Tipping Guide

[nsok]

When you book and pay for a safary, you need among other things camp staff and a PH and is supposed all these people are paid by the outfitter properly if do not is not hunters problem
For me, a tip should be a surprise not something more than expected, which is what today is
I am Spanish and I have always tipped, for very good service (what I paid for) and for not a very good one

 

[bee keeper]

I agree, I pay a good price for a hunt and in the list of 'included in the price' everything is there what I need.
If the service and hunt is normal that's the price I pay for it. If the trackers and PH's are great, the cooking is exceptionally good or I have a better hunt then I expected I tip everyone !!
In my opinion that's what a tip is about, otherwise they should raise the prices and add 'tips' into the 'included in the price' list.

 

[rodell]

The problems I sense, and ones I share, is the "how much is appropriate" and "how do I distribute it". One poster even alluded to the "tipping" problem entering his thoughts while still on the hunt.

I don't mind tipping but it can be very awkward.

 

[sestoppelman]

Yes it can be awkward. I have always preferred to give all the tips to the PH and let him distribute them as he sees fit. He knows better than I how they performed. My last hunt, the PH asked me while doing the hunt paperwork, "have you thought about tips for the staff"? I had of course and his tip as well which I gave over at that point. Still it seemed a little like "fishing". I was not particularly generous that trip due to many issues which have been noted here already.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Thought I would share an personal experience that occurred just a little while ago:

The Tipping topic came up indirectly during a social engagement recently and a South African friend immediately commented that "it was a North American thing".

Basically the message was, you have lost your mind if you tip. Why would you do that?

Not really sure what to make of it as a form of guidance. Just another mixed message for me.

 

[Norwegianwoods]

Tipping is a very difficult subject and as far as the base rule goes we handle it this way.

We do not except to be tipped and work as hard as we should tipping is a bonus and that is what it should be seen as, not expected.
I'm not against tipping but the tip should be something special a reward for hard work or something unusual.

I will be more than happy if the client uses that tip money to bag another animal after all if you did your job well you will have return business. This is my take on the subject and I went into this business not too become a millionaire but too have a rich enjoyable life. If your in the business for $$$ your in the wrong place. That is my few cents of tipping money worth

Jerome great article and guidelines.

This is the sort of PH I would enjoy going hunting with and I probably also would tip him well too because I am sure he will put in his best efforts for me having a great time hunting.
All depending on how tight my budget is of course
And he will do it because of the love and pride of his job, not depending on how much or little tip he gets

I really don't like this expected minimum tip that several agents/outfitters operates with at all.
I have myself worked as a waiter for some years and even if I always did my best for all my guests, I never expected any tips at all.
When people chose to spend their money in the restaurant I worked instead of eating home, it was my obligation to give them the best experience I could.
Totally disregarding how much they tipped.
Restaurant guest and a hunting clients can be very different. Some have plenty of money and can go out eating or go on a hunting trip whenever they want, and they can afford to tip well.
Others are saving up money for a long time for this special occasion and can just afford to pay for the dinner or the hunt and don't have extra money to tip.
I think it is totally unfair to expect from them that they should save up money for even longer so they can afford to tip as well.
In my opinion is a returning guest the best acknowledgement for your work you can get.

I totally understands well that staff in hunting camps/ranches often are underpayed, but that is seriously their employers responsibility, not the hunters.
I will tip them if I am happy with my stay, but don't expect me to.
People that don't have pride in what they do, but only care about how much money they earn, don't deserve a cent in tip in my opinion.
I promise you that most of the asian employees are underpayed, but I guess most people don't care about that when they buy all the products made there.

 

[James.Grage]

Traveling to Zimbabwe in a few months for a 12 day adventure.:happywave:

My sister and i will have a camp crew of 7...5 men & 2 women...plus the PH.

We are in the process of putting our..tip and a gift packages together...some of you will feel that this is over kill so save your thoughts and comments for your wife or self.

Here is what i am taking for the gifts bags for the 7 camp staff and trackers, skinners workers:
1. Tooth brush and paste.
2. Bar Soap
3. hand cream for the women
4. hair shampoo for the women
5. Candy & gum bag.
6. T-shirts - With a couple of extras
7. caps for the men
8. Knives for the men with the skinner getting 2.
9. flip-flops
10. 2 pair of Socks for the men
11. fingerless gloves for the 2 trackers.
Plus a couple of extra t-shirts and caps. for good job or saving the days.

Personal thank you cards will be made for each member and we will have a $___.__ inside. basic $10.00 a day per person up or down based on performance.

PH
1. 2 lb of coffee
2. 2 T-Shirts
3. Custom Skinning knife
4. Bottle of Spirits
Plus i will usually leave 2 to 3 pair of smart wool socks that i purchased prior to the trip.

Our daily snacks package: :rockon:
Hunting day snacks.
1. Jerky - beef and salmon
2. Beef honey nuggets (yum-yum)
3. Red & Green Chili jerky (oh yea)
4. assorted candy bars
5. Assorted Gum

Have i missed anything.:think:

 

[Code4]

For the staff, I know they would appreciate sugar and cooking oil rather than cosmetics. Whilst heavy they are worth their weight in gold over there. Also consider tin openers for the staff.

 

[sestoppelman]

Save our comments for our wife or self? I think not. Whats the point in posting something on a FORUM if not for comment? And yes I think your list is super overkill. Way overboard especially since you know nothing of what you are going to get as to service. Now I suppose if you just like lugging all that stuff around because it makes you feel good, swell. No comments? Really? LOL!

 

[Bobpuckett]

hey james one of the things I did for my trackers is they love camo so on ebay I got them some wetland and real tree Overalls NIB nice gifts for about 14.99 each and weight less then 3 pounds.

 

[BRICKBURN]

For the staff, I know they would appreciate sugar and cooking oil rather than cosmetics. Whilst heavy they are worth their weight in gold over there. Also consider tin openers for the staff.

Cooking oil just had an import duty imposed so... will certainly be priced like gold.

 

[James.Grage]

i have traveled with cooking oil before and the airlines did there thing and it busted through 3 layers of confinement. I will not do that.

Can openers you say i will see what the dollar store may have.

I have an e mail out for shoe sizes as they are always looking for a new pair of shoes.

sestoppelman
Now Why am i not surprised that you do not feel that the staff should get items of appreciation or tips. I have found that the trackers and camp staff will and have worked there butts off to help me in the past and i am sure this will continue into the future.

 

[BRICKBURN]

i have traveled with cooking oil before and the airlines did there thing and it busted through 3 layers of confinement. I will not do that.

I bet your skin was really soft though!

 

[sestoppelman]

i have traveled with cooking oil before and the airlines did there thing and it busted through 3 layers of confinement. I will not do that.

Can openers you say i will see what the dollar store may have.

I have an e mail out for shoe sizes as they are always looking for a new pair of shoes.

sestoppelman
Now Why am i not surprised that you do not feel that the staff should get items of appreciation or tips. I have found that the trackers and camp staff will and have worked there butts off to help me in the past and i am sure this will continue into the future.

James, Its not that I dont believe in tipping, I do. But solely based on performance. I dont believe it should be automatic like we tip a waitress here whether she did her job well or not. I have always tipped the PH and staff and also given gifts of knives etc. , and for you to suggest otherwise makes it obvious you have not read this whole thread wherein I have stated my position on tips fully.
My main "issue", if you will, with your above laundry list was the challenge to all of us to keep our mouths shut if we didnt like your list. Get real!

 

[Ole Bally]

James, man you are just too nice but I'm afraid you're gonna burden yourself with lbs of luggage unnecessarily.
Leave the weighty food stuffs...they are not really needed! These people LOVE clothes! If you were to pick up T shirts, and light weight clothing etc it goes down a treat....everyone loves presents and these african folk probably more so than others!!The guys will sell the knives! The company provides skinning knives and they generally sharpen them on rocks or pieces of cement! Suggestion: bring 7 windcheaters bright coloured T's for the camp staff and a coupla camo ones for the hunt guys and cash! As far as yr PH goes, most I know...myself included...loved little hunting or related gadgets! A custom knife is fine and a bottle of duty free Scotch is always appreciated...especially if you share it with him around the fire! Again he has more bills to pay than you can shake a stick at so the cash is very welcome.
One of my clients packed all the 'goodies' into a nice Igloo 48L cooler box which he then gave me....it was sooo appreciated! I still use it today some 13 years later...just a thought!
I can 99% guarantee you that they will all do their utmost to make your holiday a memorable one!
Bring lots of candy...we all have a sweet tooth!
Who's yr PH gonna be?

 

[merlin]

one thing i saw when in namibia was eveyone need shoes even if you go to a place that sells used shoes and take them.

 

[Nyati]

For the camp staff and trackers, I will give money, if I get good service, which I have so far. They will appreciate it more than anything else. Some clothing is also welcome.

For the Outfitters/PH and family, coming from Spain, we have some delicacies that most South Africans love, brandy, olive oil, cured ham...

 

[James.Grage]

Money is always first on everyone list.

I also put together a good package for the PH. Last year i found out brandy was a drink of choice. I came with a bottle of brandy just by luck.

For the camp staff and trackers, I will give money, if I get good service, which I have so far. They will appreciate it more than anything else. Some clothing is also welcome.

For the Outfitters/PH and family, coming from Spain, we have some delicacies that most South Africans love, brandy, olive oil, cured ham...

 

[Baydog]

Geez, after reading this, I'm starting to think maybe I'm cheap. My last trip, I gave each of the 5 camp staff 100 rand at the end of the hunt. I hunted with 3 different ph's and gave two of them $100 dollars US each , and the ph I spent the most time with, I gave $500US. This worked out to 8% of the total safari and the service was great and I took all the animals I wanted and they were good quality. My hunting partner also gave the camp staff the same. I know it's not 10% or more but if you do the math...The camp workers were making $130/mth. We tipped about $15 each so $30 total...that's what, about 23% of their monthly wage...not bad. Is this on the low end?????

 

[Bobpuckett]

Geez, after reading this, I'm starting to think maybe I'm cheap. My last trip, I gave each of the 5 camp staff 100 rand at the end of the hunt. I hunted with 3 different ph's and gave two of them $100 dollars US each , and the ph I spent the most time with, I gave $500US. This worked out to 8% of the total safari and the service was great and I took all the animals I wanted and they were good quality. My hunting partner also gave the camp staff the same. I know it's not 10% or more but if you do the math...The camp workers were making $130/mth. We tipped about $15 each so $30 total...that's what, about 23% of their monthly wage...not bad. Is this on the low end?????

Baydog thats one only you can answer the tipping is based on what you feel is fare, as I stated earlier I emailed the outfitter and asked him what was the average tip for the hunt that I was doing which by the way was only 4995.00 for the package and 1050 for deb to come along he told me that the average tip would be 500us for the PH 100us for each tracker and 100 for the staff to be shared I was so damn Happy with my hunt I doubled everyone's tip. again the amount you give is based on what YOU think is fare.