On safari this is US$15-20 per person per day, handed directly to the guide at the end of your stay. Generally, you tip less per person, so a family of five could expect to pay around US$50 to the camp staff and US$60 to the guide in total per day.

Tipping on a private safari in 2026 follows a structured set of "unwritten rules" to ensure the staff are fairly compensated. For your private safari guide, the standard tip is $20 to $30 per guest, per day, handed directly to them at the end of your stay. If you are a couple, this totals $40–$60 per day. For the general camp staff (housekeepers, chefs, and maintenance), most lodges provide a "communal tip box" at reception; a tip of $10 to $20 per guest, per day is standard here and is distributed among all behind-the-scenes employees. If your safari includes a specialist tracker (common in South Africa), they should be tipped separately at about $10 to $15 per day. In 2026, US Dollars remain the preferred currency for tips across Africa, but it is essential that the bills are crisp and printed after 2013, as older "small head" bills are often rejected by local banks. Most travelers in 2026 prepare these tips in separate envelopes before leaving home.