Tipping Guide

[DieJager]

I may have missed this in the thread but I have a question.
How do you tip the PH if he is actually the Owner/Outfitter? Do you tip him the same as if he was a PH working under someone else?

No, I would not. Totally different in my perspective. But like much of this topic; a lot of different opinions. So choose the one you are most comfortable with.

 

[grand veneur]

I would not give a tipping to an owner/outfitter neither.

Tipping is for employees, not for the bosses.

 

[mark-hunter]

Honestly it is pretty dang hard to be unsuccessful in Africa unless you can’t shoot and/or can’t walk.

There are PG hunt in south africa and namibia, where instead of oryx, you can shoot impala. Of 5 to 7 animals in package if you dont get one or two you still have a great experience.

And there is leopard, bongo, mountain nyala, lord derby eland, elephant, cheetah

Higher values, higher hopes, and lesser chances. Thus the question.

 

[Paul Homsy]

One thing that maybe was never mentioned on this topic.
After unsuccessful hunt?
To tip or not? To reduce the tip?
What do you say?

I tip anyway. There are times when guides do so much work and put so much effort that as far as the tip is concerned, I still feel they deserved it. It is personal but to me the effort is more important than the trophy. I'm not preaching to anyone. Just giving my views.

 

[Hank2211]

Yes

You tip the PH that took you hunting the same no matter if he owns the company or is a PH working for a company.

You tip the person that put in the work in the field with you based on the effort he put in (not the results…he can’t shoot them for you)

At the risk of moving this thread along another dozen pages, I'm not sure I agree with this advice.

The owner of the safari company or outfitter makes a certain amount of money on your day rate (likely very little, I admit), and he/she also makes money on every animal you shoot. If he owns the animals you shoot, then the trophy fees are his, and he does better as you do better. Even if he doesn't won the animals - he's taken you to a third party property for example - he has worked out a deal with the owner of that property to share the trophy fee with that owner. He may not make as much, but of course his costs are lower if he's shooting someone else's animals.

That's not the case with salaried or independent PH's, at least not in my experience. Shooting more animals generally results in a happier client, which may/should result in a better tip, but it doesn't put an extra nickel in the PH's pocket. If the owner works harder and you shoot more, he makes more. If the PH works harder and you shoot more, he doesn't make any more. That's a difference worth recognizing in my view.

I've tried to discuss this with some owners and outfitters I have known, always with no success. I've suggested that giving PHs a piece of the trophy fees would incentivize them to work harder and help clients take more animals, but the response has basically been either "that's how we do things here" to a polite MYOB.

So I tend to tip the independent or salaried PH more than I would tip the owner. If I tip the owner at all.

All of the foregoing applies to South Africa. Other countries can (and do) have different systems, especially with respect to animal ownership and trophy fees.

 

[Mopani]

IThere are times when guides do so much work and put so much effort that as far as the tip is concerned, I still feel they deserved it.

In my opinion everyone involved should give his best, an African hunting safari is very expensive. Sadly sometimes I get the feeling staff and even the PH mainly work for the tip. And if the tip isn’t according their expectations, they can hardly hide their anger.

 

[Hank2211]

In my opinion everyone involved should give his best, an African hunting safari is very expensive. Sadly sometimes I get the feeling staff and even the PH mainly work for the tip. And if the tip isn’t according their expectations, they can hardly hide their anger.

Hardly hide their anger?!

At the end of a safari in Ethiopia (now that's expensive!) I had asked my PH for reasonable tip levels for the camp staff. He gave me a number for the security guards, who were two younger men (20's) who slept during the day and apparently made sure we were safe at night (from what I could tell, they spent most of their time sleeping and chewing khat, but security was the job description).

I handed out the tips, as I was told to do (rounding up), and a few minutes later, I heard yelling from behind a tent. The PH and I walked over too see what was going on, and there was one of the security guards, who I had just paid, almost foaming at the mouth at what he felt was an insulting tip. And waving his AK around at the same time. I said if he wants more, I can deal with that - but the PH said let's get out of here and let the local PH deal with it.

He may have gotten a bigger tip once before and decided that that was the standard from then on.

This is what can happen when an out of control "tipping culture" gets ahold of people.

 

[expresshunt]

Here in NT.. from my experience... If the owner is guiding, and does a good job, he will appreciate a tip the same as the other 1 or 2 guides in the same camp.
A tip is a bonus from the client for good work... and believe me it's really appreciated wether small or bigger, and generally put towards some nice kit, or special accessory that is needed by that guide.
But, it's an individual thing...
Safe hunting...

 

[Tundra Tiger]

As many have stated... each to their own. I knew and accepted the idea of tipping prior to going on my hunt. I planned for it, and was OK with it. I do not tip willy-nilly, but if I feel like service is above and beyond, I try to tip well. And the fact that for my trip that my PH was also the owner had no bearing on tipping. The service he provided every day, all day long, deserved a tip, which I gratefully left.

 

[Sabattiboy]

What is “Unsuccessful”?

You miss on several animals?
You can’t walk and get where you need to be?

Honestly it is pretty dang hard to be unsuccessful in Africa unless you can’t shoot and/or can’t walk.

And there are no bench rest in the bush, so you need to be able to shoot off sticks standing and sitting on your ass as well as over a pack/rolled up coat

You tip based on the effort put in by the PH not your results and I wouldn’t expect hou to be “unsuccessful” unless you were the problem

That "Honesty" is a key element in any transaction.
If a record trophy is wanted but not conveyed, it is only luck that the two would end in agreement.
If a trophy is hinted to be available and it is not how can it end good?
You see, when I go to a dentist, and he can see a tooth in my mouth is on its last leg but pushes a root canal and crown for $2k, or more, knowing he/she is going to be selling me a pull and post for $10k in a year I am certain they are making payments on a boat or vacation place. That is not honesty. In my opinion.

Imagine a hunt being booked where the PH over sells the hunt and the client fails to convey he is a tightwad. I would say that is a match made in heaven. I might pay to watch the end result.

But, is it possible the top trophy animals send the lower ranking brothers out first?

Regardless of the opinions and experience related here I am glad to read the input.
I've not hunted Africa but have been in other travels where tipping is expected and realize there are many ways service is provided. When on a cruise ship they held a practice emergency where we were to go to our assigned lifeboat. At key places stood males and females that were to guide us in an emergency that turned out to be musicians etc. Those people collected tips where they played not as emergence guides. Maybe they would block the doorway to get a tip as we left the boat.

 

[Zambezi]

It really should not make a difference if the PH is the owner or not.
What are you tipping for and what are you paying for?
Before you sign the contract you are agreeing to pay:

• Daily rate
• trophy fee
• etc
• etc

When tipping you are tipping based on the SERVICE and AMMENITIES and to a lessor extent the success of the hunt. So if you got great service, stayed in a great lodge, had great food and the PH/Owner was not to blame if you didn't succeed then why the hell does it make a difference if the PH is the owner or not! You got what you paid for. You enjoyed the hunt and the overall experience. THAT is what you're tipping for, not the PH/Owner's station in life.

IMHO

PS.... Being a PH or even an Owner is exactly like any other job in life. It's always nice to be appreciated for doing your job well. In other jobs you may get an annual bonus or a performance bonus. The gratuity you give is the bonus for a job well done or going above and beyond.

 

[TERMINATOR]

It really should not make a difference if the PH is the owner or not.
What are you tipping for and what are you paying for?
Before you sign the contract you are agreeing to pay:

• Daily rate
• trophy fee
• etc
• etc

When tipping you are tipping based on the SERVICE and AMMENITIES and to a lessor extent the success of the hunt. So if you got great service, stayed in a great lodge, had great food and the PH/Owner was not to blame if you didn't succeed then why the hell does it make a difference if the PH is the owner or not! You got what you paid for. You enjoyed the hunt and the overall experience. THAT is what you're tipping for, not the PH/Owner's station in life.

IMHO

PS.... Being a PH or even an Owner is exactly like any other job in life. It's always nice to be appreciated for doing your job well. In other jobs you may get an annual bonus or a performance bonus. The gratuity you give is the bonus for a job well done or going above and beyond.

Exactly

The owner gets paid for all the things they do to coordinate the hunt and make it happen.

I tip the person that I spend time in the field with who works hard to help me get animals. The harder the PH in the field works for me the better the tip. It’s that simple.

And it makes no difference if the PH in the field is the owner or not. I pay the safari company for the logistics and effort to get me to/from hunt, secure the lodging, secure the places to hunt and arrange for me to have a PH and tracker/skinner. I tip the PERSON I hunt with and that is a completely separate thing no matter if the PH is the owner or the PH is a sub-contractor to the Safari Company

 

[Sabattiboy]

Exactly

The owner gets paid for all the things they do to coordinate the hunt and make it happen.

I tip the person that I spend time in the field with who works hard to help me get animals. The harder the PH in the field works for me the better the tip. It’s that simple.

And it makes no difference if the PH in the field is the owner or not. I pay the safari company for the logistics and effort to get me to/from hunt, secure the lodging, secure the places to hunt and arrange for me to have a PH and tracker/skinner. I tip the PERSON I hunt with and that is a completely separate thing no matter if the PH is the owner or the PH is a sub-contractor to the Safari Company

So if one takes their vehicle to a garage for repairs and the owner does the work instead of a hired mechanic, he doesn't paid for it???
If one tips the mechanic that worked on the vehicle that doesn't mean the owner gets a tip also for writing the service order???
I suppose if one really wants to hunt they will figure it out.
At least the animal won't care how it is settled as it will be dead. WHAT!!!! I wasn't worth a tip??? Next time I'll make you track me for the rest of your hunt days!

 

[TERMINATOR]

So if one takes their vehicle to a garage for repairs and the owner does the work instead of a hired mechanic, he doesn't paid for it???
If one tips the mechanic that worked on the vehicle that doesn't mean the owner gets a tip also for writing the service order???
I suppose if one really wants to hunt they will figure it out.
At least the animal won't care how it is settled as it will be dead. WHAT!!!! I wasn't worth a tip??? Next time I'll make you track me for the rest of your hunt days!

I don’t tip at the dealership so it isn’t a decision

That said…maybe I should start tipping there

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I would not give a tipping to an owner/outfitter neither.

Tipping is for employees, not for the bosses.

@grand venture
My PH was the owner as well as the PH. Regardless of him owning the property the effort he personally put into making the hunt enjoyable as well as successful in my book should have and was rewarded with a tip.
As an Australian we don't usually tip for services but if it is the custom and goes towards making up the salary I can't see why you wouldn't tip.
Just because you own a shop doesn't mean you don't get paid for your efforts.
This is only my humble opinion.
Bob

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

On my four safaris my PH was the owner/operator. Never gave it a second thought about not tipping him. When I plan a trip I always put in my budget X number of dollars per day for tips to all that might be involved in any hunt I go on. It does not matter if they are the owner, if they work hard to make your trip the best they can they deserve it. Just my opinion.

 

[grand veneur]

A tip is a gift given by a satisfied customer to an employee. When an employer receives a tip, it counts as additional income and is taxable.

If you have been very happy with a company, you can give the owner a gift, but this is not money. A tip would also have to be degrading for a top manager and even more so for the company owner, and should therefore not be accepted at all.

 

[Mopani]

A tip would also have to be degrading for a top manager and even more so for the company owner, and should therefore not be accepted at all.

Quite correct. I‘m a nature guide, have my own company. Sometimes happy clients want to tip me - I always refuse to accept the money. If the owner takes tips for himself he shows that he has no class. A tip is for employees exclusively.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

I tipped the heck out of the great staff in South Africa. The owner was quite pleased!

 

[curtism1234]

I've suggested that giving PHs a piece of the trophy fees would incentivize them to work harder and help clients take more animals, but the response has basically been either "that's how we do things here" to a polite MYOB.

The only problem with that is I think we would find a lot of "ground shrinkage" when we walk over to the dead animal, if we even knew what to look for in the first place.