Tipping Guide

gasta said:

I understand that the issue of tips is something almost mandatory. It must be regarded as a payment more than safari.
Obviously if not these conformity with the work of the PH, not give tip. Is not it?
Thank you

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Hmmm, what?

A tip on a hunt...for the most part is mandatory...like another payment. There has been a lot of discussion about it. Very heated debate.

gasta said:

I understand that the issue of tips is something almost mandatory. It must be regarded as a payment more than safari.
Obviously if not these conformity with the work of the PH, not give tip. Is not it?
Thank you

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See from your profile that you are from Spain gasta, welcome to AH!

Is this the question that you wanted to ask?

gasta said:

I have a question about the tips....
What tip propose you for a PH that only accompanies you to the waterhole (you are only in the blind without the PH and is bowhunting).
All animals killed are fallen 15 metres approximately, so the effort in this hunting is minimum by the professional and the trackers.

Thank you

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Greetings to all from Spain.

I apologize for my English.
I do not usually write in this language and perhaps I do not understand very well.
This is a complicated topic but... If bowhunting waiting at the waterhole, will you be agree with me is not the same job hunting stalking the animal, not?
Tips however are the same. Isn't this excessive?
Although not required by law, but... It is true is expected always tip, no?

And if your bowhunting in 2 x 1? The same tip of two hunters?
Why is 6-10% of the total of the cost of the safari? It is not fair on the daily price without the trophies?
Suppose that it is your second, third, fourth safari....
The hunting in the waterhole.... does is gives the same tip with the minimum work?
All the PH with which I've hunted and the trackers are very good professionals but also the issue of tips has exaggerated much. Especially in the bowhunting.
Thanks and best regards

gasta said:

Greetings to all from Spain.

I apologize for my English.
I do not usually write in this language and perhaps I do not understand very well.
This is a complicated topic but... If bowhunting waiting at the waterhole, will you be agree with me is not the same job hunting stalking the animal, not?
Tips however are the same. Isn't this excessive?
Although not required by law, but... It is true is expected always tip, no?
Thanks and best regards

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Welcome to AH.
Your English is better than my Spanish.

Dropping you off at a waterhole is not the same effort as Stalking. I agree.
If you feel your PH did not work as hard, tip accordingly.
Some tip based on results, you choose.

Gasta they will still have to skin the animals. You will also have to have a PH to OK which animals to take. Then there is food and accomodations. Also the quality of the animals you are hunting...just doesn't happen overnight, it takes time to get everything right.

It is true a tip is mostly expected at the end of the hunt.

All the PH with which I've hunted and the trackers are very good professionals but also the issue of tips has exaggerated much. Especially in the bowhunting.
Thank you for your kind welcome.

I believe if you were to shoot quality trophies, the ph should get a decent tip after all it is based on performance as you so correctly say.
You will need a ph with you while hunting at all times that is the law and if not you must insist that your outfitter provide you with one.

Trackers can work hard even on a bow safari depends how good the arrows are placed but you should be good.

Tipping for one keeps good guides and trackers in the industry and is always appreciated no matter how much it is...

Enjoy your safari

My best always

Hello Jaco,
Thank you for your words.
I've hunted twice in Africa and really the first experience that I had was special because it was on my honey moon.
I must say that the experience of the first PH was essential and is appreciated.
The price of the safari was very high and the total of the tips also.
You will be I think agree with me that there are excellent concessions with reasonable prices but also there are concessions with predatory pricing which also must pay the tips already that the PH, etc.. them are won also.
Do you not think that the tip of stalk an animal should not be the same as bowhunting from a Blind?

You will be I think agree with me that there are excellent concessions with reasonable prices but also there are concessions with predatory pricing which also must pay the tips already that the PH, etc.. them are won also.
Do you not think that the tip of stalk an animal should not be the same as bowhunting from a Blind?

It is a pleasure to deal directly with professionals and African hunters.
Thank you

Gasta

As far as pricing goes it is the consumers choice as to whether he feels it is fair or not. some are more expensive than others,

Gasta to be fair I must admit a gratuity to a bow or rifle hunt PH is and should be pretty much the same, please know that this is just my opinion and some might disagree.

I feel that it should be based on the quality of game taken and the over all quality of the experience, whether hunting from a blind or on stalk.

No one can tell you what to leave as a gratuity(tip) it depends what you are able to do and if you were satisfied.

It will always be a controversial subject and a difficult one to adress, the best summary I have seen is the article that Jerome has posted on this thread.

The pleasure is all mine we are all here to answer any questions you might have.

My best always.

gasta said:

Hello Jaco,
Thank you for your words.
I've hunted twice in Africa and really the first experience that I had was special because it was on my honey moon.
I must say that the experience of the first PH was essential and is appreciated.
The price of the safari was very high and the total of the tips also.
You will be I think agree with me that there are excellent concessions with reasonable prices but also there are concessions with predatory pricing which also must pay the tips already that the PH, etc.. them are won also.
Do you not think that the tip of stalk an animal should not be the same as bowhunting from a Blind?

You will be I think agree with me that there are excellent concessions with reasonable prices but also there are concessions with predatory pricing which also must pay the tips already that the PH, etc.. them are won also.
Do you not think that the tip of stalk an animal should not be the same as bowhunting from a Blind?

It is a pleasure to deal directly with professionals and African hunters.
Thank you

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Hi Gasta welcome to AH! I agree and Disagree with Jaco as he new I would but The way I see it the PH and Trackers tip should not at all be based on quality trophies but quality of Service getting those trophies whether it is a Trophy hunt or a cull Hunt. The PH and trackers on the hunt work for you even though you are the client and the service given is what you should be tipping for much like giving a good employee a Christmas bonas at the end of the year for an outstanding job.

I do agree with you on the pricing of animals I have noticed that in some areas that the pricing for one animal is much higher then in others i.e. northern parts of South Africa sometimes run a little higher on the most part then the southern part of South Africa but then I've seen in some areas like the East Cape do the same thing one outfit has Nyala 2800 USD 100 KM away another Outfit will have Nyala for 1600 USD now that big of difference would make one hell of a tip for Good service.

Hi Guys
Something to laugh about some years ago i think 16 maybe 17 years, i was a young ph well i am still, i had a very nice client and we had a great hunt together, he did book a ten day hunt including 10 animals we took one or two more but he wounded 8 out of the ten the rest i think was just luck shots, any case i did my best me and my tracker and we got him all the wounded animals so he went home with all the animals he shot or shot at. I took him back to the airport and as he got out of my truck he gave me $ 20.00 at that time a good tip was $ 250 or so but with all the help regarding his wounded animals i was sure 350.00 would have been good, but 20 it was just after he left i gave the tracker the 20 as he did not get any. Until today we are very good friends me and the tracker.

Bob I agree as I also stated the overall quality of experience directly related to the level of service, Experience relating to service and the personal yet professional way you were treated, we do share the exact same sentiment.

My best

Sorry Jaco my miss understanding re-read your post we do see eye to eye on this one.

Johan that is funny glad you seen fit to give what little the tip he did give to the tracker pretty cheap price for a life long friendship.

Bob no problem, trackers are part of the team and in many well most instances depend on it allot more than we as outfitters and Professional guides, to supplement their income.

With the way the industry goes in not only SA but all over Southern Africa as well to a large extent it is an integral part and all important supplement to a free lance guide' salary as well especially when taking into consideration the cost of such a guides vehicle and the maintenance which in most cases they need to do themselves as well....simple fact is as part of a 8 month season it keeps such guides going through the "dry" months.

Many of them have dependents as well and to be honest as one that used to do allot of free lance work in the past the daily rates you receive just do not cut it even if you were to hunt 150 days a season.

I always try to encourage clients to where possible and if they are satisfied to tip our free lance guys (the one or two I use a season)

I need to restate though that a gratuity is not compulsory but graciously excepted, and I am a firm believer that it keeps good guides in the industry, as not every guide has inherited a chunk of land, made a mutually beneficial deal with a philanthropist.

Once again just my spin on it.

My best always.

Jaco Strass
No one can tell you what to leave as a gratuity(tip) it depends what you are able to do and if you were satisfied.

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I agree with your statement Jaco
The only issue I have with tipping is when it is required,expected or an amount is pre-set.
The guideline I use for tipping for any type of service are two things.
#1 - Was the service I receive above and beyond.
In my opinion tips need to be earned. Just doing a job does not get it done. It's about effort.
#2 - How much can I afford.
People make different amounts of money. One person may have saved for years to afford the hunt while another has no problem affording a hunt every year. Part of my decision on how much to tip will be based on what I can afford

Bobpuckett
The way I see it the PH and Trackers tip should not at all be based on quality trophies

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Good point Bob. I do not agree with tipping based on trophy size. What one hunter considers a trophy another may not.
If a PH put me in a position to shoot an old over-the-hill animal at a discount should I hold back a tip because the old animal did not have trophy horns? It means more to me that he put in the effort. And yes, It would be a trophy to me.

Quality should be seen in context.

I whole heartedly agree.

My best always.

Jaco Strauss said:

as not every guide has inherited a chunk of land, made a mutually beneficial deal with a philanthropist.

Once again just my spin on it.

My best always.

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I dont understand this? Is this common? Is that what happened at kwalata?

Tom thats a bit direct don't you think,.... If I felt that I wanted to share my personal life, buisiness ventures and personal dealings on a public forum with more than 11 000 members, I would have.

It is no different than tendering on a piece of goverment land or full time hunting concession, I do not undertand why you are confused.

Point is the majority of guides in SA work on a freelance basis and not the other way around as many might think, those guys fall into a spesific catagory and tips to them are of the utmost importance. (they do not earn a monthly income)

Very few of them will ever inherit land or make a deal with a someone who believes in them.... (in general) And yet they fullfill the outfitters promises as far as experiences goes and promises made on a daily basis, and are not the ones making the money it is extremely important to keep these guys in the industry especially the ones with a wealth of experience.

Does that Clarify.

My very best always.

Stretch said:

I agree with your statement Jaco
The only issue I have with tipping is when it is required,expected or an amount is pre-set.
The guideline I use for tipping for any type of service are two things.
#1 - Was the service I receive above and beyond.
In my opinion tips need to be earned. Just doing a job does not get it done. It's about effort.
#2 - How much can I afford.
People make different amounts of money. One person may have saved for years to afford the hunt while another has no problem affording a hunt every year. Part of my decision on how much to tip will be based on what I can afford




Good point Bob. I do not agree with tipping based on trophy size. What one hunter considers a trophy another may not.
If a PH put me in a position to shoot an old over-the-hill animal at a discount should I hold back a tip because the old animal did not have trophy horns? It means more to me that he put in the effort. And yes, It would be a trophy to me.

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Exactly!