Tipping is always a popular subject when it comes to Tanzania safaris, Kilimanjaro hiking, and the overall Tanzania holiday. Travelers often ask themselves how much they should tip or why they should tip at all. After paying for your safari, it is only logical to ask yourself these questions given the sums you have already paid.
Tipping Culture and Origin in Tanzania
Tanzania is not a wealthy country, and Westerners might see the local customary wages as unjust. So it has always been a tradition to tip your safari crew, mountain crew, and others who serve you while traveling in Tanzania. In fact, it is fair to say tips are expected when traveling through Tanzania, and the crew or servers will feel unappreciated when not tipped.
Why is tipping so important?
Guides, cooks, and other staff derive much of their income from tips. On the other hand, it subsidizes the wages they receive. As a company, we try our best to make sure our crew and staff get fair wages, and we pride ourselves on paying better than the market average.
The tip shows gratitude and appreciation. Most of the crew will work tirelessly to ensure clients get the best out of their experience, thus going further than things that are required. For example, on a hike, some porters carry small backpacks that are supposed to be with clients. Some go as far as carrying a client to increase their chances of reaching the summit.
Tips encourage and motivate your crew. As employers in this industry, we understand that the best guides and chefs will leave better paying companies for less pay if they will earn more in tips at the later company. After letting you in on this, we believe you understand how tips are crucial to the overall performance of the crew.
How to make sure your tip gets where you intend it to
You should make an effort to hand your tip directly to the person it is for. In this way, you can help ensure that your wishes are being respected. It is fine if you wish to put your tip into an envelope or give a group tip to be divided evenly, but you should make an effort to let the crew know so each person can receive it as you planned.
When to tip
Most clients tip at the end of the safari, which makes sense because it should be based on the overall satisfaction with your crew.
Why doesn’t Safari Soles add a surcharge to the trip price to cover tips?
Tipping in Tanzania is tax free. Adding it to the price would subject it to 18 percent VAT on the price, and because the tips would then be treated as official income for the crew, it would also be subjected to income tax. This would lower the value the crew receives or increase the tip amount for the client.
Transparency is also important. We do believe our team has full trust in us, but to ensure we never have to explain, we encourage our clients to tip directly and recommend that those who feel the need to be discreet should use envelopes.
Who to tip
Guides
Cooks
Drivers
Servers
Tanzania Safari Tipping Guideline
We recommend that travelers tip within the below guidelines. However, tipping is not mandatory or enforced, but it is highly recommended. It is a safari tradition, and the crew will be expecting some tips. You can tip more or less depending on the performance of the crew.
For a group guide, tip between 8 and 15 US dollars per guest per day.
For a private guide, tip between 20 and 40 US dollars per guest per day.
For a group safari chef, tip between 8 and 15 US dollars per guest per day.
For a private safari chef, tip between 20 and 25 US dollars per guest per day.
For general staff, tip between 1 and 5 US dollars.
A note on the private guide tip. The minimum tip assumes you are two people, and the maximum assumes you are one person. If you are on a private group of more than three people, we recommend you use the group guide guideline.
Tipping Guidelines for a Kilimanjaro Hike
Unlike tipping on a safari, tipping on Kilimanjaro is not much of a bonus or reward for particularly attentive service. Instead, it is a mandatory payment to subsidize the wages that porters or guides receive.
First, we need to keep you informed about wages. The minimum wage set is 10 US dollars a day per porter, 20 US dollars per guide, 15 US dollars per assistant guide, and 15 US dollars per mountain cook. We again emphasize that there may be a time lag between one job and the next. However, many companies do not even pay this figure. If you pay anything less than 1800 US dollars for a 5 day trek or 1900 US dollars for a 6 day trek, it is highly likely that wage demands were not met correctly.
Each group will have a head guide, assistant guide, cook, porters, and occasionally toilet porters and an assistant cook depending on the package purchased or group size.
Tanzania Tipping Guidelines per Group per Day
Head Guide: 20 to 25 US dollars.
Assistant Guide: 12 to 20 US dollars.
Cook: 12 to 20 US dollars.
Assistant Cook: 10 to 15 US dollars.
Porter: 7 to 10 US dollars.
Joining a group will reduce your individual tip figure because the tipping obligation will be shared among the group.
Example for a 6 Day Trek
For a 6 day trek, the total tipping value per group and per climber would look as follows.
If you have 1 climber with 4 porters, the total tip for the group would be between 360 and 495 US dollars. That means per climber, you would pay between 360 and 495 US dollars.
If you have 2 climbers with 7 porters, the total tip for the group would be between 576 and 850 US dollars. That means per climber, you would pay between 288 and 425 US dollars.
If you have 3 climbers with 9 porters, the total tip for the group would be between 723 and 940 US dollars. That means per climber, you would pay between 241 and 313 US dollars.
If you have 4 climbers with 11 porters and 2 assistant guides, the total tip for the group would be between 897 and 1165 US dollars. That means per climber, you would pay between 224 and 291 US dollars.
Climbers choosing treks with more or fewer porters should consider an average increase or decrease of about 60 US dollars on their tipping budget.
Donation of Clothing and Equipment
Climbers who find tipping well above their budget could consider donating hiking gear directly to the crew if they do not plan on using the gear again.
You might consider donating your clothing and equipment to the climbing team in addition to tipping them after your climb. Remember that the staff climbs Kilimanjaro many times a year and can go through their clothes and gear rather quickly.
You can be straightforward and ask if something is needed, then donate it individually. Your donation is of great assistance to these individuals, many of whom are unwilling to spend their money on material goods they consider a luxury rather than a necessity.
Tipping Ceremony on Kilimanjaro on the Last Day After the Summit
Tipping will be done on the last day of the trek in what is known as the tipping ceremony. The head guide will assemble the entire staff to say a word of thanks. Tips can be made in US dollars or Tanzanian shillings. It is crucial that US bills are not older than the year 2000, as older bills are not accepted in the country or will get a lower value in Tanzania.
It is very helpful to organize a well estimated amount of US dollars before arrival, as exchange rates may vary and differ a lot.
