Tipping Guide

Well that’s all fine. But on a cull hunt I give 10% of the total cost to the lodge manager with instruction to distribute to all the staff.

I would only hand over money to the outfitter for the staff tips, if I could give each staff member a voucher showing the amount of my tip. I would be very upset if they did not receive the amount that I allotted for them.

I'ave had outfitters in SA and Namibia hold staff tips until year end and then give them all in a lump sum as a reward for staying all the way through the season. That way there was enough to make major purchases.

jeff said:

I'ave had outfitters in SA and Namibia hold staff tips until year end and then give them all in a lump sum as a reward for staying all the way through the season. That way there was enough to make major purchases.

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It is a quite common practice across Africa. Often, your PH or the camp manager will get the available staff together to show how much you have given, allow you to say thanks, and for them to reciprocate. Others use a voucher system (which I prefer) which you decide on with your PH or the camp manager and present individuals with chits which will be paid to them at the end of the year. A portion of the total will be reserved to be divided among everyone you did not see. Both systems have the advantage of not having key staff vanish for a month in the height of the season following a generous tip.

I did both on my recent trip to Mozambique. We were three nights in an area hosted by another camp and operator. When we departed, I left a couple of hundred with him to put in the year-end pot. He had the cook, and the game scout who accompanied us, come out to see me do it and so they and I could say thanks. When I left country and Mashambanzou safaris, three quarters of the staff tip was presented by me personally to individuals in the form of chits - amounts based upon their contribution to the success of the safari. The remaining 25% went into the year-end pot for everyone. Excellent system.

What about the hunting agents? Where do they fit into this? Do they get a tip as well or are they compensated by the PH/Outfitter?

?!? Never heard of tipping an agent. Their compensation is a percentage of the booking.

Brent in Az said:

I would only hand over money to the outfitter for the staff tips, if I could give each staff member a voucher showing the amount of my tip. I would be very upset if they did not receive the amount that I allotted for them.

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The late Scott Van Zyl used to have a policy of holding tips for the staff. He would generate a receipt and have the client sign it. This was distributed to the staff along with the tip so there would be no squabbles.

I've read the guide on tipping and I understand the reasoning. I've asked my PH about tips and for the most part they fall in-line with what is here. HOWEVER, I've been asked to provide the tip in pre 2006 USD. The USD I understand and don't have a problem with, but pre 2006? Something smells fishy here - has anyone ever encountered this? I'm not even sure I can get bills that old. I checked the ones I have and most are 2013 and newer.

I have asked for reason, but haven't heard back yet.

Countrylife said:

I've read the guide on tipping and I understand the reasoning. I've asked my PH about tips and for the most part they fall in-line with what is here. HOWEVER, I've been asked to provide the tip in pre 2006 USD. The USD I understand and don't have a problem with, but pre 2006? Something smells fishy here - has anyone ever encountered this? I'm not even sure I can get bills that old. I checked the ones I have and most are 2013 and newer.

I have asked for reason, but haven't heard back yet.

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Are you sure you heard correctly? Generally, in Africa they will only accept the newest notes in circulation - so it’s suggested, for example, if you have any old hunderds, leave them at home.

If they do want the old ones, that would be a first for me. And a bit odd.

He may have a reason..... but it sounds stupid as hell. If the greenbacks are legit, then it don’t matter. The exchange rate is the same. Now if he/his staff has a hard time exchanging them in small towns, out of date banks, etc..... that’s kind of a personal problem. If it’s that big of a deal.... ask him to settle for Rands that you get at Airport. Accommodate to whatever extent you desire. However, I wouldn’t break my back trying.

That's a weird one..

Wow! A first for me

On my last two trips I have tipped in Rand or Nam dollars to all but the PH.. Exchange in a bank much better rates from US dollars to country currency

As soon as I got the email about the old dollars I sent a query back to them to confirm old dollars and the reason for it and posted my question here immediately after. Apparently, I misunderstood - just got an email back that they want the new dollars.

Countrylife said:

HOWEVER, I've been asked to provide the tip in pre 2006 USD. The USD I understand and don't have a problem with, but pre 2006? Something smells fishy here - has anyone ever encountered this?

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I have encountered this but not on the hunt, actually on the ship.

Filipino crew asked cash advance in such bills, the reason given was that they have difficulty in exchanging this at home to local currency.
However, I have my doubts, as on some ship with Filipino crew there was not such request, and on few ships there was issues.

I have feeling that once a crew member starts talking, the gossip story gets growing the wings, accepted by all, and then it becomes a problem. but in fact no grounds for it.

Here's my 2 cents and how I tipped.

I tipped each one personally. My PH near by to assist as translator.

My first time to SA was this past year, a 7 day hunt. I met some nice folks, staff and visitors, at Kubusi Outfitters, Tuskers lodge.

My PH got me closer to game than I expected and we hunted long days. We would leave the lodge between 6-6:30 am; return between 7 - 9 pm. The exception was a kudu, we didn't get back to the lodge until around 11 pm.

On my last hunting day I was able to drop a warthog, then a red hartebeast within 20 minutes of each other; hog at 45 yards, hartebeast at 50 yards. From lodge to hunting area, both animals off the same farm, back at lodge about 4 hour hunting trip.

My PH, excellent at his job, for the time we spent afield spotting and stalkingand the fast action last day hunt, at first I had planned on tipping $100.00 USD per day but that changed to $150.00 per day.

The farm where I shot my 2 kudu, I tipped those participating in my hunt: tracker R100.00, skinners R40.00. It took my PH and tracker, farm tracker and 3 skinners 3 hours stubbling in the dark to haul a kudu bull up out a deep revine to the waiting tractor.

Because my designated tracker didn't always accompany us on hunts I tipped him $50.00 USD per day, 5 days.

Camp staff tips: cook/laundress/maid: $50.00 USD ( I ran out of Rand )
lodge skinners: R60.00

SAPS (think of it as firearm insurance) R20.00 (2×R10.00) only time, Jo'berg to PE.

Airport porters:
Arrival Jo'berg R30.00 x 1. My meet and greet didn't happen. The porter was a big help all the way through customs.
Departing Jo'berg R10.00 x 2. Not as helpful.
Didn't get met by porters at PE airport.

Note: Those I wasn't able to tip on this trip were probably the ones I should have insisted on tipping prior to departing the lodge for home. They are the in house taxidermists. (The long days afield) I was only able to meet them a few minutes late in the afternoon on my first day at the lodge. Figuring seven animals, I was proposing R500.00 divided by 4 appropriately.

May be something to discuss with the PH/Outfitter in detail when booking the hunt. In extraordinary circumstances (as in Ridgerunners, case, above) add a bit more at the end of the hunt, just don't telegraph it.

geoff rath said:

May be something to discuss with the PH/Outfitter in detail when booking the hunt. In extraordinary circumstances (as in Ridgerunners, case, above) add a bit more at the end of the hunt, just don't telegraph it.

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I should have mentioned all tips were given the morning of my departure with amounts meeting the approval of my PH. (I didn't want to over or under tip, nor did I want to insult/offend anyone.)

Also not mentioned:
The conversation of tipping lodge and hunt staff was not approached until my last night at the lodge.

Except for the farms where the kudu, hartebeast and warthog were killed, again with my PH's approval, those tips were given prior to leaving those two particular farms.

Tip to tracker R40.00 at the farm where I was able to take the warthog and hartebeast. NOTE: This was done discreetly as other farm workers were gathering around that were not part of our party.

I reckon you handled it well; in my case, I knew tips were to be added on at "settlement" time through the Outfitter who distributed them on. I, his "staff"and he, to the best of my knowledge were happy with that. As said earlier,I had taken several quality knives with me; none of them came home. (I even bought a couple of decent butchering/ skinning knives which were left behind as well.)

On the new dollars, I had a friend that went over to Kenya on a photo safari and found out that they didn't like his old "not crisp" US dollars. That night his wife got the iron out and ironed all of his paper US currency so that all the bills were nice, crisp, and stiff. After that he had no problems with the locals taking them.