end of the safari, in one envelope, for the whole group. The daily guideline above is per group, not per person; larger groups usually give a little more in total.
Lodges and camps
Most lodges and camps have a communal tip box at reception, shared fairly among all the staff — including the people behind the scenes in the kitchen and housekeeping. Tip once, at the end of your stay. If someone has looked after you especially well — a butler, a waiter, a walking guide — you can tip them directly as well.
Kilimanjaro and trekking
Mountain crews — guides, assistant guides, cooks and porters — rely heavily on tips. Tipping on Kilimanjaro is higher than on safari because the crew is larger and the work very hard. Ask us for guidance for your route and group size before you climb; see Kilimanjaro trekking.
When and how to tip
- Tip at the end of the safari or your stay, not every day.
- Use US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. US dollar notes should be clean and printed after 2009.
- Bring small notes ($1, $5, $10, $20) — change is hard to find in the bush.
- Put tips in an envelope with a short thank-you note; it is appreciated.
- Card tips are possible at some lodges, but cash reaches staff most directly.
Budget for tips alongside your other extras — see what a safari costs.
