Loading Page...

What is a good tip for a safari guide?

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 is a vital part of the safari economy, as guides often rely on gratuities to supplement their base income. As of 2026, the industry standard for a professional safari guide is typically $20 to $25 per person, per day. If you are on a private safari with just your family or partner, you might lean toward the higher end of that range to reflect the personalized attention. It is customary to present the tip at the end of your stay or the conclusion of your multi-day circuit, rather than after every individual game drive. Most travelers prefer to use crisp, clean US Dollar bills (dated 2013 or later) or the local equivalent in a sealed envelope. Remember that trackers, who sit on the front of the vehicle to spot prints, are usually tipped separately, often around $5 to $10 per day, as their specialized skills are just as crucial to a successful sighting.

People Also Ask

Plan to tip around 10-15% in Kenyan restaurants. However, the exact tip amount when eating out in Kenya depends on the place, occasion, and order size. It's customary to give your waiter or waitress a slightly higher tip than you would a bartender, as they are likely sharing their tip with the kitchen staff.

MORE DETAILS

As a general guideline, we recommend tipping your PH a percentage of the total hunt cost (trophy fees and daily rates) using a sliding scale according to the level of service you feel you received with a 5% gratuity at the low end and a 10% gratuity at the high end.

MORE DETAILS

Tipping safari guides it is recommended that if you are appreciative of the services of your safari guide, an 8-10$ per person per day tip would be appropriate but if you may want to give more, you are allowed to, depending on your satisfaction levels of his services.

MORE DETAILS

Guides who are self-employed receive the entire payment therefore, much like having the owner of a beauty salon doing your hair, you aren't expected to tip them. A private tour guide with an agency is likely making better than minimum wage but would still very much appreciate the tip.

MORE DETAILS

A lot goes into the cost of running a remote safari lodge, Addison added, especially when taking into consideration high taxes, conservation fees and national park levies. Generally our experience is that it takes at least five years to pay off a lodge before it even starts to make money, he said.

MORE DETAILS

YES. Start saving now because a luxury African safari is WORTH IT. We spent about $7500 including flights, hotels on either side of our trip in Johannesburg, safari lodge, and transfers from the airport.

MORE DETAILS

Even where locals do not tip, foreigners are sometimes expected to tip except in some countries like Senegal where tipping isn't prevalent in the culture. For tour guides, budget $8-$10 per person per day if you're on a group tour and $15-$25 per person if you're on a private tour.

MORE DETAILS