A small act with a real impact.
Gratuity in Tanzania is not compulsory but it is customary. Lodge staff, guides, porters, drivers and others providing service to travellers are hopeful of receiving tips. Yours will be highly appreciated, and over time, tips can make a real difference in a staff member's life. Of course you should only tip if you are satisfied with the service.
Direct tipping and the tip box.
Many lodge staff will help you directly — with luggage, food and drink, or escorting you to your tent. A tip of about US$1 per service delivered is standard. Carry a stack of one-dollar bills (or local Tanzanian shillings) for these moments.
On check-out, leave a larger tip in the "Tips Box" at reception. This covers the back-of-house staff who made your stay comfortable but who you may never have met — housekeepers, chefs, gardeners, guards, maintenance workers, office staff and the anti-poaching unit. Cash is preferred.
A separate tip at the end of the trip.
It is customary to tip your driver-guide separately at the end of your safari. Our guideline — assuming you were satisfied with their professionalism and the quality of their service — is a minimum of US$10 per guest per day hosted. Cash is preferred, though tipping by card is possible with some advance organisation.
"These are guidelines — not rules. We know our guests come from different tipping customs and different means."
Take these numbers as a starting point and adjust to reflect the service you received. Tipping is one of the warmer rituals of safari travel — and it is always received with gratitude.