LIFEMATE SAFARIS TIPPING GUIDELINES
Gratuity Guidelines
Gratuities are a frequently discussed topic when it comes to Tanzania safaris, Mount Kilimanjaro treks, and holidays in Tanzania in general. Many travelers often wonder how much they should tip or whether tipping is necessary at all. After spending a significant amount on your trip, it’s understandable to question whether additional tipping is expected.
Tanzania’s Tipping Customs and Background
Tanzania is a developing country, and visitors from Western nations may perceive local wages as being quite low. As a result, tipping has become a customary way to show appreciation for the services provided by your safari guides, mountain crews, and other support staff. In fact, tipping is generally considered standard practice in Tanzania, and failing to offer a tip may leave service providers feeling undervalued.
Why Is Tipping Important?
For many guides, cooks, and support staff, tips make up a significant part of their total income. While we strive to ensure our team receives fair and competitive wages—well above the industry average—tipping still plays a vital role in supplementing their earnings.
Tipping is also a meaningful way to express your appreciation. Our team works incredibly hard to provide an exceptional experience, often going above and beyond. For instance, during hikes, some porters may carry clients’ daypacks—items normally carried by the clients themselves—and in some cases, even assist clients physically to help them reach the summit.
Gratuities serve as motivation and recognition for outstanding service. In this industry, it’s common for top-performing guides and chefs to choose jobs at companies where clients tip well, even if the base salary is lower. Understanding this helps explain why tipping directly influences the dedication and performance of the team supporting your journey.
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 effort to let the crew informed so each can receive as you planned
Tanzania Safari tipping guideline
We recommend that travelers tip between the below guideline, However tipping is not mandatory or enforced but highly recommended. As it is a safari tradition & the crew will be expecting some tips. you can tip more or less depending on the performance of the crew.
Who Should You Tip During Your Trip?
Here are the key service providers you’ll likely encounter during your Tanzania adventure and the suggested tipping amounts:
Safari Guide:
Your safari guide is your main point of contact on game drives, helping you spot and understand the wildlife, ecosystem, and local culture. Tipping is customary at the end of your safari, with a recommended amount of $15–$20 per person, per day.
Lodge and Camp Staff:
Whether it’s housekeeping, waitstaff, or other team members ensuring your comfort, the behind-the-scenes staff contribute greatly to your experience. Instead of tipping individuals, it’s recommended to use the communal tip box usually found at reception. A good guideline is $10–$20 per day per couple or family, depending on service level.
Private Driver:
If you’ve arranged private transport, your driver plays a key role—not just for transfers, but often during game drives as well. A typical gratuity is around $10–$15 per person, per day, though this can vary based on trip duration and the quality of service provided.
Note: Why don’t LIFEMATE SAFARIS add a surcharge to the trip’s price to cover tips?
- Tipping in Tanzania is tax-free, adding it to the price will be subjected to 18% vat on the price & as the tips will then be tamed as official income to the crew it will then be subjected to income tax. Hence lowering the value, the crew receives or increases the tip amount to the client
- Transparency, we do believe our team has full trust in us but to ensure we don’t ever have to explain we encourage our clients to tip directly and recommend those who feel the need to discreetly should use envelopes.
When to Tip on a Safari
The timing of your tips will depend on your safari itinerary and your personal preferences.
Here are a few common practices:
- At the end of the safari:
This is the most common time to tip, as it allows you to reflect on your entire experience and show appreciation for all the people who made it possible. - At the end of each day:
If you’re on a multi-day safari, you might choose to tip each day to show appreciation for the daily service you received. - Throughout the trip:
If you feel that someone has gone above and beyond, you can choose to tip them as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.
Safari Tipping FAQs:
Is it customary to tip on a safari?
Yes, it’s customary to tip on a safari, especially in countries where tourism is a significant part of the economy. Tipping is a way to show appreciation and help support local communities.
What is the appropriate amount to tip on a safari?
The appropriate amount to tip on a safari will depend on several factors, including the cost of your trip, the level of service you received, and local customs. A good rule of thumb is to tip 10-15% of the cost of your trip.
Is it better to tip in local currency or US dollars?
It’s always best to tip in the local currency, as this helps support the local economy. If you don’t have the local currency, US dollars are widely accepted.
Tipping on a safari is a way to show appreciation for the people who make your trip a success. From your safari guide to the lodge staff, understanding who to tip and how much to tip can be confusing, especially if you’re not familiar with local customs. This Safari Tipping Guideline is a starting point to help you make informed decisions and ensure that your tips are well received. Remember, the most important thing is to tip what you feel is appropriate and reflective of the service you received. So, as you plan your next adventure in the heart of nature, make sure to factor in the Safari Tipping Guideline to show appreciation for the people who make your experience unforgettable.
Payment Terms:
Payments are scheduled as follows:
Deposit Payment Due on Safari in Lodges or tented camps bookings: 40% must be paid.
Deposit payment due on tailor-made option bookings: 40% – 70% can be requested
Final Payments can be due on arrival (Cash is accepted & preferred).
Payment can be made by bank wire/transfer, credit cards and online payments E.g. PesaPal. We will provide our banking details to enable this process.
NOTE: All payments made should be to company accounts, which are all in Tanzania. We do not have any offshore Accounts
It is common for us to receive separate payments for different individuals within a group touring together and accept payments from each (links will be sent to facilitate the payments), but communication of the relevant information should always take place via the group leader, who remains financially responsible for the whole trip.
Payment Contract or Invoices.
All payments & instalments must be paid prior to your Tour start date. When the client or representative has made the tour payment bank/wire transfer, please email a copy of the bank receipt to the Company. We will confirm receipt of the funds via email.
All costs as a result of payment will be handled by the clients, costs such as a surcharge of 3.5% for credit card & online payments, wire transfer charges
Currency.
All our quotations are made in US$, Euros and Tanzanian shillings. Cash is accepted in US$ preferably however Euros, Pound sterling are also accepted. Customers are required to pay in any currency mentioned above and can do so by making a bank transfer directly into our bank account.
We will provide our banking details to facilitate this process.
Tour Element Modifications.
a) By the Company
The duties for payment by the Client or Client representative mentioned above are based on the assumption that we are able to book the trip as quoted. While every effort is made to obey to all itineraries, Life mate safaris reserves the right to make itinerary changes for your suitability.
In the rare case of an unexpected delay, change, or extension to the tour schedule due to circumstances such as flight disruptions, adverse weather, labor strikes, civil unrest, or any other events outside the control of Life Mate Safaris, it is acknowledged that any costs incurred as a result (including accommodation, meals, rebooking fees, etc.) will be the responsibility of the client. We strongly advise all clients to secure travel insurance to cover such situations.
For group tours, where participants may select from a range of package options and coordinating schedules can be challenging, the company may adjust the itinerary. These adjustments will not reduce the time spent at any destination or change the destinations themselves but are made to better align with the logistics of the group.
As an illustration, if the original itinerary includes visits to Parks A, B, and C in that sequence, it may be rearranged to start with Park C, followed by B and then A, particularly if some travelers choose to visit only two parks on the same date.
Additionally, there are occasions when we are unable to confirm the itinerary exactly as initially quoted. This usually results from limited room availability or more serious events such as natural disasters (e.g., fires or floods) affecting roads or lodges. In such cases, any payment commitments are nullified. However, we retain the right to make minor adjustments to the itinerary during the booking phase, provided these do not affect the core terms of the contract or the financial obligations of the Client or their representative.
Such small modifications are limited to the following:
The replacement of up to two lodges/hotels within a trip by lodges which the Company defines as interchangeable.
The rearrangement of the order of the lodge/hotel nights within a trip.
The adjustment of the number of nights spent at each lodge/hotel within a trip.
The movement of any transport element from one supplier to another.
These changes are relatively uncommon – by the time a trip reaches the final quote stage, most elements will be either showing as available or already on hold with the suppliers. These conditions prevent customers from using a small change on the invoice as an excuse to cancel a whole trip without honouring their obligation to pay cancellation charges.
For any changes that result in a price reduction, the trip will be charged at this lower price. For any changes that result in a price increase, the Company will either seek permission from the Client or Client representative to make the change and pass the cost on, or will need to absorb in the increase in cost and continue to offer the trip at the agreed price.
The Client or Client representative is obliged to accept any changes arising due to errors or omissions on the trip paperwork, so please be sure to read your quotation paperwork carefully. Excepted from this are errors or omissions that could not possibly have been picked up by the group leader, which will either be absorbed by us or the order will be declined as per the following paragraph.
b) By the Client or Client representative.
Should you wish to make a change to your booking after it has been paid and deposits received, we will usually need to charge an amendment fee to cover additional administration costs. Itinerary charges can involve significant time and administration costs, so best to avoid changes if at all possible. If the changes involve the actual cancellation of any element of the booking, standard cancellation charges will apply.
Changes which involve adding to an existing booking can usually be carried out without an amendment charge.
Cancellation.
In case of cancellation made from your end, the following conditions will apply
. Up to 45 days- Full Refund
.30-20 days – 50% Refund
.20 –7 days – 25% Refund
.7 days – 24 hours No RefunD
b) Changes and cancellations by the Company.
Very occasionally we may experience the failure of a supplier, or more commonly, the inability of a seller to deliver an approved service. One example is the inability of a safari operator to put a mobile camp out into the field due to a change in park regulations, the closure of a road or border or extreme weather conditions.
A more common but still relatively rare occurrence is an error being made during the bookings process, either by ourselves or our suppliers, which leads to a lack of availability for a particular element of the trip. In both cases we will attempt to replace the service with an equal, which would not impact on the status of the booking and its payment and delivery responsibilities. In some cases, this may not be possible and we will need to seek your agreement to a more significant change.
Lifemate safaris reserves the right in dangerous cases to cancel a tour at any time prior to departure if due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or any reason whatsoever it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. The refund of all land payments received shall release the Company from any further liability.
The Company is not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have suffered as a result of your booking such as visa fees, vaccinations, non-refundable air tickets, etc.