Tipping Guide

[Rare Breed]

Yes that is correct. I generally calculate my tip as a dollar amount per day, per person.

The combined total tip was 18% of the Hunt cost before tip. Those hunt costs include daily rate, trophy fees, airport transfer, ranger fees, VAT on day rate - trophy fees - non export fee, and conservation Levy.

Because I calculate my tip on a per day basis, the percentage changes from Hunt to Hunt.

My 2023 Mozambique buffalo hunt tip was 20% of hunt costs.

I’ll be on a Buffalo Hunt in Mozambique this fall, but as a 2x1 with a good friend. So my tip for this Hunt should be about 25% of the Hunt fees to the outfitter.

I’m calculating my tip for my 2026 Zimbabwe double tuskless hunt as 16%.

So the tip percentage changes from Hunt to Hunt, depending upon hunt cost and if I get a deal. Better deal, higher tip percentage. But still based on a daily tip rate.

Also keep in mind this is for DG only. I’ve never done a PG Hunt so I cannot comment on what I would do for tips on that.

Chase

I do the same...my tips are on a per day basis that I set up on an excel spreadsheet before I even go on the hunt. I only ask my outfitters how many people on my hunt including staff...I want jobs not to be annal but 3 trackers, 1 driver, 2 housekeepers, one lodge manager, 1 cook, etc. I then build my tips per day and come up with my total tip. It does vary by hunt given this...a PG hunt is much cheaper in a tip than a DG hunt.

 

[Rare Breed]

I do the same...my tips are on a per day basis that I set up on an excel spreadsheet before I even go on the hunt. I only ask my outfitters how many people on my hunt including staff...I want jobs not to be annal but 3 trackers, 1 driver, 2 housekeepers, one lodge manager, 1 cook, etc. I then build my tips per day and come up with my total tip. It does vary by hunt given this...a PG hunt is much cheaper in a tip than a DG hunt.

I thought everyone might like to see my excel sheet I build for each hunt. This one is for a 14 day leopard hunt with total cost about $20,000. My tips add up to $3,800. Now notice I have a lot of people in Zim when you hunt in my case 5 trackers and two government scouts as examples. This came out to 19% of my hunt. If it had been a PG hunt the tips would have been $2,800 and probably more like 14% of the cost for the hunt. Just me.

 

[crossfire3006]

Fantastic article! There were a number of points I hadn't even thought about.

 

[gearguywb]

This is what my outfitter recommended for our upcoming trip. Buffalo and a bit of plains game:

1. Lodge staff, skinning staff and trackers - $50-$70 for the week
2. Lodge management and apprentice ph - $100-$500 for the week
3. PH - $ 150-$200 per day

 

[SplitHoof]

On our safari last week, I simply added 20% of the safari cost (not including airfare or other expenses not related to his activity) to the wire transfer, and asked him to dispense as he saw fit. I did give $$ dollars in cash to the two trackers who rode around with us for all the hunting days, and for picking up and delivering back to the airport at Kimberly.
The other ca$h tips I dispensed were for our pre-arranged firearms helpers, day-driver in Joberg, and the hotel room maid. There was no need for us to bring a lot of cash other than these tips, as everything else was on our card. This was all very easy.