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