Tipping Guide

This seems to be more or less the consensus. Reading through the thread, I see the advice to tip in cash. In Namibia, is US currency good for tips or do I have to get Namibian dollars or SA Rands?

As already stated US currency is fine for trackers 10s and 20s are best even though most of the larger outfits will give them exchange rate.
 
What a wealth of information! Nice to know so that I can factor in the proper cost.
 
In the end, last month in Namibia with Omujeve, I wrote a one personal check to my PH. I wrote another personal check to the outfitter with the tip for the staff included. Perhaps mine was a special case. I hunted one day at the main camp. Then we went with our PH to another camp where we hunted half a day with a different driver/tracker. Due to vehicle problems, we moved back to the first camp for the remainder of the hunt and had a third driver (couldn't call him a tracker). The PH said that they could prorate the tip among the staff.

They were happy to take a personal check, credit card, cash, wire transfer - whatever was the most convenient for me.
 
As an outfitter who also guides , I don't expect a tip. As far as my staff are concerned , I have guidelines to help hunters who aren't sure. However the staff understand that there are people who will tip more , or less , than others. My people give their 110 % , always , and the trackers put themselves in harms way more often than is good for the average mans health. I don't have minimums to tip and no maximums. Tip as you see fit and what you can afford. If your tracker has tracked down your wounded lion, Buffalo , leopard or Elephant successfully , look after the man , he was the only one in the follow up without a rifle... I believe in having the hunter personally tip the staff . It is the right way.
By the way , what does the tipping structure look like when hunting in a country like Canada for example ?
 
As an outfitter who also guides , I don't expect a tip. As far as my staff are concerned , I have guidelines to help hunters who aren't sure. However the staff understand that there are people who will tip more , or less , than others. My people give their 110 % , always , and the trackers put themselves in harms way more often than is good for the average mans health. I don't have minimums to tip and no maximums. Tip as you see fit and what you can afford. If your tracker has tracked down your wounded lion, Buffalo , leopard or Elephant successfully , look after the man , he was the only one in the follow up without a rifle... I believe in having the hunter personally tip the staff . It is the right way.





By the way , what does the tipping structure look like when hunting in a country like Canada for example ?

The "Guides" here are part timers. We can not hunt all year round.
The guides are sometimes the Outfitter as well.

They Guides earn a wage, like the PH's in Africa, and also earn from tips.
Guide your tip on the effort expended.

What you said works about anywhere. In Canada it will work just fine.
"Tip as you see fit and what you can afford. "
 
For large hunting operations, it may not be possible to find everyone that contributed to your hunt. It is very easy to overlook some very essential people. Especially when packing, signing out, paying the trophy fees, etc. There is great info here, but the logistics of finding everyone, and seeing that they get a piece of the tipping pie, requires some help from the PH. I have greatly appreciated some of the Namibia farms where the owner/PH has gathered the employees for me, shown them the money and credited me, and then told them that this money would be put in the "jar" for all to share. I have felt very confident in the honesty of these hunting families, but the public acknowledgment of the amount of money probably precludes any problems. They have also told me that to tip early, or up front, often pits one employee against the others.

Thanks Jerome for airing this topic...........and to African Indaba for some data on what people REALLY tipped in the past (as a note, that $2000.00 tip to house staff, implies some very good help indeed)...............................regards..................FWB
 
I believe in having the hunter personally tip the staff . It is the right way.

I have been unable to find consensus on this aspect of tipping.

My gut tells me that you are right, the hunter should shake the hand and look into the eye of the person receiving the tip, as it is given. But there are some camps where the Outfitter/PH don't want the staff getting their hands on cash. That would give me some cause for concern (they don't/can't trust their people will keep their wits about them after they get some cash?).

Maybe there are good reasons for the hunter not tipping personally...I'd like to try to not upset the apple cart with something that should really be a positive experience for all (hopefully).

I will try to get good feedback from the Outfitter/PH on the best approach, and hopefully that approach will make sense to me and feel ok.
 
When I Hunted recently with CT Safaris we had a discussion on tipping,,and it was decided that I pay each member of his Staff personnally. I let him decide on the amount,,his tracker Sammie busted his Butt to get me my Kudu so a couple extra dollars and a brand new pair of hunting boots were his reward
 
My two cents worth here. Tips are at the discretion of the hunter. One should tip for hard work of the staff and the PH but in my opinion the hunter should give individuals there tip. I would not want the tip division left up to the camp manager. I have asked my PH for his advice as to appropriate amounts on both my hunts and for the most part have followed his advice. As for the tip of the PH I have utilized advice from other safari hunters and this site. The tip is an add on for someone and should never be the prime source of income for the individual. The outfitter should be paying his employees a reasonable wage for the work they do. Those who suggest that as the hunter I should be making up the difference between wages and subsistence are mistaken. One should also never be pressured into tipping anyone.
 
I agree 100%. In my case,even after the hunt was over CT Safaris continued to make sure I got thru the usual BS at Tambo with baggage and customs. which for a first timer can be a F----ing Nightmare
 
I have been unable to find consensus on this aspect of tipping.

My gut tells me that you are right, the hunter should shake the hand and look into the eye of the person receiving the tip, as it is given. But there are some camps where the Outfitter/PH don't want the staff getting their hands on cash. That would give me some cause for concern (they don't/can't trust their people will keep their wits about them after they get some cash?).

Maybe there are good reasons for the hunter not tipping personally...I'd like to try to not upset the apple cart with something that should really be a positive experience for all (hopefully).

I will try to get good feedback from the Outfitter/PH on the best approach, and hopefully that approach will make sense to me and feel ok.


Tarbe , conditions vary in various camps , like big staff camps in Tanzania. In this case the right thing to do by the outfitter is to call everyone together , tell them that you have given a tip of $ xx . Personal tipping takes away any concern that staff may have that someone has eaten into their tips - especially tips that are kept to be paid at the end of a season as a lump sum. Although most outfitters would not dream of stealing tips from their staff , many an outfitter has had his hands in the proverbial tip cookie jar . The Staff know this and it is best to have all things clear.
Furthermore it is part of the experience to show your gratitude towards the staff and to experience their appreciation of the tip.
 
I know that this is a personal option but....
what do you think?
It is the same work a Rifle hunting and Bowhunting from a waterhole in Namibia?
What do you think about the tip for 8 day of bowhunting from blinds and waterholes?
Thank you
 
What do you think about the tip for 8 day of bowhunting from blinds and waterholes?
Thank you

Excellent question!

I will be watching for the answers...
 
gasta , seeing no one else want to venture into this one , allow me one or two comments concerning your question.

Firstly , the basic camp staff ( cook , cleaning staff ) have exactly the same work load , whether the hunt in question is a bow or a rifle hunt.

Your skinners will also have the same work cut out for them.

Your tracker/s might hang around for some time waiting for action , but once you've shot something , they are the guys tracking and getting your hunted trophy for you. Needless to say , in the event of one wounding an animal , these trackers are all that stand between getting or losing that trophy Kudu Bull.

My feeling is that there should be no discrimination between tipping on a rifle or bow hunt.
 
I would have never been able to Hunt SA if it wasn't for the generousity of my customers,. but I earned every nickel
 
OK I know that the staff have the same work but what about PH?
It is not the same 8 days walk&stalck tham 8 days from a blind.
On my second bowhunting adventure in RSA a hunt 3 animals and I found them at 15 to 30 meters from my blind.... the same work for the PH?
What do you think that it is a razonable tip for 8 days in Namibia?
I apologize for my horrible English jejeje
 
Gasta , Your English is fine , beats my Spanish hands down.
Its for each to decide for themselves how and how much they want to tip. Talk to your outfitter about tips and get a feel for what is generally tipped on his hunts. Use this as a guide . Not everyone tips the same , and that's fine . A reputable outfit will understand this.
 
Thank you Jan
 

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