Tipping Guide

[Red Leg]

The suggested amount is actually just slightly more than 10% of the total hunt cost excluding air fare.

I did not pick up the first time around that you were talking Tanzania costs. Still, the driver, assistant tracker, and game scout are pushing the total a lot higher than say a comparable 10-day hunt in Mozambique. I returned from there in October and I gave my PH $1400 and another $800 which was divided from tracker to house keeping. These folks are friends, and I followed their guidance with respect to staff. I know that they considered the PH tip generous. Of course they get a lot of Europeans as clients ……….

 

[JPbowhunter]

I've always wondered, regarding tipping in Africa if it was ever really a thing as the cultures that created a lot of these countries don't really have it. Or whether it's come about due to the influx of American hunters and if now it's become an expectation.

 

[BobT]

I did not pick up the first time around that you were talking Tanzania costs. Still, the driver, assistant tracker, and game scout are pushing the total a lot higher than say a comparable 10-day hunt in Mozambique. I returned from there in October and I gave my PH $1400 and another $800 which was divided from tracker to house keeping. These folks are friends, and I followed their guidance with respect to staff. I know that they considered the PH tip generous. Of course they get a lot of Europeans as clients ……….

I kind of wondered about the game scout and the driver caught me by surprise, I just figured the PH would probably drive. I'll just have to see what transpires. I would love to hunt Mozambique at some point.

 

[Red Leg]

I kind of wondered about the game scout and the driver caught me by surprise, I just figured the PH would probably drive. I'll just have to see what transpires. I would love to hunt Mozambique at some point.

Highly recommend the adventure. Have two hunting reports and an article posted with my experiences with Grant Taylor's Mashambanzou Safaris. Just terrific. https://www.mashambanzousafaris.com/ Another is Sebastian Wicker with Nyati Safaris who actually holds the Coutada 14 concession that I have hunted each time for buffalo. http://www.nyatisafarislda.com/ PM me for any details.

 

[lil 2 sleepy]

I saw this over the weekend on an outfitters site and remembered this thread. It’s in Limpopo, so take that for what it is. I think it is the norm.

Professional Hunter - USD 50 to USD 100 per day
Tracker - USD 15 per day (One tracker per client)
Skinning shed and Skinners - USD 15 per day (This take care of the complete skinning shed personal)
Chefs and camp Staff - USD 50 per day
It boils down to the following per safari:
7 Day Safari - USD 910 to USD 1 260
10 Day Safari - USD1 270 to USD 1 620
14 Day Safari - USD 1 750 to USD 2 100
OR
USD 130 to USD 180 per day

 

[Spooksar]

I saw this over the weekend on an outfitters site and remembered this thread. It’s in Limpopo, so take that for what it is. I think it is the norm.

Professional Hunter - USD 50 to USD 100 per day
Tracker - USD 15 per day (One tracker per client)
Skinning shed and Skinners - USD 15 per day (This take care of the complete skinning shed personal)
Chefs and camp Staff - USD 50 per day
It boils down to the following per safari:
7 Day Safari - USD 910 to USD 1 260
10 Day Safari - USD1 270 to USD 1 620
14 Day Safari - USD 1 750 to USD 2 100
OR
USD 130 to USD 180 per day

This is inline with my first trip to RSA, about what the owner recommended, I’ve been using it as a guide line

 

[meigsbucks]

In response to Bullhunter, no offense taken. Did I over tip in Zim in '13?... yes. As I had stated in my first post, this is what the PH basicly recommended. Given that what I had "learned" at SCI in 2011, it didn't sound out of line.
After reading what I had read here on AH, I told the PH what I intended to tip and he thought they were reasonable with a couple of minor adjustments between people based on seniority.
Living in the USA is different than Europe or other parts of the world. Tips are expected for almost everything and the amounts ranging from 10-20%. It's insane, I agree.
As far as Africa... I think the entire staff deserves to be rewarded a little extra for the fantastic job they do. Do I know how well they're paid? No. I'm not wealthy, but $700-$1000 spread over the staff, plus a grand or so for the PH is money they've earned and deserve. Not a wage, but a way of saying thanks in a way that will have an impact on their lives.

 

[Red Leg]

I saw this over the weekend on an outfitters site and remembered this thread. It’s in Limpopo, so take that for what it is. I think it is the norm.

Professional Hunter - USD 50 to USD 100 per day
Tracker - USD 15 per day (One tracker per client)
Skinning shed and Skinners - USD 15 per day (This take care of the complete skinning shed personal)
Chefs and camp Staff - USD 50 per day
It boils down to the following per safari:
7 Day Safari - USD 910 to USD 1 260
10 Day Safari - USD1 270 to USD 1 620
14 Day Safari - USD 1 750 to USD 2 100
OR
USD 130 to USD 180 per day

About right.

 

[tommy1005]

When I go in June I’m planning on the total of the trip being about $10K and am budgeting an additional $2000 in tips. My wife and son will be with me, but I will be the only hunter and we will be the only ones in camp. Does this total sound about right?

The $10K also doesn’t include side trips that my wife and son might take.

 

[BWH]

When I go in June I’m planning on the total of the trip being about $10K and am budgeting an additional $2000 in tips. My wife and son will be with me, but I will be the only hunter and we will be the only ones in camp. Does this total sound about right?

That would be very, very generous..... feel free to take that, but use some of that on extra animals. There’s several good guidelines to use for staff, Maids, cooks, PH, tracker, skinner, etc.....

Half of that may be ample & appreciated.

 

[sestoppelman]

Depends on the service and how the hunt goes. It might be too much depending. The one thing many forget is that tips are optional there just like anywhere. Poor experience, low tip, fantastic experience, tip away.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

Tommy,
Your wife and son complicate things a bit. However, I like simple - simple is good. I have wrestled with the question tipping over and over again through the years. I have finally settled on this rule of thumb for Africa, and if you use it, you will end up somewhere near Jerome's formula. If I'm hunting plains game my total tip is usually 10% spread across everyone. I have had the privilege to hunt with a PH whom I have gotten to know well and to trust, so I give all of the tip money to him and trust him to distribute it as he promised he would do. However, if the hunt is for dangerous game (Big Game as they like to say.) I tip 20%. If there are unusual circumstances in both cases I will go higher, but there has to be something really exceptional to warrant doing that.. If something goes terribly wrong and it's the fault of the PH I will reduce the tip, but I've only done that once.

You are proposing to tip 20%. If you are on a plains game hunt, then your tip is very generous indeed.

 

[Bullhunter]

Professional Hunter - USD 50 to USD 100 per day
Tracker - USD 15 per day (One tracker per client)
Skinning shed and Skinners - USD 15 per day (This take care of the complete skinning shed personal)
Chefs and camp Staff - USD 50 per day
It boils down to the following per safari:
7 Day Safari - USD 910 to USD 1 260
10 Day Safari - USD1 270 to USD 1 620
14 Day Safari - USD 1 750 to USD 2 100
OR

Sorry, gentleman.
This is an "payment", not an "tipp".

I dont think, that an native (and this is no offence, not an bad word, pp.) african un-learnd "worker" geht 15 US dollar per day as an income.

And:
You can do what you want to do with your money.
But I dont think, that you help the countrys in africa with this.

Best wishes.

The "B.

 

[wipartimer]

How much do y'all " tip" (bribe) the SA police at Johannesburg airport for firearm transfers?

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

How much do y'all " tip" (bribe) the SA police at Johannesburg airport for firearm transfers?

I have only been on one safari. It was this year and flew Delta to Johannesburg. I used Riflepermits with meet and greet. Never saw SA police except when picking up guns and Riflepermits rep handled paperwork. On check in for return trip PH stayed with me thru gun check in and it was done by Delta employee. Never once asked for a “Tip”

 

[Nyati]

Professional Hunter - USD 50 to USD 100 per day
Tracker - USD 15 per day (One tracker per client)
Skinning shed and Skinners - USD 15 per day (This take care of the complete skinning shed personal)
Chefs and camp Staff - USD 50 per day
It boils down to the following per safari:
7 Day Safari - USD 910 to USD 1 260
10 Day Safari - USD1 270 to USD 1 620
14 Day Safari - USD 1 750 to USD 2 100
OR

Sorry, gentleman.
This is an "payment", not an "tipp".

I dont think, that an native (and this is no offence, not an bad word, pp.) african un-learnd "worker" geht 15 US dollar per day as an income.

And:
You can do what you want to do with your money.
But I dont think, that you help the countrys in africa with this.

Best wishes.

The "B.

I have to agree with Bullhunter, what is being suggested here as a tip is as much as the salary these people are actually being paid.

 

[firehuntfish]

How much do y'all " tip" (bribe) the SA police at Johannesburg airport for firearm transfers?

I'm glad you mentioned this... I strongly discourage anyone from "tipping" the SAPS during the process of clearing firearms. Every reputable operator in the safari and tourism industry in RSA have been trying for many years to end this practice. Corruption withing the SAPS and the RSA government is bad enough, and the practice of "tipping" only encourages the behavior.

We always recommend to our guests that the very best way to import firearms into RSA is through one of many reputable rifle import assist services available. I personally recommend both Henry with Riflepermits.com and the Afton Safari Lodge's rifle assist service.

 

[Nyati]

How much do y'all " tip" (bribe) the SA police at Johannesburg airport for firearm transfers?

I have personally imported my firearms through the SAPS Office in JHB and never gave them anything.

To me, using an import assistance service is about the same as paying a bribe.

 

[firehuntfish]

To me, using an import assistance service is about the same as paying a bribe.

You are certainly entitled to feel that way..... But the fact remains that if you use an import service, you are in an out of SAPS in 10 minutes or less. Without it, you will spend considerably more time on average dealing with a 3rd world, foreign bureaucracy on your own. Additionally, a good rifle import assist service provides you with many more services than just the importation process including paperwork preparation and a VIP meet & greet service right from the airplane door. For many folks, it's worth the money for both the convenience and the peace of mind. I provide the information and let my clients make their own decisions. I personally would never import my own guns without them...

 

[Nyati]

@firehuntfish, I am used to live and travel in third world countries, no issue for me.