TIPPING IN TANZANIA - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @nataliablauth
Tipping in Tanzania can be tricky to understand if you've never been to the country, especially if you're coming from somewhere like the USA, where tipping is mandatory.
For tourists, it's crucial to be mindful of the tipping customs in Tanzania. Whether it's with tour guides, wildlife trackers or lodge staff - there are numerous instances where you might want to consider tipping.
As one of Tanzania's leading safari companies, we're often asked how our customers should approach tipping when they arrive. Between the appropriate tipping amounts and the type of job the person has done for you, these are some things you have to consider before opening your wallet.
We've written this tipping guide for Tanzania, which will give you the full lowdown on how things work here.
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Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @adisini
INSIDE THIS GUIDE
Is It Necessary to Tip in Tanzania?
While not mandatory, tipping in Tanzania can go a long way for the people who helped you have an amazing trip.
We're firm believers in acknowledging good service when you receive it, especially when the average monthly income in Tanzania is only between TZS 400,000 (USD 154) and TZS 500,000 (USD 193). However, service standards should always be taken into account.
Nobody is obliged to tip when they're here, so you're free to choose if you want to or not. If you feel that you've already paid enough, that's perfectly fine, but remember, many of the staff's wages are much lower for the work they put in, so a tip goes a long way for them.
Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @nichiyoshi
Who Should You Tip
You'll meet many people during your time in Tanzania who will work hard to ensure you enjoy yourself. But are they all worthy of a tip?
It should be their employer's job to ensure that everyone is paid fairly for their assigned position. If you've come to Tanzania for a safari, you've already spent a lot of money on the experience, flights and visa fee, so you should expect that money to go towards the staff's wages.
However, this isn't always the case, especially among the unsung heroes you never see, from kitchen porters at your resort to chefs cooking your evening dinner.
While you can't tip everyone, there are some people you might want to throw some Tanzanian Shillings, such as:
Tour guides: Your tour guide is the one who provides value to your safari in Tanzania with all of their knowledge.
Drivers: Getting from A to B through the rugged terrain of the Serengeti isn't like driving through your hometown. It's rough and requires extra care to ensure everyone's safety.
Wildlife trackers: Without trackers, you'd never find the animals you came to Tanzania to see. They work long hours and take massive risks to guarantee you see all the animals you came for.
Lodge staff: After your long days in the truck, the lodge staff are the ones taking care of you.
You'll notice that Tanzanians are incredibly hardworking. They will go above and beyond to ensure that you have the best experience in their country, regardless of whether there's a tip waiting for them at the end or not.
Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @and73w
How Much Should You Be Tipping?
When it comes to how much you should be tipping in Tanzania, it depends on a couple of factors like the quality of service, how much you spent on the experience and your own budget.
Below, we've compiled some tips you can give in certain situations.
A waiter who goes above and beyond to serve your meal: 10% to 15% of your total bill
A luggage porter who brings your bags to your room: TZS 2590.00 (1 USD) to TZS 5180.00 (2 USD)
A taxi driver taking you on a short drive: TZS 2590.00 (1 USD) to TZS 5180.00 (2 USD)
A guide looking after your group for a safari: (USD 8) 20720.00 to (USD 10) 25900.00 per day
A safari driver taking you around the national park: (USD 5) 12950.00 per day
A wildlife tracker showing you where to find the animals: (USD 5) 12950.00 per day
The staff working at your lodge: Between (USD 5) 12950.00 and (USD 10) 25900.00 per day for every person staying
Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @davidclode
What Currency Should You Tip In?
Most people in Tanzania will accept tips in the local currency, the Tanzanian Shilling and strong international currencies like USD and Euros.
While some establishments like restaurants and resorts will allow you to tip by debit or credit card, you should try to avoid this if possible. Unfortunately, in these situations, you don't know if the tips go directly to the staff, so they might miss out on the money you want to give them.
Are There Any Situations When You Shouldn't Tip?
While tips will be accepted in most circumstances, there are times that you should avoid tipping, such as:
You've received a poor service that wasn't worth the money you paid.
You know the tip isn't going directly to the person who gave you a good experience.
If the tip is already combined in the bill.
Tipping in Tanzania is welcomed and appreciated. A small amount can go a long way when you show your appreciation / Image: dan-smedley-K
How Tipping Differs Between Cities and Safari Camps
Tipping customs can vary significantly between cities and safari camps. Chances are, you'll run into situations where you feel like leaving a little something extra, especially if you're flying into a place like Dar es Salaam at the start of your trip. While great service should always be valued, tipping in these two settings works a little differently.
If it’s just a one-time meal in the city, a small tip, around 10%, is totally fine. But if you’re tipping someone who's been taking care of you for your entire multi-day safari, the amount is going to be quite a bit higher; of course, that's for those who actually want to tip.
Also, keep in mind that tipping culture in places like East Africa isn’t as ingrained as it is in the US. No one is expected to tip by default. That said, when you're out on safari, most travelers who’ve had a great experience do choose to tip their camp staff, drivers and guides as a way of saying thank you.
What Is the Best Way to Approach Tipping?
Tipping can be an awkward situation for both the giver and the receiver, but it doesn't have to be. It's a kind gesture that should be encouraged in the service industry.
The easiest thing to do is hand over the tip once someone has provided a service you’re genuinely happy with. You want to ensure the service meets your expectations first, so that good standards are encouraged and maintained.
If there’s a specific person you want to tip, try to time it for the end of your experience together. For example, if you’ve spent three days with a guide, its a great idea to give them their tip when you say goodbye.
If you wanted to split tips between the safari team; you can mention it to them together, so everyone knows they're getting something and nobody will be left out.
For the lodge staff, tips will either be accepted individually by the staff members, or there will be a tip jar to share among everyone at the end of the working week. The policy varies at each luxury safari lodge; each place has its own way of doing things, so ask a manager before any money is exchanged.
Tipping in Tanzania / Image: @flschweiger
Helpful Tipping Methods for Travelers
Putting the money into a tip box.
Handing the money directly to the people you've dealt with, e.g., guides.
Getting together with the other people on your tour and agreeing on a certain amount to put into the envelope, then asking the staff to share it among themselves.
Giving the tip to the manager so they can distribute it according to the company's system.
Leaving a handwritten note and a small tip behind in your room for housekeeping as you check out.
Dropping by the front desk and giving them a tip with your debit/credit card.
Tipping One Person or Many? Deciding Who Gets What
You're going to meet so many amazing people on your safari, and most of them will be incredibly helpful, which can put you in a bit of a tricky spot. You might feel like tipping everyone but that could get expensive.
The best approach is to start with the basics: make sure you’ve tipped the people you’ve had direct contact with, like your drivers, hotel staff, and guides. Once that’s covered, you can think about those behind the scenes, like the cleaning staff, chefs, and others who’ve been working hard to make your trip unforgettable, even if you haven’t interacted with them directly.
The Impact Tipping Has Had on Tanzania
The tipping culture that's crept into Tanzania over the years has greatly impacted society.
As tourists, we want to show our appreciation for the people who contributed value to your trip. But sometimes, tourists can go overboard with tipping too much.
This can result in employers paying employees less, so people will rely on tips, which don't always come through because there's no legislation around tipping. For example, an employee can get really good tips one week and get none the week after leaving them with an uncertain salary.
Since tipping etiquette in Tanzania has been on the rise, it has decreased motivation in workers in certain parts of the safari experience. Tour guides and people working in the lodges have a higher chance of getting a tip than someone overlooking security.
If they see people in other areas getting tips and they're not, they might look for a job doing the same thing, and who's to stop the next person doing the same? It becomes an uncontrollable cycle.
It's important to be aware of the impact you're having before you go all out with tips.
Tipping in Tanzania
Tipping Guidelines for Your Safari
These tips will help you navigate safari tipping the right way.
Plan things according to your travel schedule: If you're unsure about how much you should bring with you for tips, take a look at your schedule and base it on this guide to see what situations you may be in that you might be required to leave a tip. That way, you're already prepared and don't have to act in the moment.
Put the money into envelopes: Once you’ve figured out your tipping needs based on your travel schedule, the next step is to divide the cash into labeled envelopes. That way, everything stays organized and ready to hand over when the time comes.
Carry small bills: Keep the $50 notes at home; you want to bring some small amounts of money to leave behind as tips so you have some flexibility with how much you give.
Use your safe: Most safari lodges will have a safe in their room for guests, so don't be afraid to use it.
Tip the right people: It’s easy to assume that handing money to one staff member means it will end up where it’s supposed to, but that’s not always the case. If your tip is meant to be shared among the team, try to make that clear and hand it to someone who you trust will distribute it appropriately.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tipping in Tanzania
What Should I Do if I'm Unsure How Much to Tip in a Situation?
There will be times in Tanzania when you don't know how much to tip someone. If you find yourself in one of these situations, it's best just to round up the tip to 5% to 10% of the total cost within reason.
I Want to Tip Someone Directly, but the Boss Has Policy of Sharing Tips Between Everyone, What Do I Do?
We've all been there before; you've had the greatest tour guide who really made the experience come to life and you want to give them a special something, but their employer's policy doesn't allow it.
There are a couple of ways you can approach a situation like this. First, you could talk to their boss and explain that the particular staff member was why you had a great time. They might consider allowing you to give them a tip directly.
Alternatively, you could try to give the staff member the tip alone. But this may put their job at risk, so we advise you to avoid this for the sake of the employee.
Will Tanzanians Be Offended if I Don't Tip?
No, Tanzanians won't be offended if you don't tip. Tipping isn't mandatory or part of everyday life in Tanzania. However, it's very popular in the service industry, so you can choose whether you want to or not.
That's Everything You Need to Know about Tipping in Tanzania!
There you go, you've all the information you need about tipping in Tanzania. As you can see, there's a lot to consider, but at the end of the day, it's a personal decision you can decide when you're here.
If you have any other questions about tipping on a safari in Tanzania or for any other situations, be sure to send us an email, and we can answer your questions - bornwild@bornwild.rocks
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